2016 Q1 SheppyBrew Stats

As you may know, the Brewery likes to post quarterly updates on how much we have brewed. You can see all these updates (including the one you are reading right now) by following this link:http://blog.ericshepard.com/search/label/Brew%20Stats .

Q1 of 2016  at the SheppyBrew Brewery was busy early in the quarter, but then slowed down. I brewed three batches in January alone, but then only 1 in February and none in March.

In case you don't want to do the Math, that's 4 batches:

• Arctic Vortex Winter Saison
• Ulterior Motive Amber Lager
• Brother Bear Dopplebock
• Ello Poppet Czech Pilsner

Those batches were each 5 gallons, putting my total first quarter volume at 20. I'm on pace for only 80 gallons this year. Last year, I brewed 6 batches in Q1. I'm off that pace.

Arctic Vortex Winter Saison

Mosaic Muggled

Recently, I decided that I wanted to brew something hoppy. I didn't really want to come up with a new recipe, so I went through some of my older ones. I thought maybe Tommy Hawk APA or Chelsea Dagger Pre-Prohibition Lager would be good ideas.

Then, something made me think about Mosaic Hops.

I've never used Mosaic. To be honest, I don't think I've tasted a beer with Mosaic Hops. I'm not even sure what made me think about them.

Also known as HBC369, Mosaic is the first born child of Simcoe. Some have described it as Citra on steroids, but it’s much more than that. Rich in Mango, lemon, citrus, earthy pine, tropical fruit, herbal and stone fruit notes.

It does sound like a hop that I should at least try.

Mor'du Scottish Ale

In the 2008 version of the BJCP Guidelines, Scottish Ales were in a category with Irish Reds.

In the 2015 version, Scottish Ales had their own category. I've brewed an Irish Red, to satisfy the 2008 category, but had never brewed anything in the new 2015 Category 14, Scottish Ales.

See http://www.bjcp.org/stylecenter.php

So, yesterday, I brewed a "14B: Scottish Heavy". You can see the recipe on the SheppyBrew website at:

Mor'du Scottish Ale

2016 Melting Stream Spring Saison

I brewed last Sunday.

Melting Stream Spring Saison

Of course Melting Stream is the Spring version of SheppyBrew's Seasonal Saison series of beers. It is the lightest in color of the series. It is the biggest in alcohol of the series. It is the hoppiest of the series.

It does follow my basic philosophy about Saisons, though. Of course, I use Wyeast 3711 French Saison yeast ("The Real Super Yeast"). It isn't overly high in alcohol or saison funk. And it gets its flavor from real beer ingredients.