Posts Tagged ‘My Monkey’s Got Wood’
The Friday Question
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
OK, I know, I’m a day late (again) but it was a busy day yesterday and I couldn’t find the time! I’m almost at the end of my brew marathon. Porter today, Ironman Monday and maybe a Red Tuesday and then no brewing for 2 weeks. Lots of processing/kegging of course next week but I am looking forward to not digging out a mash tun, that’s for sure. We’ve got some cool events going on in the next week as well. Monday is, of course, Valentine’s day so sees the release of Hot Monkey Love batch #3, a 10% abv strong ale brewed with 17lbs/barrel of honey. So, for all of you gentlemen who’ve been procrastinating and bashfully lurking outside Victoria’s Secret, get it done, make her happy and then come along to The Pratt Street Ale House and get some Hot Monkey Love! Ladies, don’t feel left out, I encourage you to come partake in some Monkey lovin’ also! I’ve been trying to decide whether I should tap a cask of “My Monkey’s Got Wood” (American Oak) or a cask of “My Minkey’s Got wood” (French Oak) for the release and then it dawned on me … it’s a no-brainer … French is the language of love, so My Minkey’s Got Wood it must be! On Wednesday I’ll be at the Columbia Firehouse in Alexandria for a very special cask event (see previous post for details). Friday sees the release of our 3rd Channel Crossing collaboration with Stillwater Ales. It will debut in oak cask at Max’s Belgian Beer Festival and will be on draft at The Ale House. Also on Friday, Bertha’s in Fells Point will have a pre-release cask of the new Biere de Garde (6.8% abv, fermented with Brewer’s Art Resurrection yeast) on gravity pour, take a breather from Max’s and grab a pint! As I’m sure you realise, we brewers like nothing better than releasing new beers so I’m very excited to announce a triple release for the D.C. market at ChurchKey on sunday 20th at 4pm. Brian of Stillwater Ales and myself will be there to welcome Channel Crossing #3, Hot Monkey Love & Stillwater’s “25 to 0ne” to D.C. Each will be available on draft and cask and, in the case of Channel Crossing, it is an exclusive cask with roasted, caramelised cocoa nibs and vanilla beans! Hope you’ll be able to join us.
Got wood? Our Monkey does .... come get some lovin' on Valentine's Day!
So, onto the business in hand, The Friday Question. There are two correct answers to last week’s question …. sort of …. my book of trivia states that “S.S. Egholm is sunk by a mine on passage from Leith to London with a full cargo of Wm. Younger’s beer” (on this day in 1945) which makes Dave Abernathy a winner (despite getting the ship’s name slightly wrong). However, when I researched the vessel it is commonly reported that it was sunk by a torpedo from U-2322 which makes Platypotamus a winner also. Congratulations gentlemen, you both get a growler of Oliver Ales and a bottle of something from the brewery fridge. I have to say, I loved all of the less serious answers … it was my intention to award a prize to my favorite but I simply can not choose between them so it would be my pleasure to buy all other participants a beer … stop by the Ale House or catch me at one of our events. For this weeks question I return to my book of bizarre beer related facts … HERE GOES … I’m partial to a pint of Porter but it can be detrimental to your health … how so? As usual, please answer via the comment section and if you haven’t got a clue, make me laugh and there could be a beer in it for you. Good luck, a growler of Oliver Ale is up for grabs.
Pint Night @ Frisco Grille
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Tomorrow night sees the final showing of “My Monkey’s Got Wood” (batch # 1) @ Frisco Grille. This cask has been aging for a little over 4 months and is the only cask of our simian friend in existence so come along and get some while you can. The Monkey won’t be making another appearance until batch #2 is ready, many months from now.
Also on tap is 3 Spires Ale.
Release the Monkey! (updated)
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
As a forerunner to the soon to be released Hot Monkey Love, from 5pm tonight we will proudly be serving cask conditioned “My Monkey’s Got Wood”. This limited release (we will only be serving 1 firkin) will be available at the special price of $3 for a 10 oz snifter from 5pm – 7pm tonight. We will also be selling the super limited edition t-shirt (only 30 silk screened shirts produced, $20 each), so come along and get some wood, you know it makes sense!
As fate would have it the Strongman Pale Ale has kicked so the Hot Monkey Love is now on tap!
Hot Monkey Love on tap NOW!
