Brown Rat Porter

Bowing to pressure from some of the Good Rats I decided a beer tasting is in order. To commemorate such an event I decided to brew a new batch of beer which I'm calling "Brown Rat Porter". I'm aiming for 5.5% ABV and I'm hoping for just a hint of sweetness for what I think will be pure cool weather bliss. Or will it taste more like dead rat sludge not suitable for anything? We'll see. Anyway, I put the brewing pot on yesterday and the plan is to rack it in two weeks with carbonation two weeks from today.

I found another place for the Good Rats to check out someday (they don't have a pub or tasting room yet). It's called Captured By Porches Brewing Co. at 40 Cowlitz #B, St. Helens, OR. The company has it's roots in Portland where the owners would invite friends and enthusiasts alike to help them with their hobby which was strewn about their porch. As hobby's sometimes do this one turned in to a full blown microbrewery. Some of their product includes Invasive Species IPA, Red Emma Amber Ale and some seasonals.

Here's another web site to check out. It's called Good Beer Maps. Once there you can check out the region you want to explore. The Northwest Craft Beer directory is about in the middle.

It's Beer!

It's not just beer, it's REALLY BEER. Yesterday was racking day. I transferred my fermented beer to the 5 gallon corney then refrigerated it over night. This morning before work I artificially carbonated it using 20lbs of CO2. I put it back in the refrigerator and tonight after work I got to sample the finished product. All I can say is, it really, really worked. I sampled and I sampled. That's all I'll say. By the way it turned out to be 4.98% ABV.

I'm already planning my next batch. Something called Arctic Red or maybe a Nut Brown Ale or who knows maybe even a Hefeweizen. I'm not a big Hefe fan but Marie is and maybe I should make something I know she'll like.

Once I get some more experience at this I think I'll try to develop my own recipe and call it "Good Rat Ale" or Good Rat something. The boss had some name suggestions today but I'm not sure any of them sounded very appetizing.

By the way, do you know how rich I feel knowing I have 5 gallons of beer on tap? Such a deal!

Prost!

An Anniversary To Remember

Well, this may not seem very romantic but after all, it's been 34 years. Last Sunday I took my better half to McMenamin's Rock Creek for lunch. She LOVED it. I knew she would. Then we drove over to McMenamin's Road House and walked around the grounds. I took her inside the old house and I couldn't help but ask her to open the closet door next to the fire place on the second floor. Her reaction was just what I expected. Then we drove downtown and stopped at McMenamin's Ringlers Annex. She really liked that place too. Afterwards we went over to Powell's Books and perused their shelves.

I tried to get her to write a "guest" column here but she would have none of that. I wish she would because her take on things is usually very unique. She is much wittier than I am. Which isn't saying much I suppose.

I guess this might have been a modified, scaled down version of a Good Rats trip. I think I'll even call her a Good Rats Honorary Member. I don't think anyone will mind. I know this though, she will never be up for a Good Rats Tatt. That's alright. I love her anyway.