Welcome to my blog – the chronicle of the Shadow Brewers. While it may sound ominous, it’s not… not at all in fact. We’re just a group of beer enthusiasts who have recently taken up brewing our own.
It all began with a beer class. More specifically, it all began when I told my friends Jared and Matt to buy a livingsocial.com deal for a brewing class at Mountain Homebrew and Wine Supply in Kirkland, WA. Although we purchased the deal last October (or November, I don’t remember), my lazy ass didn’t get around to signing us up for a class until April. Longer story short, we have a great time at this class, which provided us with not only a basic know-how to begin throwing grains, malt and hops into a pot, but also three basic beer-making kits which are currently in a state of disarray on the floor of my garage.
After leaving the class, we began our scheming over massive brews and deliciously greasy food at the Pumphouse, and break down our basic needs, which reads like a meth cook’s starter kit: big pot, big spoon, propane burner, test tube, tubing, clamps, copper pipe, ingredients, etc. etc. Our needs are quickly satisfied that afternoon with an off-brand turkey fryer and $20 of plumbing equipment from Home Depot. And then… we wait.
The following Sunday we brewed our first two batches. Jared picked up ingredients for a Pale Ale and an Amber from Mountain Homebrew, and Matt found a place in Everett where he picked up a kit for a Red Ale, and another kit that claims to yield the Diamond Knot IPA (yet to be brewed).
The brewing went fairly easily. We had a beautiful day, so we set the fryer on the back patio and lit her up. After a little getting used to – the gas valve was
intalled in the gas line backwards, but hey, it’s an off-brand turkey fryer, how much can I ask for – we had our first brew (the Rockin’ Red Ale provided by Matt) rolling to a boil. The day proceeded as planned, and with the heavy consumption of beers, some recipe modifications, and only one lost grommet, we successfully churned out our first two beers: a Red Ale and a Pale Ale.
Love, Food & Beer 