Bur - Epic Pale Ale Clone

Ah, good to be back on the blog.  Even better to be back brewing.  It's funny how many of my hobbies have come from being frugal.   After arriving in NZ, i found that beer was very expensive, but on the plus side, it was good.  After moving to Oz, I found that the selection of good beer was much more limited, so I finally decided to begin brewing after it had been in the back of my mind for many years.  I began with liquid malt kits.  These are easy because one just has to boil the malt and then subsequently chuck the boil into a fermenter.  However, on my 4th brew, I decided to go All-Grain as they say.     

 All-Grain allows me to clone beers that I like, whereas, liquid requires one to brew what is available in kits.  I decided to go with one of my favorite NZ beers; although, there are so many that I enjoy.  I found the recipe for Epic Pale Ale on an American radio show (http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/668).  The radio show also explained how the brewmaster of Epic began his career.  Therefore, I recently bought grain (4 different kinds - Marris Otter, Caramalt, Carapils, and Pale Crystals).  I also picked up 2 pounds of hops from the States (Cascade hops from Oregon-Washington).   

I had to make a lautering tun and an immersion chiller for an All-Grain brew.  It took 2 trips to the hardware store.  The process involves mashing, which consists of heating the grain up to multiple temperatures and extracting sugars that depend on the temperature.  The grain is then put into the lautering tun.  This filters out the wort from the grain.  The grain acts as a sand filter.  The wort is recirculated to get small grains out of the bottom in order to get the "cleanest" wort.  The wort is then boiled for 90 minutes in this case.  Hops are also added during the boil.  The wort must be cooled to avoid killing the yeast during fermentation.  The immersion chiller is used for this, acting as a heat exchanger.  The chilller is attached to the faucet and cold water is used.  Wort is put into the fermenter with yeast and the fermentation process begins and is done for 1 week.  Hops are added (dry hopping) and then the secondary fermentation begins, which just involves siphoning the initial fermentation to get a resulting clearer result.  Hops are also added again.  Then beer!!! Good beer!!  Hopefully.  I'll keep y'all posted.  Meanwhile, listen to the radio program.  It's a good one and describes the beginning of proper NZ brewing.  NZ microbrews have really taken off since the initiation of Epic.  Someone needs to take charge and do the same, here, in Oz.  Who will do it? 

Glad it's not so complicated for men

The above image is actually a sign that had to be posted in the lady's bathrooms around the research facilities of the hospital.  Since, I don't typically frequent the women's restroom, I can only tell you what I have heard second-hand.  Apparently there are females who work in these facilities that choose to A) squat on the the toilet or B) squat on the floor.  I've been told that there have been presents left on the back of the toilets and on the floor in this 1st world civilized research facility. 

That being said, I can tell you that there are some pleasures in the squatting methods based on my experience in the wilderness.  However, I can say that I've only enjoyed such pleasures in places where no other humans would walk.  Although, I'm assuming that people don't want the presents I leave. 

Fish and chips

One of the big advantages to being near the ocean is the fish and chip shops.  At least, I'm assuming that it's the fresh fish that make these shops so delicious in the Australia/NZ area.  However, after searching online, I found out that the recipe is very simple (i.e. flour, beer, water, and salt) and I'm assuming follows the same recipe that they have in the UK.  In America, I haven't seen this simple recipe used, based on memory.  Maybe it's because I'm from the Midwest where we don't typically have fresh fish at the supermarkets.   

Anyhow, from what I have seen, every town in NZ or Australia seems to have at least 1 fish and chip restaurant.  Some of my favorites are pictured here.  The first one can be found in New Plymouth, New Zealand.  I tried fish from this one before the USA played Russia during the Rugby World Cup 2011.  Speaking of sports, I have seen fish and chips at every stadium and event that I have been to thus far down under.  As for the second picture, it is at Cape Palliser.  There was a little old lady serving up the food and some good ice-cream.  The location was beautiful, sitting between mountains and the Cook Strait.  Anyhow, I'm getting hungry and think I should go grab myself some fish and chips.  

Rockin in the free world

I have done a poor job with blog duty in November.  My mustache took too much of my attention.... well that and work.  The other night, I went to a Tenacious D and Foo Fighters concert in AAMI stadium.  It is interesting to see an American band in a different country.  I felt more at home, oddly enough (or maybe it isn't so odd).  It's like seeing friends coming into town.       

