Batch #141 ~ Brown Ale

This Brown Ale commemorates the emerging movement called, "Slow Money", as initiated by Woody Tasch, author of the book by the same name.  "In Soil We Trust" is the motto on the fictional currency note sprawled across the book cover.  The subtitle reads, "Investing as if food, farms and fertility mattered".

The seal on the note is Woody's latest concept, a "beet-coin".  Why a beet?  Because it's the "most intense vegetable", of course, as noted by author Tom Robbins, in the first line of a novel.  For the Slow Money movement, a beet-coin is simply a tax-deductible vehicle for investors to help build local food enterprises.  Check it all out at: https://slowmoney.org/

Hear, here!

MT

Batch #140 ~ Creamy Porter

I used some pale chocolate malted barley, as well as some special roast (last used in my Batch # 116 in 2011) ~ a perfect blend for a nice porter.  In the brewing of this batch, I did strive to maximize the amount of grain mash I could fit in my mash tun, coming out to 28-pounds total.  Brewed into a ten-gallon batch, this resulted in a smooth porter at 7.4% a.b.v.

In spite of this misleading label, there is no milk nor chocolate in this ale.

Cheers!
MT

Batch #139 ~ Saison Pale Ale

Our dear ones Phoebe and Damien were married in Clermont-Ferrand, France, in the end of August, and they asked me to help them with the ceremony, a great honor.  It was truly wonderful to enjoy the French culture and cuisine, especially from the kitchen of Damien's Grandmother, Janine Mandard, a fine chef.

The French are unparalleled in the cuisinal arts of cheese and wine, and we did manage to find a few nice artisanal ales from the Auvergne volcano region.  I decided to dedicate my Summer Saison Ale to these French pioneers of the grain:

"poeme liquide" pour la France!

avec l'amour de michael

tre bon!
MT

Batch #138 ~ Lavender Amber Ale

Our niece Meghan Leon married her sweetheart Justin Monzon this Summer, and they asked me to brew a special beer for their wedding, an honor I could not decline.  This was my first batch of ale since last Autumn, so my cellar became somewhat empty, and my homebrewer's club somewhat deprived, until I managed to pick up speed with Summer brews.

The beer was a hit at the wedding, owing much, I'm sure, to the fact that it was the ONLY beer at the wedding.

Here's to you, Meghan and Justin!
Love,
MT