I am working on identifying recipes and gathering ingredients so that I am ready to brew when the opportunity arises. Here is what I am currently considering:
- (Done!) An American IPA — CJ’s House of the Rising Sun JPA
- (Done!) An Oatmeal Stout — Jamil’s McQuaker’s Oatmeal Stout
- An American Brown Ale — Either Jamil’s Moose Drool clone or (Pending) Mike “Tasty” McDole’s Janet’s Brown Ale
- An American Amber Ale — Jamil’s West Coast Blaster
- An Irish Red Ale — either Jamil’s Ruabeoir or Bier Kitty Brewing’s Better Red than Dead
- An American Pale Ale — Mike “Tasty” McDole’s APA
- An English IPA — Jamil’s Bière de L’inde
I think all of these beers would go over well in our household. I am also tempted by some other beers that SWMBO would probably not appreciate as much as I might. With all of the above available, I think there is room for some experimentation, so I would like to add these to this year’s plans:
- A Weizen — Jamil’s Harold-is-Weizen, or simply an American Wheat like Kent‘s Hollow Leg (also from Jamil).
- A Belgian Pale Ale — Jamil’s Antwerp Afternoon
That could makes eleven batches if I brew both of the ones where there is a choice. If I were to brew every other week starting as soon as the weather breaks — possibly mid-March — these could take me through the beginning of August. If I did not get started until the first day of Spring and only manage to brew once every three weeks, this could take me through Teach a Friend to Brew Day in November.
Update: I have decided I want to add an English Brown, as well. I have fond memories of reading the paper and sipping a Newcastle at The Old Swan. That would be a Northern English Brown. There are also Southern English Browns, with which I am less familiar but I would like to get to know better. So, I will add these two beers, as well, and a Cider, which should take me through the end of the year.
- A Northern English Brown Ale — Someone’s Newcastle Clone
- A Southern English Brown Ale — I will have to do some recipe research before I can say which
- (Pending) An English Cider — I was happy with the outcome of my Red Cap recipe, so I may try that again
Update (again): You know… There is no Porter here. I think a Porter is in order. Perhaps a Brown or a Robust Porter?
- A Brown Porter — The obvious choice would be a Samuel Smith Taddy Porter clone
- A Robust Porter — I know less about these, but have heard good things about Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Update (yet again): I cannot believe I missed an Imperial IPA! I also ended up making a Stone Arrogant Bastard Clone.
- (Done!) An Imperial IPA — Vinnie Cilurzo’s Russian River Brewing Pliny the Elder.
- (Done!) A Specialty Beer — Don Osborn’s Arrogant Bastard clone.