However, there are a few differences between Australian concerts and American concerts.  Australian concerts are very pricey.  I paid over $100 for tickets to this concert and that was for the worst/cheapest seats available.  Australian concerts are also always packed and sell out quickly.  They are also very limited in what acts will come into town.  Actually, it is funny seeing the tour shirts.  In the States, the shirts have about 50 shows listed on the back.  Here, they had 5.  That being said, I really enjoyed this concert.  I think the huge stadium of people gives the artist more reason to put on a great show, as opposed to a performance in a small club in Chicago or Atlanta. 

One of the humerous things about a stadium performance is that it's difficult to give everyone a good view.  In the case of Dave Grohl, he would run across the soccer field onto a platform, shown here.  Personally, I don't know how he has the energy to run back and forth, while singing and playing.  Jack Black was a little more tame with his movements.  His exciting move was to step down the stairs and come back up.  I jest, as I'm sure the center platform was reserved for Dave.  Regardless, both shows were great.  Both acts were funny and sounded great.  I thought it was actually worth the money.  Although, I'm getting an obscured view of cost after living in Melbourne.  There have been nights where I have easily gone through more than $100 on buying drinks for people and myself.  Such was the case during the night of the concert.  In my old days, I'd cringe if I spent $20 on drinks for one night.  Luckily, I don't have many expenses in Australia. 

For your amusement. PS penguins are hilarious.



Handlebars

It's been awhile since I've provided an update on life in Melbourne.  It is summer now and I've been getting out to the beach more since it's a little warmer.  The late sunset also allows me to go to the beach after work, while it's still light outside, assuming I don't choose to work late.  It's a great opportunity to read a book or journal article. 

 The other beauty of the beach is that I'm allowed to bring alcohol... at least until 8pm.  Suffice it to say, I'm not the only one that takes advantage of this. 

The other big activity for November is Movember.  The idea is to raise awareness for Men's health, particularily in regards to prostate cancer and depression.  I've tried to spur conversations at lunch and have put up mustache pictures with information on men's health in the caption in Facebook.  I have also created a Mospace page : http://au.movember.com/mospace/1456382 to get donations for research and awareness.  Surprisingly, I have actually started to raise some money.  Also, it's a great excuse to grow a mustache.  I'm halfway through the month.  We'll see if it's long enough to wax and curl in December.  Here's hoping.   

 

Greatest Achievement to Date

My greatest achievement in the lab so far is the purchase of an espresso/flat white machine.  During my last position in New Zealand, I was spoiled with a great coffee maker.  I have changed my definition of great coffee since coming to the Southern Hemisphere.  Here, they have what they call long blacks and flat whites.  A long black is hot water mixed with an espresso and this tastes, surprisingly, great. A flat white is frothed milk, without foam, mixed with an espresso.  The milk gets to a creamy texture as it is heated and the baristas create designs between the espresso crema and the frothed milk.  I've tried making such designs and have failed miserably. 

To the point, I noticed that my new lab had no coffee machine.  The only thing available was freeze dried coffee.  I can handle one of those a day, but anything more and it just tastes horrendous.  So, I have become a coffee snob.  Interestingly, the majority of the lab is interested in good coffee and most people go and buy a $5 coffee from the cafes at least once a day.  I calculated that I was spending over $100/month on coffee.  I mentioned to the boss an idea for increased productivity, a in-lab coffee machine.  My charm worked and within a week we had a coffee machine ($700).  Prior to this, everyone stated to me that the boss would never buy the lab a machine, but no one bothered to ask.  Unfortunately, I am now in charge of the machine, hence the Uncle Sam poster above the machine.  Therefore, I am in charge of bean purchasing and money handling.  My favorite so far is Griffiths (www.griffithscoffee.com.au), but others in the lab prefer McIVER'S (http://www.teaandcoffee.com.au/), specifically the Jamaican blend.  I chose the Cuban blend, just so that I could say I was enjoying some Cubans.  Plus, you can't get it in the States, so it has that sense of doing something naughty.  Anyhow, the standard coffee for the machine is now the Jamaican blend, despite my preferred Griffiths. 

The machine did not come without pain and conflict.  Once it arrived, I got an earful from an individual in the lab who complained about the machine to everyone.  I think a coffee bean may have done something bad to this person at a younger age, or something.  They had a vendetta against the coffee machine and me.  It was really odd.  They stated that I couldn't handle the care of the machine or money collection.  Within a week, I won them over, with a well oiled machine and consistent smell of coffee that diffuses throughout the offices.  It sure beats the other smells around the blood lab.