Batch #130 - Belgian Saison Ale

There are particular combinations of malted grains, hops and yeast, when brewed together, will create a flavor that reminds me of a particular style of beer.  One of my favorite styles is a Belgian recipe called "Saison Ale" or sometimes called a "Farmhouse Ale", and I have brewed a number of variations on this theme.  Trying to imitate a treasured Belgian beer style can be daunting, because Belgian brewers are among the best in the world, and their brews are difficult acts to follow.
Our young daughter March, studying medicine at Trinity College in Dublin Ireland, showed me one of her favorite websites, actually a "facebook page" titled "Humans of New York", where she delights in an occasional character photographed and displayed there.
At first, I thought that March's delight with the photo of "Edge E. Sledgehammer", underground poet photographed in Grand Central Station, was worthy of a limited-edition homebrew label.  Just after I made the red label below in her honor, March noted another photo of a delightful lady, dressed for Spring, who won the day, and the above label has been printed and the bottles labeled.
In spite of all this labeling controversy, the beer hasn't changed a bit.  It's still a Saison Pale Ale, inspired by the brewing magicians of Belgium.  Cheers!

2012 Champagne Cider

Our local Heritage Apple Trees were all in a low production cycle during 2012, so I joined members of the R.F. HAMs Homebrewers Club in a bulk order of cider from "Big B's Cider Mill" in Hotchkiss Colorado, to brew this batch of Champagne Cider.  In spite of the label statement that it will be best opened after 15.April, I tried a bottle recently, and found it to be well carbonated and delightful.  Thanks Big B!  Nice job raising those organic apples!

Cheers!

Batch #129: Grille-roasted Pumpkin Ale

Here we go again, another unspiced Pumpkin Amber Ale, once again using grille-roasted pumpkin from my 2011 backyard garden.  180 pounds of  "Lakota Sioux" and "Cinderella" variety pumpkins have provided plenty of ingredients in the freezer for beer, pie and soup, until Harvest 2013.  The pumpkin gracing this ale label was grown by Patty Phelan in Carbondale, from seeds I harvested from those two big guys in my 2011 collection, so now I have seed from 2012, to plant in 2013.  But I digress - I saved a few bottles from the last two pumpkin ales before this one, and will have a little taste-test to compare them.

Post a comment if you want to be notified of the date for this, and I'll let you know!

Batch #128 - "Winter Welcome" Lavender Amber Ale

Okay, I confess it's a little "out there" in left field, this idea of an herbal beer, but I have an excuse.  It was brew day, I was in the middle of the mash cycle, and found that I had too little hops on hand.  A quick tour around the garden for something to help "bitter" this amber ale, when I realized that Jan's lavender flowers might fit the bill just right.  I clipped a snippet and crushed it into a small glass, drowned it in an ounce of beer, let it sit for a bit, then filtered it into another glass and tasted a delectable bouquet with a bitter bottom.  Sold!
Having sampled a bottle three weeks out, I declare this Lavender Amber Ale to have been worth the risk of a ten-gallon batch of ale, and a worthy descendent of me ole' heather ale, last brewed as batch #103, in April 2010.
Here's to the local flora!

Batch #127 - Marmot Mountain Pale Ale

We must have been intruding on his territory, Jan and I, when on July 4th we hiked over the Continental Divide from Independence Pass to Blue Lake, for some trout fishing.  This Marmot was not at all shy, and came to within a few feet of me when we stopped to rest on the ascent.  I snapped a few photos of "Curious George" and gave him the honor of gracing the last pale ale of the Summer.
Here's to You, George!
MT

Batch #126 - Saison Farmhouse Ale

In celebration of farming as a revered calling, I offer this Belgian Saison Farmhouse Ale.  Citris notes, compliments of Munich and Vienna malted barley, as well as Cascade and Simcoe leaf hops.
I selected this painting by Maryanne Jacobsen to grace this label, because she has so beautifully captured the charm of a French barn beyond a field of sunflowers.
Cheers!
MT

Wonderful Diversion - Valhalla!

Before I post labels for another couple of batches of summer ale, I'd like to share a little preview from a few young friends, whose "Signatures" and "Solitaire" skiing art films have made me smile. I'd like to introduce "Sweetgrass Productions" film "Valhalla", coming in 2013:

On The Road Episode XII - Two Years, Five Winters from Sweetgrass Productions on Vimeo.