Green Facism

I think that this column by Jonah Goldberg is very descriptive of the potential evils of environmentalism. It also kind of reflects his new book Liberal Fascism, a theory I always held, at least in concept if not in a defined thought. If I had a nickel for every time I heard a self proclaimed lefty say "Oh, I'm open minded, unlike you mean old conservatives" I'd be rich. The sentiment underlying that is so fascist. "Everything I think is right and 'open minded', everything you think is wrong and 'closed minded'" Ah, irony. The truth it seems is that we are all more or less closed minded about most things. I would hope I'd never say I'm "open minded". I'm not on many, many things that do not require an open mind. Child abuse and cold blooded murder don't really have any good qualities. A better way to have a manufacturing system however, I'm all ears.

Amber Progress

Tyler and I racked the amber into the secondary today. Oddly, there was still a lot of krausen (foamy yeast) on the top. I've never had that before. I think the temp in my basement was pretty low for the WLP001 California ale yeast, so it's in my closet now. Seems to be bubbling along fine at about 1/10sec. Gravity was 1021 or so, and I'm shooting for 1017-1012. The krausen returned to the beer shortly after being put in the primary. I guess that I will leave it in the closet unless it looks like it's going to blow, but there isn't much more sugar to eat. Uummmm....

Amber Ale

Amber Ale recipe of my own making. Pretty straight forward, simple. I've never used glacier hops before, so this should be interesting. Brew day is Saturday, the 12th.

2.5 gallon 60 min boil
5 lbs Amber DME
1 lb British 40L Crystal Malt (Steeped)

1 oz. Glacier 60 min
1 oz. Glacier 5 min

Should come in around 1047 o.g., 32 IBUs

California Ale Yeast WLP001

Total cost was $35, or $0.72/beer.

EPA

My english pale ale really came into it's own this last week. After a few days in the bedroom closet, the carbonation really hit. Man, this is a good beer!! I'm really happy how it turned out. I don't have anything in the primary or secondary right now, just Tylers ginger ale. I'm thinking about brewing either a Steam Beer or a Amber Ale. They aren't really all that different when you look at it from a malt profile. It's the yeast and hops that make them distinct. I think that the clock is running out for making a steam beer, and maybe that is best left for next winter at my place. Amber then? Greedo is on board for a IPA after that, and then Tyler and I start work on our Imperial Porter for next winter. Next? Brown ales, porters and stouts for the fall I guess.