A few updates...

Since my last review (which was back in...JULY?!?  I really need to update this thing more), I've got a couple of updates for you.

The first thing I want to mention is that my good friends at Upstate Brewing Co. have finally found a home for their microbrewery and we can expect to see their fine beers commercially available early next year.  I've been following these guys since I first discovered their website earlier this year and it's fantastic to see their plans coming together.  These guys are particularly notable for their Common Sense Ale, which is a revival of the old Kentucky Common style popular in pre-Prohibition days.  Looking forward to trying it!

I've also gone through a whole batch of homebrewed British bitter (with a little help from my #1 fan and some friends), which was good but a little on the hoppy side for my liking.  The instructions said to dry-hop - this may have been the cause.  I have a second batch of Belgian ale (The Muscles from Brussels, Mk II) - this time I halved the bittering hops and used Wyeast 1214 (Belgian Abbey) to ferment, it worked out pretty well!  I'll have a full post on that soon.  I'm also bottle-conditioning my Winter Spiced Ale, in 22oz bottles.  that should be ready just in time for Christmas.

All in all, it's been a busy, beerful few months!  Watch this space, Upstate Brews is coming back...

Upstate Brewing Co

It's really wonderful to live in Upstate New York.  I've mentioned before things like the weather, the diverse range of activities and culture which are available around here...what's also marvellous to see is a burgeoning microbrewing industry.  In the past few years, Upstate NY has brought us Custom Brewcrafters, Rohrbachs, Southern Tier, Horseheads Brewing, Ellicottville Brewing, Three Heads Brewing (can't find a website, but they're on Facebook), and countless others.  With the wide availability of hops and grain, it's no wonder that Upstate is becoming a mecca for craft beer.

One particularly exciting prospect is Upstate Brewing Company, a new venture based around the Horseheads area.  They're very, very new, and if you follow them on Facebook you'll see all that's involved in starting up a brewery.  Watching a new small business come together is really fun to watch, and I'll be keeping a close eye on these guys as they start a new venture in this lovely part of the world. 

Coming up: some thoughts on my first homebrew batch and a writeup of my second batch!