New Batch: 4-004 Blackberry Traditional

Friday, I brewed a new batch of sweet elixir of the gods! I am working on traditionals here lately and I continue with a blackberry honey. This honey is not like I expected; it is much lighter and completely crystalized. I had some difficulty getting the honey solvent and I had to use a little less water than I had hoped. I used the same recipe and yeast as 4-003 and, with the reduced amount of water, the OG was the same: 1.098.

Also, I cracked open some Black and Red (the buckwheat traditional) and oh my! it is tasty! I was expecting a much more bitter brew but even though it is dry, it does display some subtle sweetness. I may only brew traditionals from now on!

- Safari Bob

Batch 4-001 Bottled: Winter's Flagon

Today, I bottled batch 4-001: Winter's Flagon (OG: 1.060; FG: 0.992; ABV: 9.1%). This batch is apfelwein and a departure from what I normally brew. I was able to get from a 5 gallon batch (6) 1.5L Magnums and (16) Pint Flip-tops.

Winter's Flagon is sour with a distinctive 'Granny Smith' apple aftertaste that is crisp and clean. It is a great winter potable that reminds me (for some reason) of the Pub in the Dragon Lance books. I can well imagine this being served in some fictional bar from which all D&D adventures begin.

-Safari Bob

New Batch: 4-003 Cranberry Traditional

Tonight I brewed a new batch of mead: A Cranberry Traditional. This is a traditional (ie just honey, water, and yeast) but for the honey, I used a cranberry varietal from The Bee Folks. Here is the recipe:

4-003
4 gal water
1 gal Cranberry Honey
5 tsp yeast nutrient
1 packet EC-118 (hydrated)
OG: 1.098; Potential ABV: 13%

I am hoping that it finishes dry with a subtle berry sweetness. We shall see..

Wassail!

- Safari Bob

New Mead Bottled: Black and Red

I finally bottled batch 3-007: The Buckwheat Traditional. In keeping with the TTU theme, I chose the name of Black and Red because the mead has a hue of both black and red - depending on the angle of light. From 5 gallons I managed the following:

15 750 ml wine bottles
1 1 liter flip-top
1 750 ml champagne bottle (I carbonated)

(OG: 1.102; FG: .996; ABV: 14.1%)

-Safari Bob