2014: What will you accomplish this year?

He probably will go,... " I still like what I like." but thats how it is. I sure wish I could have some of that kolsch when its done!

 

Yeah my goal would be to brew more styles as well. I tend to brew my favorites: wheats, pale ales, cali common. I mean nothing wrong with that I have them pretty dialed in I'd just like to have some more variation and some 'weirder' stuff. The problem is they are the perfect combination of easy and my favorite styles. I need to step out of my comfort zone.

 

You don't like birds?

 

1) Perfect (to my tastes) that Porter/Stout whatever it is I've been doing for 6 or so brews now.
2) Hopefully make a decent outside brew area. Stand and etc. May take a back seat to other projects - like forced air for the house. The wood burner could use an assist and so could my old back.
3) Hone the skills and get closer to ingredients = reproducible results.

Reviewing - I did ok in 2013 for a newb
- Brewed 5 or so disappointing beers out of 24 tried. All but 1 were from canned recipes, and the first 2 were when I had just started, 1 was a Belgian that I did for the hell of it (and everyone hated) and the others had some self-inflicted brewing malfunction.
- Went to all grain and DIYed the mash tub and incidental equipment.
- Got the keezer built and went successfully to kegging thereafter.
- Made some beers I am proud of. Not stellar, but quite enjoyable.

 

My only real goals this year are to introduce and teach home brewing to at 3 people.

 

I built a mash tun for 5 gallon batches but in 2 years I've used it once.

 

One reason for the 5 gallon system, is that I will probably do a class as a fund raiser for the local YMCA. Did an extract class before, all grain this time.

 

My main goal for 2014 is to brew my first lager, a helles bock, including temperature control, oxegenation, big yeast starter, etc. If I get it done before the end of May, I'll call it a Maibock. :-)

Also want to improve my Celis Grand Cru clone. I actually found a 6 pack of the MBC version during my Rose Bowl trip to LA last week (Go Spartans!). It's clearly old since MBC went out of business in 2012, but it's giving me some good input. I had only ever had CGC from Celis' Austin brewery back in the 90s.

Patiently allow my barleywine and mead to age. And make an acerglyn which will also have to age.

And maybe I'll try entering competitions this year.

Happy New Year all and good brewing!

 

Damn, this is where I throw it all out there to revisit in a year and go "nope, nope, almost, yeah, nope.".
Brew. Stand. First and foremost.
After that, I am aiming to brew bi weekly, and hit every competition I can. I say its for the feedback, and I need as much of that as possible, but placing adds validity to this for me. At least I can look and say "I can brew great beer". I need to get off the hop thing. I have been leaning on them way too much. I am pretty sure citra covers up all but the most obvious flaws in a pale ale. So I guess that means more saiisons, more alts, some wits, a few porters and several stouts are getting brewed this year. Judging by what my goals were last year ans what I feel I achieved this year should be groundbreaking.