Mid Week Round Up
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Can’t believe it’s only Wednesday, surely it should be Friday by now, oh well. Monday at Victoria Gastro Pub was fun, thanks to everyone who came out. I was pleased with the way batch #1 of Hot Monkey Love turned out. You’ll see it popping up in a few of your favorite craft beer bars pretty soon (Judge’s Bench, Frisco Grille and Metropolitan have all taken delivery, more to follow). After last weeks 6 brew-day extravaganza we’re aiming for a more manageable 4 this week …. Ironman Pale Ale, Old Habit, Amber Ale and Best Bitter. Obviously there’s a lot of processing of last weeks brews to do as well. It’s sort of a case of musical brew tanks … as one batch is kegged the tank is prepped to make room for the next, which then frees up a conditioning tank for a batch from FV, which then frees up the FV for that days brew. Some days 3 or 4 seperate batches are criss-crossed around the brewery!
I’ve been filling a lot of firkins as well. 5 (Best and ESB) are going out to ChurchKey, 4 (Cherry Blossom Ale, Dry Hopped Blonde, 3 Lions and Dark Horse) to the 2 Pizzeria Paradiso locations and a firkin of Ironman Pale Ale dry hopped with Bramling Cross went out to Frisco Grille. Yummy!
Don’t forget that tomorrow night @ 5pm we’ll be pouring the super limited “My Monkey’s Got Wood” (only 1 firkin) and selling the equally limited t-shirt (only 27 available, $20) at the Pratt Street Ale House. The Monkey will be at the special price of $3 for a 10 oz snifter until 7pm. Come along and get some wood!
On the beer engine Thursday from 5pm
The Friday Question
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Ah, hops glorious hops. Last weeks question was how many pounds of hops are we contracted to buy in 2010? There was a good spread of answers but it was a tricky question because we had a pretty good stockpile coming into the year so we didn’t need to buy everything that we anticipate on using this year! The winner of the super limited “My Monkey’s Got Wood” t-shirt is SteveJ with his guess of 880 lbs which came closest to the correct answer of 914 lbs. Congratulations Steve.
So this week’s question is going to involve more mathematics (or more likely a lucky guess)! How many gallons of beer have we brewed so far in 2010? Remember we brew in 7(ish) barrel batches. As usual, please post your answer via the comment section below. I have to admit, I have no idea what the prize will be but chances are it will involve drinking beer so have at it and good luck!
Mark your calendar for Monday evening when the good people at Victoria Gastro Pub will be hosting an Oliver Ales evening with 8 of our beers on draft. Come along, grab a beer and souvenir pint glass and say hello to us …. we’re actually getting out of the brewery for a change!
Have a great weekend.
Cheers
Steve
My Monkey’s Got Wood … on Thursday!
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
O.K. folks, Thursday is the day. The t-shirts for “My Monkey’s Got Wood” will be in tomorrow so if you want one and a beer come along on Thursday. “My Monkey’s Got Wood” will on special between 5pm and 7pm, $3 for a 10 oz snifter.We have a very limited supply of the t-shirts so don’t miss out (only 27 will be available for sale). We’ll be on hand for a while so if you want to talk beer we’ll be happy to listen and answer any questions you have. If you purchase a Monkey Wood batch #1 t-shirt you’ll automatically be entered into the draw for the My Monkey’s Got Wood batch #2 release in November. That will get you a free batch # 2 t-shirt available at the release and you will be the guest of honor that pours the first snifter of batch #2 (which of course you get to drink for free!) and we’ll even throw in dinner for you and a guest. Sound good, well then get yourself down to the Pratt Street Ale House on Thursday from 5pm.
Speaking of wood, if you’re out and about tonight, The Judge’s Bench (http://judgesbenchpub.com/) will be entertaining the fine folks of the SPBW with a firkin (gravity pour) of 3 Lions aged with American Oak so come along and enjoy a beer and good company.
The Friday Question
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
It’s been another busy week as we gear up for Opening Day. Justin has been putting in some serious brewing hours this week as it’s been William’s Spring Break so I’ve been out for a couple of days (building and painting WWII model kits, can’t wait to get out this afternoon to put the Sherman tank and landing Craft together!) We’ve put through a Bishop’s Breakfast, Best Bitter a double batch of Ironman and on Saturday I’ll be brewing batch #2 of the Cherry Blossom Ale. Some casks of Cherry Blossom Ale have been sent out this week (ChurchKey, Commonwealth Gastro Pub, Max’s and The Wharf Rat) and the rest of the batch is kegged and ready to go. As soon as the Bishop’s Indulgence kicks (we’re on the last keg) it’ll go on tap. Also this weekend I’ll be carbonating the Hot Monkey Love and we’ll be sending some of that out next week so expect to see it on tap soon. Speaking of which the designs for the “My Monkey’s Got Wood” t-shirts have been finalized. We’re going to hand screen a very limited number probably about 30 which will have a front pocket print, an inside tag print (see below) and the Monkey on the back (see previous post).
the "tag" print for the new limited edition t-shirt.
