Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad

I'm putting this recipe down here because this site doesn't only have to be beer.

Marinated cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes are a beautiful thing and are bountiful most of the year, though they are truly best "in season". I like this so much more than a traditional lettuce or mayonnaise salad with BBQ or grilled meats. The slight tang and the sweetness of the dressing combined with the crunch of the lightly pickled veggies is perfect on a warm day. It also keeps better for picnics that just about anything else.

This dressing isn't complicated or a secret. There are no off the wall ingredients and is just perfect.

1 cup of water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar (other vinegar can be considered, but apple cider is probably too tart)
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil (not olive as it will flavor the veggies)
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 Tablespoon black pepper (the original calls for 1T. Do what you want.)
sliced cucumbers (no need to remove seeds, but I prefer peeled. You can also score the skin)
sliced tomatoes (roma or similar work well)
half a sliced yellow onion (or white if you like more bite)

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. You can also combine this in an air-tight container and shake it up.

Only add enough veggies to be covered by the dressing.

Experiment with this by adding sliced carrots or sweet peppers!



Monday, August 20, 2018

Frist Crack IPA - Returning for Mocktoberfest 2018


Let's acknowledge something before we begin. 

My very first blog post has been called Frist Crack this entire time instead of "First Crack" like it was supposed to be. It's been on here since 2009 and it's better to stick with tradition than to change it now. 

This was my first all-grain recipe and probably one of the best beers I've ever made. Simple and straightforward. This is modified slightly from the original.

11 lbs of 2-Row
1 lb Crystal 40L
1 oz. 12 AA Warrior @60 min
1 oz. 4.5 AA Cascade @30 min
1 oz. 4.5 AA Cascade @10 min

Using Wyeast 1056

1.061 OG
1.015 FG
57.4 IBU
7.6 SRM
6% ABV
0.92 Balance

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Swamp Thing Belgian Pale Ale


Exact copy from here:

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrew-recipe/beer-recipe-of-the-week-yellow-diamond-belgian-pale-ale

4.0 lbs Pale ale malt
3.0 lbs Munich malt
1.0 lb Belgian aromatic malt
6.0 oz Belgian medium crystal
1.5 lbs Piloncillo or other unrefined sugar, added to brew kettle
1.0 oz Northern Brewer 6.5% alpha acid (90 minutes)
0.67 oz Saaz 3% alpha acid (90 minutes)
1.0 oz Saaz 3% alpha acid (15 minutes)
1 to 2 oranges zested, add at end of boil
0.5 oz Coriander, crushed
1 whole star anise, or 0.5 tsp (2 g) grains of paradise, or your secret spice of choice
Belgian Style yeast

Monday, August 24, 2015

Frankenbier!

Boris Karloff in the makeup chair for Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

An Abby someone beer...Abby Normal

9.5 lbs. Canadian Pilsner 2-row malt
.5 lb. Munich (20L)
1 lb. CaraVienna (20L)
6 oz. Breiss Special Roast
2 oz. UK chocolate
1.75 pz. Carafa II

1 oz. Northern Brewer @ 60 min.
.5 oz. Czech Saaz @ 15 min.
.5 oz. Czech Saaz @ 1 min.

Wyeast 2565 Kölsch

OG: 1.058
FG: 1.014
IBU: 30
SRM: 15
ABV: 5.7%




Steamboat Bier


A Northern German Altbier inspired deep-golden ale

9.5 lbs. American 2-Row
10 oz. Caramunich
4 oz. Canadian wheat malt
1 oz. British Chocolate
1/2 oz. German Carafa II

1 oz. Northern Brewer @ 60 min.
.5 oz. Czech Saaz @ 15 min.
.5 oz. Czech Saaz @ 1 min.

Wyeast 2565 Kölsch

OG: 1.054
FG: 1.014
IBU: 31
SRM: 10
ABV: 5.25%

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Concordia Cider

Ephraim Wales Bull in Concord, Massachusetts


Concord grape and apple juice cider

3 gal. apple juice
2 apple juice concentrates
1 Concord grape juice concentrate

Wyeast 4184 Sweet mead

Combine all ingredients as fast as you can!




Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Rhode Island Rooster


This is a take on Old Speckled Hen adapted from Clone Brews.

9 lbs. of British 2-row malt
1 lb. of British Crystal 50
4 oz. of wheat malt

1 oz. Challenger @7.5% at 60 minutes
1/2 oz. East Kent Goldings @5% at 15 minutes
1/2 oz. Challenger @7.5% at 15 minutes
1 oz. East Kent Goldings @5% at 1 minutes

Wyeast 1028 London Ale

OG: 1.053
FG: 1.013
IBU: 34
ABV: 5.2%
SRM: 8