Monday, January 14, 2013

What's Brewing?

 Our son decided that his dear old dad should get back on board with his beer brewing. He started last year by cooking up a batch of beer with him. When the beer was ready to drink and it was so tasty Mark decided he would make another batch, which lead to yet another batch.
Now we are in full swing on the making of beer.

Mark was brewing beer 35 years ago when we first moved here and the only beer you could buy was some low-rent stuff. So low-rent was some of it that it came in a white can that only said, "beer".

When we traveled we looked for beer supplies stores, Sadly there was no internet and you had to do real research to find things. We found 2, yes, 2, beer supply stores.
One was in Norfolk and really they were into baking supplies but they had a small, wee, corner of the store where you could get some beer supplies. Then we found one in Charlottesville, Va. where my sister just happen to live.
Now to tell the truth was this good beer?
Well it was better than the white can variety of beer.
 It was drinkable.
And, it was more work.
Move to now and we have real choices in the making of beer.
New and improved yeast and hops, plus beer supplies can be found with the stroke of the key board. And, we have beer supplies now readily available 10 minutes from the house. Really! Closer than the 25 we used to drive to buy the low-rent stuff.  

The beer Mark is making now it not just good, it is pretty darn good.

Beer.
Tasty stuff....


 You know how much we love this pond of ours because I have been taking pictures of it for years. This past week the weather was so warm and the pond so still that I had to get some of those reflection pictures that I love so much.
I look out on this water daily and marvel that I never get tired of seeing it.
There really is something healing about living around water.
The same but different everyday.




Lovely winter trees and clouds....

We have started preparing the pots for glaze. It is time to check the levels of the glaze buckets and replenished as needed.

There is a rumor that winter rolls back in tomorrow.

Stay warm,

18 comments:

Dennis Allen said...

Winter got here today. It should make it down to you in a day or two.

smalltownme said...

I remember that generic beer.

Tracey Broome said...

It's some damn fine beer, I went to bed at 8:30 last night after just one glass of it! I started to stop on our way out and take a photo of your pond, seems I take a picture of it every time I come down there, I never get tired of it either. Thanks for entertaining us yesterday, it was a great visit!! I don't make beer but come to Chapel Hill and we can visit one of the many local beer spots here:)

smartcat said...

We used to make beer many years ago.....back in the seventies. It was tasty enough that I enjoyed it, even though I am nota beer drinker. We made it for much the same reason that you did.....it didn't come in cans labeled beer, but close to it.

My pond is small but we have the same feeling of peace about it. The ice has melted; we even saw the fish swimming today...but...Winter is coming!

Lori Buff said...

I started brewing beer years ago in VA, when I moved to GA you had to buy ingredients to make home made "cereal" as home brewing = bootlegging. Now you can buy beer making kits in Ace Hardware. Go figure.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

Yeah, I would brave the snakes down there to try some of that lovely brew :)

ang design said...

oh what are you brewin!!!! you making some brewin jugs next, that would make for a rockin open studio day :))

Shortstuff said...

Beer used to be my "go-to" gift for Mark for all occasions. Shoot, now I'm going to have to get creative or something!
Tell him to whip up a batch of Hefeweizen and I'll be down.

Michèle Hastings said...

that beer sure looks tasty... and those reflection photos are beautiful.
hate to see winter return, but it's good for the earth to be closer to "normal".

Laurie said...

Too funny about beer in white cans labeled "Beer"!

cookingwithgas said...

Mark will always take beer as a gift! Just send it on.
Here comes winter- put your coat on.

Anna M. Branner said...

Greg used to brew, until his back got so bad he can't lift the carboys....when we bottled we had to lock the animals out because they loved licking up the spillage!

Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen said...

I have many friends who are really good brewers. My friend Karl made some Godiva chocolate stout that even I, a non beer drinker would drink. In fact, I'll taste almost all of his beers. I may not drink it but I do love cooking with it! Beer bread.....mmmmmmm!

Unknown said...

Its always fun to make your own stuff- good to know what goes into it, etc.
I love seeing the spring photos from people in the south...reminds me that it's coming our way~ inch by little inch! Today the weather man said daylight increase of 1 min.!! Key word: Increase
:)

Amy said...

Gosh, this makes me wish I liked beer! Sounds wonderful.

Linda Starr said...

I've never liked beer but I do like the color and the smell of it, looks wonderful, winter will be here next week.

Sandy Miller said...

We just bottled! Started making beer last year, why? Because our daughter was making it in her kitchen sink! She shamed us into making our beer. Easier than making glaze!

cookingwithgas said...

I noticed a wee more sun light the other night- spring will be here before we know it.
I can see potters are also brew masters!