Pretty cool, eh? These will be so rare that even Justin and myself have to buy our own but I will be giving one away as today’s Friday Question prize!
Don’t forget that today, as part of our Cask Ale Appreciation Week we will have the glass head firkin on the bar serving gravity pour pints of Blonde Ale dry hopped with Maryland grown Chinook hops at a special price so come down and get a fresh, cask conditioned ale!
So, on to the Friday Question. There were a lot of guesses but one hit the nail on the head. Chris guessed correctly with 220lb and so wins the mixed 12 pack of beers from The Great Divide Brewery, congratulations. So on to this week’s question …. that hop delivery is one of several that we will take over the course of the year. What I want to know is how much (in pounds) have we contracted to buy over the course of this year? Now those of you who are veterans of the Friday Question (or those of you who can be bothered to search the blog archives) will know roughly how many times we’ll brew this year so should be able to approximate how much hop we’ll use (yeah, sorry, it’s that math thing again!) or alternatively you can have a wild stab in the dark! Anyway , the super limited “My Monkey’s Got Wood” t-shirt is up for grabs (just as soon as they’re printed). As usual please enter via the comment option below, first correct answer posted gets it. Good luck.
have a great weekend
Steve
My Monkey’s Got Wood
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The new My Monkey’s Got Wood t-shirt design is progressing nicely so I think they’ll be ready next month sometime (touch wood, ha ha!). When they’re ready we’ll be releasing a cask of My Monkey’s Got Wood (batch #1) and brewing batch #2 which as usual will see some subtle changes in recipe. Batch #1 weighed in at 9.81 % abv and 43 IBU. For batch #2 I’ll sacrifice a little volume for an increased Original Gravity with a view to hitting 11% abv and I’ll be switching out some of the First Gold for Target for bittering. I’ve also taken delivery of 2 beautiful hand made, custom toasted, 10 gallon American White Oak barrels for aging My Monkey’s Got Wood, oh yeah!
Future home of My Monkey's Got Wood!
The Monkey is dead, long live The Monkey
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
In a spectacular example of coincidental timing the last two Hot Monkey Loves shuffled off this mortal coil within minutes of each other some 40 miles apart last night. Although separated at birth the bond was obviously strong between these two. The cask of My Monkey’s Got Wood kicked at The Ale House last night just as we were sampling the remaining sixtel of Hot Monkey Love at The Strong Beer Tasting at The Brickskeller in Washington D.C. That’s some coincidence considering their journey started in April of 2009!
But as the Phoenix rises from the ashes, the Monkey shall be reborn! A cask of Hot Monkey Love will be previewed at The Real Ale Festival at The Ale House on March 20th. The Hot Monkey Love will then be returning to the taps to celebrate Opening Day 2010 at which time we will be brewing batch# 2 for release in November. There is of course a cask of My Monkey’s Got Wood hidden away for future release and one cask will be released to Frisco Grille to celebrate their move/expansion.
The Friday Question
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Before I get on to the Friday Question I’ll just remind you that My Monkey’s Got Wood, the cask of Hot Monkey Love aged with American Oak since 4/30/09 will be on the beer engine on Valentine’s Day. Nothing says “I Love You” like a Monkey with Wood! The cask is vented, tapped and sampled and absolutely bursts with Oak flavors, more Oak than you could shake a big stick at! Despite it’s 10% a.b.v. the beer has a “soft” quality, with the underlying sweetness and oak flavors combining wonderfully and a gentle warm finish.
So on to the Friday Question. There was a good spread of answers given but, as I explained, I don’t know what the answer is myself yet. The test kit should be arriving today so we’ll send the samples off to the lab on Monday. Hopefully the turnaround time will be minimal. As soon as the analysis is back I’ll post the answer/winner.
This weeks question is a fairly simple one. As many of you know as well as distributing firkins of our ales we use kilderkins in house. A kilderkin is a cask with a volume of 18 Imperial Gallons (21.6 U.S. gallons). Despite the fact that I filled kilderkins every week when I brewed in the U.K., when I finally got some here it had been some 9 years since I’d handled one and I was shocked by how heavy they were. So, the question is this, how heavy is a full kilderkin of beer? For those of you who want to calculate the weight of beer we’ll assume that it’s Best Bitter with a specific gravity of 1.010. Obviously you’ll have to guess what the kil is made of ie stainless steel or aluminium to get an estimate of empty weight. Usual rules apply, one answer only via the comment section below, judges decision is final. In the event of a tie the first correct answer posted wins. Good luck. The winner gets one of the new Hot Monkey Love t-shirts (back print shown above) and the satisfaction that you know a piece of useless information that you’ll never get to use again!