playin with more label designs today.....this one is a collab with @crs_acrylic

incoming...

I might have to change the name of this IPA from "Cant Get Right" to "Actually Kinda Alright" 🤔 . I turned up the carbonation in the keg, its settled down a little bit and tasting pretty sharp and hoppy and nice. But zero clarity 🤷‍♂️ . In the second frame I tried a video pour shot a la @_brewlove_ style. Maybe I should stick to brewing 😂 #outofframe #outoffocus #poorlighting #androidcameraphone

🔥HOT KVEIK FRIDGE🔥 . Last year when our kitchen fridge started having minor annoying issues we elected to get a new one, but the old one was still at least cooling, I moved it to the brewery for extra fermentation space . As with everything else in 2020, the fridge went belly up and stopped cooling. I really did not want to physically move it andor pay to have it freon drained at the dump. so I listed it for free on craigslist. A couple bites but no one came. . This is how and why I finally tried kveik yeast. I've started running this fridge HOT. With a temperature controller and a cheap heat wrap, plus it being summer in Virginia, I can ferment consistently and steadily in the 85-90F degree range. I have space in there for a second fermentor. This summer I'm planning to do most my ales (all except belgians) with kveik yeast in the hot fridge, and keep the working chest freezer dedicated to lagers. . Even a worthless broken fridge can be put to use at Rusty Barrel 🙌

all tests passing on night 2 of canning tests . Tomorrow night I'll open up these cans and see what's up. I think I'll prob need to increase carbonation in the kegs in the coming days, dust off the old beer gun and do an official run 😎 . Shout out to @oktoberdesign for reaching out in response to you guys tagging them lol they got me linked up with some missing parts and such which I will get ordered soon. I'm sure this machine has some miles on it and yet I was still able to get it working with their extensive docs and videos and a couple temporary screws and nuts haha. Going on my list of quality and trusted homebrew brands. 🍻

YES WE CAN!! . (.....er, well trying to. HOPE! 😄) . A while back I fell into a deal on an oktober MK series canner from a closing mellow mushroom somewhere in South Carolina i think. Living in richmond va I was able to acquire it through a beer trade of some of our fantastic local breweries (trader was not interested in my homebrew, ha!) . When it arrived it was beat up and dirty, slimy, missing parts, etc, as could be expected. I tried fooling with it and got discouraged, the canner has sat in my garage taunting me for the last 8 months or so. . Today being fathers day, I channeled some of my dads fix it mojo and got the thing cleaned up and running, tested a few cans. Jerry rigged a couple components and I actually think I have it working. A few failed water cans , a few failed beer cans, then 1 apparently successful water can. I'm about done drinking failed beer can beer for tonight 😄😄 but will resume tomorrow. Still needs some more cleaning and maintenance. But looking promising. 🙌

Happy Father's Day to all the great homebrewin dads out there! 🍻 . Leave in the comments how homebrewing changed since you became a dad! . For me I try not to let homebrewing get in the way of Daddy duties so I usually do my brew days at night. I can get the mash going and heat sparge water while we do family dinner and I put lil one to bed.

I POST MY F*CK UPS TOO! 😂 . "Cant Get Right" is a 7% "west coast" style ipa I've had on draft for a week or so now and it tastes... fine. but makes me annoyed every pint I pour. . (For starters its hazy af. I know how to make clear beer but for this I tried some new processing steps that went awry) . This is my 3rd west coast ipa this year, I've made minor adjustments but they've all been similar in that they are too sweet! Not dry or crisp at all despite corn sugar in the malt bill, high IBU and they've all finished at 1.010. 🤔 . It's time to take a step back and finally address the fact that I have been completely ignoring mash pH and water chemistry up to this point. It's time to step my game up and conquer a new aspect to my brewing repertoire. . I suspect the reason it's taken me this long to dive in is because my sweeter malty pilsners and lagers etc, NEIPA and milkshakes, moderate gravity stouts have all been fine. The west coast IPA and imperial stouts I've made in the last year or so really have not stood up to the to quality of the other beers. . I've started my research, acquired local water quality report, have a couple books and blogs going, cracked into bru'n water spreadsheet. Im really craving good west coast ipa and I want to be able to make it myself! Gotta make it happen! . As always, tips and recs welcome in comments. I certainly know less than a lot of you on the subject.