A new beginning...Bring on 2017

It has been awhile since our last update, and we have been busy! Brewing while having a full time job can be a difficult task. Over the last few months, we have brewed several beers and updated our all-grain system. We can now make 10 gallon batches of each beer which is a huge upgrade from our first brew day four years ago in the standard beginner's buckets. We now have two systems, one for 5 gallon batches, and one for 10 gallon batches. For our five gallon batches, we use a 15 gallon MegaPot (Boil Kettle)  and 15 gallon BrewBuilt Pot (Mash Tun); our ten gallon system uses two 22 gallon BrewBuilt Pots. For both boils, our Hot Liquor Tank is a large kettle we picked up at Restaurant Supply. Mike finished building our RIMS tube to control our mash tun temperature. We added the Ultimate Sparge Arm from MoreBeer to our system and love it! We tried cooling our wort with a plate chiller, but we ultimately decided we like the ease of cleanup of copper wort chillers. Howerver, with both types of chilling systems, we now have options. Recently, we sold our glass carboys and upgraded to 7 gallon SS BrewTech Brewbuckets. They are awesome! We are hoping to upgrade to 14 gallon SS BrewTech Chronical Fermenters by May 2017 to give us more options for fermenting and help us harvest yeast after brewing.  Until then, we will be fermenting 10 gallon batches in Sanke Kegs. A few smaller items were added to our brew system as well...a yeast starter kit, quick disconnects for all hoses, a filter system, an oxygenation wand, and a quick carbonation lid for our corny kegs.

The brewery looks different as well. We added a large TV to the brewery and are hoping to hookup surround sound speakers soon. We still have the projector and large screen and are thinking that movie nights on the putting green may be in order. We built two new pipe tables on casters that have become our official bar. We acquired an upright freezer which houses our tasting glasses and backup/lagering kegs. We are hoping to change out the garage door soon to two roll up doors for more floor space. We have an awesome Two Jacks Banner, stickers, magnets, and hats. Hopefully, we'll have shirts soon...every good brewery needs merch!

In the next few days, we will be brewing Stop That Train, Judge Hopner, and Proprieter's Porter. Since we enjoy our new setup, we are hoping the result of quality beer will follow. Mike and I hope our little project can really bring all of our friends together and build new memories. Brew house game nights may be in our future....

Cheers to an amazing 2017!
2JBC