So Much for Trying

Last weekend I tried to make a three gallon batch on my stove top, but sadly my range couldn't bring four gallons of wort to a boil. After waiting and hoping for 15 min after it started showing promising signs, I had to move it outside to a real burner. Rather than using m garage like I had been, I took advantage of the gorgeous weather we were having and brewed in the yard. I was still within ten feet for combustibles but at least I was concealed from nosy neighbors.
The good news is that I can go back to making full 5.5-6 gallon batches. The bad news is I am no weather bound. I cannot brew during active rain or snow. Both of which come around a lot here in Wisconsin.

Booo!

I woke up Sunday morning and picked up a voice mail from the head of our condo association. The message said something to the affect of "people have noticed you brewing... something in your garage. And we're concerned that it's a fire hazard and would like you to stop immediately." I had to wait until Monday to speak with someone from the Fire Department, and indeed, in multi-unit dwellings (we live in a town home), open flames are not permitted within ten feet of constructed walls.
OK, I get it, I was violating the law, and I'm fine with the fact that I can't do that anymore. It's a huge bummer because it means I can't brew outdoors anymore, which means I have to limit myself to 3 gallon batches as opposed to 5.5 or 11. What bugs me though, is that the person who called to complain didn't bother to come talk to me. We do have one set of neighbors that have seen me brewing and have asked and were intrigued to find out what it was. I wish more people were like them.
I've been told that I should just skirt the law and brew with the garage door closed (open the yard door for ventilation). But I don't want to get in trouble, and I know the person who called it in and it's beneath him to call the police if he thinks I'm still violating code.
So, until the day we move, I'll be brewing small batches. Hey, at least that means I can experiment more with unique or strange brews.

Yippee!

Just last week I learned that my oatmeal stout took second place in the category of Dry/Sweet/Oatmeal stouts at the 2009 Babble Brew-Off! This was only my second entry in a competition, and my first place. I got some very nice reviews and look forward to brewing and entering this recipe again.
I should also mention that I entered my Ordinary Bitter in to the English Bitter category and placed 11 out of, you guessed it, 11! The notes from this beer were actually much more telling for me and gave me some very good insight into what I had done wrong, and what to look for next time.

Finally, a Wee Heavy

I finally got around to brewing up that wee heavy. I ended up switching recipes at the last minute and going with one that I know has been tested, as opposed to the trial run I was going for originally. I missed my starting gravity by 8 pts (got 1.087), which isn't bad at all for that sized beer. I had to ferment it in the utility sink immersed in cold water to keep the temp in the low 60's, and it worked.
I got the recipe from the Jamil Show on The Brewing Network.

19 lb 9 oz Maris Otter
1 lb 3 oz Crystal 40L
9 oz Special B
2 oz Roast Barley

1.2 oz Norther Brewer @ 60 min (25 IBU)
Scottish Ale yeast with a 5 qt starter.