Well Sunday was thee hardest brew day ever at 18th Street, we brewed an all organic Chocolate Oatmeal Stout for my best friend Erin King CEO of Francis Ellis Candles & Blanca CFO 18th Street Brewery.They both are vegetarian and can't have Dairy. After a hard look for organic product I got everything I needed to make a very high quality organic beer, I went over budget on this beer because it needs to be perfect. So Sunday morning Blanca put on her rubber boots and came into to the brew house to help me brew, Erin had to work so she was not able to make it. Blanca did an awesome job and I had a great time teaching the person who cut the checks and is very honest about the product we produce.
This beer has super high quality Verona Chocolate, Whole Vanilla bean's, Extra Chocolate Malt and Extra Carmel 40 Malt. I used White Labs yeast for the batch, and it fermenting away at 69 degrees. Blanca & Erin will come up with a release date and Blanca will come up with a name for this beer soon so check back for details. The fermenter's or full again and we need 1 more fermenter and keg fridge to store all of our kegs, so we are on the for 2 new or used chest freezers or old working fridge. If you know anyone who is buying a new fridge soon and want to get ride of there old one please let me know.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The "Triple" brew day
It's time to give you an update, but first thank you all for the feedback on
“Steel Beam” Extra Pale Ale. I will be re-brewing "Steel Beam" this weekend based on your feedback.
“Steel Beam” Extra Pale Ale. I will be re-brewing "Steel Beam" this weekend based on your feedback.
And now the release of “Bad Buddha” Honey Brown Ale 3.5% ABV. this sweet light brown ale is a very nice spring & summer sipper, please hit me up on the blog to reserve your bottle.
In the keg went “Bust Yo Mouth” IPA and I had another sample and its still a WOW! Going into the bottle this weekend “Back Door” Blonde Ale brewed with Juniper Berries & Chamomile and I used Rouge "Pacman Yeast" which was a perfect choice. Also in the bottle and almost ready
“Azucar Payaso” all three beers will be released at our upcoming tasting on April 30th location TBD.
On Saturaday I brewed "VII", a Black IPA will be ready an April, I also brewed "Sinister" IPA again because it was so good we didnt want to share and last I brewed "332 Back Yard" Amber Ale again which was one of the first beers I brewed.
Keep the feeback coming and I will keep brewing.
Drew Fox
Founder & CEO
18th Street Brewery
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Moving at the Speed of Beer.
The word is in! Folks are into “Steel Beam”. I did a limited release to the faithful who have been supporting 18th Street Brewery from the start. I handed out four 22oz & 1 case of 12oz bottles and got some great feedback. Time to catch you up from last weeks brew day. I brewed “Back Door” Blonde Ale I used 1/2oz of Juniper Berries, 1/2oz of dried Chamomile and I used the wicked Rouge "Pacman Yeast". This beer has a OG 1.070, after fermentation it should round out to about 7.0% abv. I chilled it down after the boil and had a simple of the wort all I will say is wait and see!
In the bottle “Azucar Payaso” Amber Ale 5.0% ABV and of course I had a simple and its so good it will make you want to smack your mama. You can taste the sweet raw brown sugar and the vanilla, it’s very nice. Release date is still in April, but I’m might change my mind and release it in May that’s why you need to read the “BLOG”. $10 donation for “Azucar Payaso” the money will be used to make upgrades to our brewery.
Also in the bottle is “Bad Buddha” Honey Brown Ale 3.5% ABV. I had a simple bottle or two last night and its drinking very nicely. Release date is still 2/28/11 Donation for 12oz $3 22oz $5
Next in-line is “Bust Yo Mouth” IPA I had a sample and WOW! I didn’t want to stop drinking it, again you be the judge. I need help with this beer, I have 9 gallons of goodness and the questions I ask you is this. Should I bottle this beer which would mean time and money or should I keg 5 gal and auction it to the highest bidder. And bottle the remaining 4 gallons in 22oz bottles. Feedback please!
After some thoughts and ideas from friends and other brew folks about the direction of 18th Street
Brewery. I want to give you an overview of the operation. (1) Budget: My CFO gives me $200 a month to run the brewery which pays for all grain, bottles and specialty ingredients. It’s not a lot of money, but I use all of it to make great beer. At this point it’s not about making money it’s about making great high quality beer on a small scale. (2) So far the brewery has not debt and that’s the way I will keep it, we own all of our equipment out right. (3) We own our building which means we don’t pay rent. (4) The beer is flowing and we me and you 18th Street fans are having fun. We still our waiting for our license to come back from the Feds & State, so after a meeting with friends & Blanca the CFO of 18th Street that lasted 4 hours long hours, we said to help me keep making fresh beer on a small scale and more of it, we will start asking for donations for high gravity beers. Which means anything above 5.0% abv or higher, all of the donations go right back into making great beer and upgrading the brewery. So that’s why you see the donation amounts next to release dates, remember it’s a donation folks you still can get great beer from 18th street and don’t have to donate 1 dime.
Brewery. I want to give you an overview of the operation. (1) Budget: My CFO gives me $200 a month to run the brewery which pays for all grain, bottles and specialty ingredients. It’s not a lot of money, but I use all of it to make great beer. At this point it’s not about making money it’s about making great high quality beer on a small scale. (2) So far the brewery has not debt and that’s the way I will keep it, we own all of our equipment out right. (3) We own our building which means we don’t pay rent. (4) The beer is flowing and we me and you 18th Street fans are having fun. We still our waiting for our license to come back from the Feds & State, so after a meeting with friends & Blanca the CFO of 18th Street that lasted 4 hours long hours, we said to help me keep making fresh beer on a small scale and more of it, we will start asking for donations for high gravity beers. Which means anything above 5.0% abv or higher, all of the donations go right back into making great beer and upgrading the brewery. So that’s why you see the donation amounts next to release dates, remember it’s a donation folks you still can get great beer from 18th street and don’t have to donate 1 dime.
