2011 THE YEAR OF BEER

I've been in a brewing rut the last few years. Brewing just often enough to keep the kegerator going and feeding my modest drinking habits. Bottle conditioning nothing, sharing only the occasional growler and making adequate, but somewhat boring session beers. But this year is going to be different, I hope.

There will be more beer. There will be big beers, the kind that need to sit in the dark for a few months to be really ready to enjoy. The hop garden will get the attention it deserves and instead of garnishing a few pale ales with fresh hops, there will be a fresh hop ale brewed later this summer. I'm going to take chances and brew some styles outside my comfort (and flavor) zone.

Of course there will be a pale ale or ESB around for the summer, maybe even a hefeweizen. But also on the agenda is a coffee porter, a scotch ale, and perhaps some tinkering with wild yeasts. It's going to be a good year and if you know me "in real life" give me a kick in the butt. Ask for some homebrew. Swing by and have a fresh one from the tap while I bore you to tears about the hop garden. Whatever you do, let's make 2011 the year of beer.