Belgian Wit Bier Brew Day

Yesterday, I brewed a wonderful Belgian Wit Bier for Afro Man's Bachelor party, which I hope turns out well (bites nails). I ran into a few problems here and there, but nothing this brew-master can't handle. It was exceptionally hot this day and I was drenched with sweat by the time all my equipment was set up. No worries though. I got my strike water filled to 8 gallons and lit a fire under it's ass.

While the water heated, I brought my hand operated grain mill into the house. There was no way I was going to hand mill 16 lbs of barley in that heat! I cant wait until I get a motor attached to that thing! Last week at work, I brought home the plate I designed just for this purpose. I would have the motor attached, but the shaft needs an adapter, the mill needs risers, and the chain needs to be cut. I do recite my original saying every time I'm about 10 minutes into a 20 minute job of cranking that mill: "To truly appreciate the sweetness of success, you must taste the bitterness of defeat." I have been defeated enough!

I had my beautiful assistant check on the strike water during the mill. She came back said it was at 180! Oh crap! Thats fine, she shut it down and the brew went on. I drained some hot water and added some cold filtered water to chill it down to 163 or so. Next, in the name of an awesome cousin of my Dad's, who's alias is undetermined at the moment, I called out "Cover me, I'm doughn' in!"

This brew is the type of brew I like doing best. It's a humanitarian brew. This time its for one of my good friends who's getting married. I call it a humanitarian brew if I'm brewing as a favor, for gifts, or to teach someone how to brew. I must have had a dozen students at Darknoon last year, and it was great.

I always enjoy good company if its available. Today DDR and his lady came over. DDR is an aspiring brewer and loves to help out during my brews. He also laughs at all my quality jokes.

Wort flowing into the Boil Kettle.

The rest of day went great. No, I would never put ants in a beer. I would never clog a pump with coriander seeds. I would never attempt to chill 5 gallons of hot wort with a hand spray bottle. I would never end up just saying F*** it and dumping half the batch in a bucket and letting it chill over night and pitching the yeast later. I would never pitch yeast into wort that is at 80 degrees. I will always again, brew during the hotest week of the year.

I would never forget to clean the pump after a brew.

Emergency cooling method I would never try.

 After all the chaos and things I would never do, I had wort fermenting into beer, and temperatures dropping appropriately. I hope after to have this beer in a keg in two weeks, and enjoyable in another week for the bachelor party.

Effective cooling method often used in the summer time.