Upgrades, Co2 tank has been shipped and we should have it this week, this will help with getting beer in kegs, also on order is a The Counter Pressure Bottle Filler is a device that allows us to bottle beer after it has been chilled and carbonated in the keg. Without counter-pressure on the keg and bottle we would get a lot of foam, making bottling difficult. The counter-pressure bottle filler creates a pressurized atmosphere, which eliminates nearly all of the foam.
In the coming weeks spring and summer, yes summer beer will be hiting the brew house. And I’m about to get crazy with this idea which will be called. "Bitches Brew Day" I'm looking to auction a brew day at 18th Street Brewery in April, 5 spots will be offered you the high bidder will bring in your grains & fermenting bucket and brew your own all grain batch of beer. 5 people! ya I got balls! will take turns and help each other out one at a time on the Brew Magic system. This will be a brew day that will start at 8:00 a.m. and end when then last bucket of beer is in the fermenter. 18th Street Brewery will pony all the yeast for this event with food and o ya! beer lots of it. I will post the date & details of this event on Friday 2/25.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
"Steel Beam" Extra Pale Ale
"Steel Beam" has left the building! I offered a limited release for the Extra Pale Ale goodness and had some takers. I steel have three 22oz bottles left. So if your reading this they can be yours just post a message on the blog.
On 2/28 I will release "Bad Buddha" Brown Ale 3.5% ABV this soft sweet Brown Ale will be an everyday drinker. So if you want a bottle you know what you have to do. April will be a big beer release month, I will be releasing three beer at the same time.So keep you eyes wide open for your chance to sample 18th Street brews.
On 2/28 I will release "Bad Buddha" Brown Ale 3.5% ABV this soft sweet Brown Ale will be an everyday drinker. So if you want a bottle you know what you have to do. April will be a big beer release month, I will be releasing three beer at the same time.So keep you eyes wide open for your chance to sample 18th Street brews.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Limited Beer Release.
Last weekend I brewed 10 gallons of "Bust Yo Mouth" IPA This will be one of three of 18th Street Brewery flagship beers! A month ago I also brewed 5 gallons of Extra Pale Ale and used cascade hop's which will give this beer a clean, dry, and very hoppy taste. It has a sweet grain aroma and gives this appetizing ale its medium body and deep gold color. Also 2 months ago I brewed 4 gallons of what I will call "Azúcar Payaso" this Amber Ale will be released in April to the folks who have supported me and 18th Street Brewery from the start. I used raw Mexican Brown Sugar, whole Vanilla Beans and other ingredients I will hold back until it's perfect.
I know my supporters are waiting for my big release date and I can't wait either, I have just been trying to brew the perfect beer for all of my fans. The time has come, I will be releasing "Steel Beam" Extra Pale Ale. This is a Limited Release, I will only be releasing 12 22oz bottles. Some of you may ask the question why, becasue I will let the rest of the beer age until spring and compare it with 3 other batches I have fermenting. If you would like a bottle of "Steel Beam" the rules are listed below, also please tell your friends about 18th Street Brewery. THIS FIRST 12 PEOPLE WHO SEND A FB MESSAGE TO 18th Street Brewery FB page will get the goods.
1) You will get 1 22oz Bottle of "Steel Beam" EPA
2) You must post your feedback about "Steel Beam" on the blog or FB.
3) You must wash and return the bottle if you want to continue to recive Limited Release Beer from 18th Street Brewery.
4) Last we look forward to your continued suppourt.
I know my supporters are waiting for my big release date and I can't wait either, I have just been trying to brew the perfect beer for all of my fans. The time has come, I will be releasing "Steel Beam" Extra Pale Ale. This is a Limited Release, I will only be releasing 12 22oz bottles. Some of you may ask the question why, becasue I will let the rest of the beer age until spring and compare it with 3 other batches I have fermenting. If you would like a bottle of "Steel Beam" the rules are listed below, also please tell your friends about 18th Street Brewery. THIS FIRST 12 PEOPLE WHO SEND A FB MESSAGE TO 18th Street Brewery FB page will get the goods.
1) You will get 1 22oz Bottle of "Steel Beam" EPA
2) You must post your feedback about "Steel Beam" on the blog or FB.
3) You must wash and return the bottle if you want to continue to recive Limited Release Beer from 18th Street Brewery.
4) Last we look forward to your continued suppourt.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
"Sinister IPA"
Friday I spent most of the day in the brew house brewing "Sinister IPA". I tell you what the Brew Magic System is all Magic! The mash temp was at a perfect 153 degrees the entire 60 minutes. I hit 15 brix pre-boil then 13 brix for a gravity of 1.0441. And its fermenting away at 69 degrees in the brand new chest freezer with a temp controller. I will be adding two to the fermenter this weekend.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Brew Magic Logo & Lables
It has been some time since my last update. The Brew Magic brew system is in the brewery and ready to go, I spent last weekend cleaning and running temp test and all was perfect. Today we got a brand new chest freezer which will be our fermenter for all of our ale's. Just waiting for a digtal temp control which will be in my hands tommrrow. Julian a local artists from Indiana will be working on the logo and lable artwork for 18th Street Brewery, we should have a draft in the coming weeks for you to review. His art work will be used for our t-shirts and glassware, I cant wait to see what he comes up with.
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