Batch No. 15: Semi-Pro Pilsner

Formula: First Pitch Pilsner recipe: 1 Can High Country Canadian Draft HME, 1 Can Pale Export UME, Booster, Sterling Pellet Hops
Brew Date: May 28, 2011
ferment time: 21 days
Bottle Date: June 18, 2011
conditioning time: 4 weeks
Open Date: July 16, 2011
Yet another American-style brew for Dennis the Baseball Coach. The name "First Pitch Pilsner" gives some indication: it's a good brew for a summer's day watching a ballgame.

A note on the name: As referenced earlier (Frank Truck Beer), my co-baseball coach Dennis played semi-pro ball. A very funny guy, Dennis frequently drops into conversation 'I played semi-pro.' Which he always followed up with a (quite funny) tag line.

We've come to be a bit like an old vaudeville cross-talk comedy act, and so more frequently than not, I am now the one who will drop into conversation, 'You know, Dennis used to play semi-pro,' to which Dennis will immediately follow up with his traditional line, 'I don't like to talk about it.'

Batch No. 14: Wicked Monk

Yes, that is Rasputin. He was the most wicked monk I could think of.
Formula: Wicked Monk recipe: 2x Witty Monk Witbier HME, 1 can Pale Export UME, Saaz Pellet Hops
Brew Date: May 6, 2011
ferment time: 21 days
Bottle Date: May 27, 2011
conditioning time: 5 weeks
Open Date: July 1, 2011
This is a stronger version of the Witty Monk witbier to which I added honey to make the Drones Club beer for my third batch.

This is supposed to be a pretty amazing Belgian white beer. The reviews on the Mr. Beer site give it 5 stars, and several people have said it's the best brew they've made. With all of those ingredients (3 cans of malt extract), I'm giving it an extra week (5 weeks total) of conditioning. It should be ready to try in about a month.
I'm curiously excited.

I'm also working on a neat label, playing on the 'wicked monk' theme.

Batch No. 13: Frank Truck (American) Beer

Formula: American Premium Lager recipe: West Coast Pale Ale HME, Booster, Centennial Pellet Hops
Brew Date: April 9, 2011
ferment time: 21 days
Bottle Date: April 30, 2011
conditioning time: 4 weeks
Open Date: May 28, 2011
Another shot at a good, light, summertime American beer. Again, for my co-baseball coach and friend Dennis.

This is just the classic American lager; think Budweiser. We'll see.

Name note: Dennis played semi-pro ball (he doesn't like to talk about it*), and one of his teammates may or may not have been a guy named Frank Truck. I'm not entirely sure of the back story, but - again, on fishing/drinking trips with his brothers - "Frank Truck" has turned into a catch-all expression.

If you catch the biggest fish? That's Frank Truck.
If you get your lure caught in a tree and you're attacked by a dogmonkey? That is also Frank Truck.

Superlative forms include "Francis Ford Truckula".

* More about semi-pro coming with Batch #15

Batch No. 12: Cervesa Cinco de Mayo

Formula: Cervesa Cinco de Mayo recipe: American Blonde Ale HME, Booster, Sterling pellet Hops
Brew Date: March 12, 2011
ferment time: 21 days
Bottle Date: April 2, 2011
conditioning time: 4 weeks
Open Date: April 30, 2011

Another try at a summer beer. I was looking for something like Corona; something to put a lime into and enjoy on a hot summer's day. This is supposedly more like Dos XX than Corona. We'll see.