Raspberry Porter

Have I mention that I love to brew?

I'm very excited about this batch. I'm brewing a nice, dark porter with:

6 lbs Amber Malt Extract
1/2 lb Black Patent Malt
1/4 lb 120 Lovibond Crystal Malt
1 0z Galena hops for Bittering
1 oz East Kent Golding hops for Flavoring
1 oz East Kent Golding hops for Aroma

I am using the Wyeast British II culture. This will be fermented for 1 week, before being transferred into a secondary fermenter with 2 or 3 pounds of raspberries. The sugar in fruit is slower to ferment than malt sugars, so I plan on giving it 1 month to ferment in the secondary before taking it off the remenants of the raspberries that will settle to the bottom and placing it in a 3rd and final fermentation to allow it to clear up as much as possible for about 2 weeks. So, somewhere around mid to late October this beauty should be ready for the drinking.

Now I've been asked a lot lately. Nate, why the hell do you do all this when you can just go to the corner store, liquor store, or beer store and buy a couple twelve packs. Half of me thinks, "If you are asking the question, the you are probably not the type of person that appreciates waiting for unique and wonderful things.", The other half of me thinks. "show me a beer store that sells Yarrow Ale or Raspberry Porter and I might" There is some magical about tasting something you created after waiting months for it to finish. Of course, I've always been one to like to make things when ever it is feasible and doesn't require too much expense or active time. We are so spoiled by convenience in the modern world. So many people don't want to do anything if it isn't served to them on a platter and then when something comes along that disrupts their normal consumerism (like $4 gallon gasoline) than they freak out and act like it is the end of the world. I've got an idea, how about walking, running, riding a bike, taking public transit or carpooling somewhere? Okay, I won't stay on that rant because it could go on for quite a while and I have a lot of things that I would like to do today, like bottle the Yarrow Ale, weed the gardens, pick tomatoes, and maybe go out and support some live bands tonight.

For those of you that want to come over and experience the Yarrow Ale, we will be having a gathering at our place to celebrate Calli's birthday (yes I know her birthday was at the beginning of the month, but this month has been to busy to do anything yet, by her own choosing)