Another 6 Kettles

The "Band of Brewers" visited Deja Brew a couple of weeks ago to do another 6 kettles. Our total now (since 2006) is 307 kettles.

We'll bottle to bring home the following:

Goibniu = (blank)	A Great rendition of a true Scottish Ale
Lawnmower Lager = L	A great summer beer, easy to quaff whilst using power tools
Oktoberfest Beir = O	A slight fruity accent with a deep gold color
O'Malley Stout = (flag)	Delicious version of Murphy’s Irish Stout
Stunner = AKA	A creamy British Pub style pale ale “stunning colour”
Whale Tail Ale IPA = WT	Our version of Harpoon’s IPA. A damned fine beer!!

Band of Brewers 'master'

If you know Brian, you would agree that he is always willing to help. Monday night, as on most bottling night's, Brian is busy organizing things to ensure everyone gets what they need (clean bottles, empty boxes, etc.) so the kettles get emptied in a timely manner and then the delivery of the beer to take home can begin.

I had a roll of duct tape in the car and needed to get it to help repair a box or two. While I went to the car, Brian stepped in to my bottling station so we wouldn't miss a beat.



So just for the record, in case anyone ever doubted Brian that Brian knows how to bottle beer, the photo says it all!

Thanks for stepping in.

Now to make some empty bottles!

Another six kettles were bottled Monday night at DejaBrew by the Band of Brewers. The secret label codes are as follows:

Tim's Dim Wit - T
Worcester Bitter - W
Malcolm's Mild - M
Howling Honey - H
Old World Lager - O
Dean Park Pilsner - P


Our total listing looks like this (139 kettles with 80 unique beers)

Beer	Total
Stunner	9
Blueberry Ale	7
Hearty Christmas Ale	5
Downtown Brown	4
Lawnmower Lager	4
Llevar Porter	4
Wachusett Pale	4
Dunrovin Stout	3
Hirschgarden Marzen	3
Killer Honey Ale	3
Light Irish Stout	3
Off Kilter Scotch	3
Pumpkin Ale	3
Rusty Anchor Lager	3
Bavarian Pilsner	2
Dean Park Pilsner	2
Double Scotch Ale	2
Evil Santa	2
Gnarly Barley Wine	2
Goibniu	2
Honey Summer Ale	2
Lobster Claw	2
McTartan’s Scotch Ale	2
Mile High Lager	2
Oktoberfest Beir	2
Piper Scottish Ale	2
Red Head Ale	2
Red Tail Ale	2
Tim’s Dim Wit Bier	2
A Great BOD	1
Balance Rock Red	1
Baltic Porter	1
Bassalope	1
Bawstin Lager	1
Beaver Back Pale	1
Castle Brown Ale	1
Chocolate Cream Stout	1
Crazed & Confused	1
Dave's Red	1
Deja Fest	1
Deja Wide Stout	1
Down Under Lager	1
Drunken Monk Ale	1
Dublin’s Half	1
Fall's Lager	1
Forest Fire Red	1
Fuggle Ambrosia	1
Great White Golden	1
Greg’s Big Head Stout	1
Helles Lager	1
High Sierra Pale	1
Howling Honey Ale	1
Jeff Beck Lager	1
Klawtobier	1
Malcolm’s Mild	1
Maple Stout	1
O’Malleys Irish Stout	1
Octoberfest Bier	1
Old Man Winter Ale	1
Old World Lager	1
Olde English Strong Ale	1
Queen Bee Lager	1
Raspberry Wheat	1
Ray's Bock	1
Red Rider Ale	1
Red Rock Bock	1
Rocket Bock	1
Rye Blonde	1
Sam’s Damn Yummy	1
Sammy's Octoberfest	1
Scotch Ale	1
Special Delivery Ale	1
Steel Rail Pale Ale	1
Sturz Strong Ale	1
Summer Wheat	1
The Rock	1
Thoroughbred Red	1
Top Drop Dopplebock	1
Winter Jubilee	1
Worcester County Bitter	1
Grand Total	139

Remember, once the beer is bottled, the only thing holding us back from making more beer is making empty bottles. Keep them clean by going bottoms up!



Note: 2 of the 139 have been brewed but not bottled yet.

Bottoms Up!

Anyone who has been around a bar or a beer or two has likely heard the saying "Bottoms up." You are usually out with a co-worker or buddy having a drink and as you're getting ready to leave, "bottoms up" is the saying to finish it off and let's get going. The 'Band of Brewers' led by Brian Mahoney also use this phrase as the reminder for cleaning and keeping the bottles clean.


Why?
Stop and think about it. If the empty bottle is rinsed out and stored up right, the bottom can collect the excess liquid, dust and anything else around. When we return to DejaBrew to use the bottle several weeks later, what was once good and clean is now growing something worthy of a science experiment.

How should the empties be handled?
Right after emptying the bottle, rinse it out. Rinse it a couple of times with fresh tap water. It shouldn't really matter whether it is hot or cold. The bottle just held good tasty beer, so how dirty could it be?

To be safe, hold the empty and wet bottle up to light to look through the glass. It should be clean and while the glass is somewhat opaque, you should be able to see through.

You can let the bottle drain, whether you have one for yourself, or after a party have several, let the bottle drain with the bottom up!

And the final step to keeping the bottles clean until they are needed again; keep them in the box with the bottoms up!

Bottoms up to drink in good health.

Bottoms up to drain when rinsed out.

Bottoms up to store until the next batch is to be bottled.

Bottoms up!



Related posts about our beer brewing activities at DejaBrew can be found here.

Deja Brew all over again

Bottling time at Deja Brew on Friday night.

Goibniu: A Great rendition of a true Scottish Ale

Rocket Bock: This is an excellent beer to warm you up. Very potent, 6 % ABV

Greg’s Big Head Stout: Nice and Roasty, with a big creamy head

Special Delivery Ale: Designed by big Mike, Long trail double bag clone

Castle Brown Ale: Similar to Newcastle, a mild Brown Ale


Additional links on the Deja Brew experience can be found here and here and here

This qualifies as a good experience!