Saturday January 9, 2010, Jim Grant was hard at work bottling his first batch of beer:
When I arrived, Jim had everything set up nicely.
Looks Like it is ready!
Me (Steve Keefe) and Bob Parkinson preparing to rack the beer....
Bottling and Capping...
Nothing left but the drinking.... Nice Job Jim... Can't wait to taste it!
Club Founder Steve Keefe has got a lot of brewing experience in a very short period of time. A real estate broker by trade, Steve owns Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty the largest and most successful real estate firm in the San Bernardino mountains of Southern California.
Steve began homebrewing in May of 2009 and as of this writing has over 30 5 gallon batches in a 7 month time period. He has experimented with many different styles of beer, but likes most to brew Stouts, IPA's and Alt's.
In December 2009 Steve and several buddies decided to start a club where they could share ideas and attract other interested people to this great hobby. The club is known as the Mountain Brew Club the website is www.mountainbrewclub.com
Lake Arrowhead where Steve lives is ideal for brewing due to the high quality water available as well as the controllable temperatures. There aren't a whole lot of places in So. Cal that you can brew year round and brew lagers without refrigeration, Lake Arrowhead offers those benefits.
When he isnt in the office running his real estate operation, Steve can be found on the golf course at Lake Arrowhead Country Club, or in his brew room watching over his latest creation.
For his birthday in October, a buddy of his Devon Reid had a sign made for Steve which hangs in his brew room... a picture of it is below. He isn't a brewmaster yet, but he is working on it.
Just returned from the home of Bob and Debra Parkinson where I did Brew School II. We brewed Bob's first batch of beer a Brown Ale. Debra surprised Bob at Christmas with a B3 brew kit what a gal!
Thank you both for a great evening... It was a lot of fun and Bob I can't wait to taste the Brown. Below is a picture of Bob with his new Baby...
My Buddy Troy Johnson who's lovely wife Denise surprised him this Christmas with a B3 beer kit was over last night and we brewed his first batch together a German Kolsch...
We had to figure out how to transport the beer without spilling it all over the inside of his BMW so we came up with a ziplock and some tape.... it worked pretty good.
Way to go Troy, can't wait to taste it... and look forward to then next one and the next one and the next one.
Troy had so much fun last night he went home and did this:
I began homebrewing in May of 2009. I have a spot in my workshop where I tally what I have done. It is a little tough to read in the picture so here is a more readable copy:
May 2009
Blonde Ale (First Batch)
June 2009
Jim Baumanns Milk Stout
Irish Red Ale
July 2009
Jim Baumanns Milk Stout (Because the first one was so good)
Orange Blonde
Jim Baumanns Milk Stout (Because the first two were so good)
August 2009
Steam Beer (In Honor of My Favorite Anchor Steam) (Blew this one)
Kolsch Ale
Banana Split Porter
September 2009
Steam Beer (because the first batch failed... kept the temp down on this one)
Blonde Ale
October 2009
Thanksgiving Ale
Belgian Dubbel
Berry Light Ale
Iris Red Ale (Adam Enterrios First Beer)
November 2009
Holiday Ale
Orange Wheat
Steam Beer
Blind Pig (Double IPA)
Holiday Milk Stout
Irish Red
Orange Wheat
December 2009
Pliny The Elder (Imperial IPA)
Steam Beer (Boosted Alcohol)
Honey Apricot Wheat
Mikes American Amber
Munich Helles Lager (First Stab at Lager)
Blind Pig (Double IPA)
Cowboy Alt (First outside the box recipe)
Munich Helles Lager (Because it is cold enough in my workshop)
Kolsch (Troy Johnson Brew School... Helped with his first batch)
Brown Ale (Bob Parkinson Brew School... Helped with his first batch)
