2021 Hail Storm Summer Saison (batch 290)

If my records are accurate, I brewed my 290th batch of beer on Sunday.

Over the weekend, I was talking to another homebrewer ... one that has been brewing way longer than I have ... who was going to brew his 100th batch on Sunday.

So ... 290 is a lot.

I've been brewing an average 23 batches of beer since 2009.

Last year I brewed 31 batches and I'm on pace to brew 28 this year.

The beer that I brewed Sunday was one of my Seasonal Saisons. I've been brewing those since 2014, and this was my 8th time brewing this recipe.

Hail Storm Summer Saison

Fathers' Day 2021 in RMNP (Part 2)

As I mentioned in Fathers' Day 2021 in RMNP (Part 1), we went camping in Rocky Mountain National Park over Fathers' Day weekend.

On Saturday, we drove up Trail Ridge Road and enjoyed the mountain views.

Fathers' Day 2021 in RMNP (Part 1)

Like most Fathers' Days, we went camping as a family again this year. This year, we went to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).

I love camping and I'm glad that even though the kids are getting bigger, they still seem (for the most part) to enjoy going with me.

Happy Fathers' Day to me!

Here are some pictures from this weekend ...

5th Everest of 2021

I've done another Everest since 4th Everest of 2021.  Another 29,032 feet climbed. My 5th Everest ... over 145,160 feet.

According to Strava, I've climbed 147,350 feet while cycling, putting me just over my 5th Everest of 2021. Strava says I'm ahead by over 10,000 feet to reach 300,000 by the end of the year.

I've also cycled just over 2,500 miles, putting my ahead of schedule to reach 5,000 miles by the end of the year.

Eric's Red Ale (Batch 289) and Brisket

I brewed and made brisket this past Sunday. 

At the same time I was in Sam's Club picking up my Country Style Pork Ribs, I saw a 10 pound brisket, and generally when I see a full brisket at that size, I try to pick it up.

In my opinion, a 10 pound brisket is the perfect size for smoking on my Weber Kettle, so I felt like I had to pick it up.

As far as the beer ...

This brew day was my 289th batch of beer. It was the 18th on my electric Anvil Foundry.

The beer is a recipe I've made a lot over the years, but I have not brewed in a few years....

Country Style Pork Ribs

Last week, I was in Sam's Club looking at meat. I saw Country Style Pork Ribs, which is something I used to make quite a bit, but really have not made (as far as I remember) since getting my smokers.  

Seeing them made me want to have them. I bought them to smoke this past weekend.

Country Style Pork Ribs are not really ribs at all. They are actually cut from a pork shoulder (the standard pork butt that I made pulled pork from). I have no idea why they are called "ribs". Of course, I don't really understand why a pork shoulder would be called a "butt" either.

Another KFC

Well ... I've shared a couple of experiences I've had making Kettle Fried Chicken (KFC).

Basically the same concept of oven fried chicken only made on the Weber Kettle.

Kettle Fried Chicken (KFC) turned out pretty good.

KFC take 2 turned out even better.

I made some this past weekend ... pretty much the same as how I did it on KFC take 2. 

I think the crispiness was even better this time. I think the coating could have used a bit more flavor. Probably a little salt would have been good.

But... since I never really mark down exactly what I put in rubs and coatings etc ... I may or may not remember next time.