Batch 2 of Octavius Ale

Last night I popped open the first bottle of Octavius Ale which I brewed about a month ago. For those of you who don't know, Octavius Ale is the first recipe I developed from scratch and I'm currently refining it with every batch. Side note, I'm still working on its classification as well as I suspect the results are more in line with a Brown Ale or ESB. Anyway, for this second batch I decided to change up the yeast and use a different priming sugar. The taste came out noticeably different and I'm still trying to figure out which batch I like best. My girlfriend, Beth, likes the original recipe better but I think I'll have to recruit some friends to do a side by side comparison and get some additional input on the matter.

Batch 2 has the same dark brown color and full body flavor as the original, but with a creamer head which I'm hoping sticks around longer after a little more time in the bottle. There are several layers of complexity to the taste of this beer. Initially there is a taste of toasted almonds and malty sweetness followed almost immediately by a hoppy bitterness (which I love). Both layers then mellow into each other, leaving a very appealing and well balanced finish.

It's true what they say about a yeast really defining how your beer is going to turn out because that simple switch yielded a completely different experience. The flavor on batch 1 would start off with a malty sweetness (no toasted almonds) and finish with a hoppy bitterness that lingered even after swallowing, much like a typical IPA does.

Even though both batches yielded very pleasing results, there is much more experimentation to follow before I land on a final recipe. I'm starting to now understand how some guys can have 10 batches going at the same time. If only I had the room.

Cheers!

Oktoberfest is upon us!

Anyone who loves beer knows that this weekend kicks off the beginning of Oktoberfest which for some, also marks the beginning of the fall season. Unfortunately not all of us get the opportunity to attend the festival in Munich where it all began, but lucky enough for us there are smaller events going on nearby. Although I'm sure not as big and spectacular as the original, these smaller festivals still offer up great beer, and if done right great food, great music and women dressed up in a beloved beer wench garment.

Towards the bottom of this post you'll find a list of events going on this weekend and next that I was able to find with a quick search on Beeradvocate.com. I myself will be heading up to New Glarus, WI this weekend to partake in their Oktoberfest events and check out the New Glarus Brewery (one of my favorites) where I'll hopefully be sampling some of their fresh Staghorn Oktoberfest beer.

If you're unable to make the journey to any of the below events, I recommend that you pick yourself up a 6-pack of an Oktoberfest style beer, light up the grill and while the meat is cooking give a nice toast to the beer gods. If you live in an area with a limited selection, I recommend Samual Adams Oktoberfest which is usually readily available. However, if you live near a liquor store which so happens to have a wide selection of both imports and micros, my good friend Kevin Gruber (and beer connoisseur) recommends the below Marzen style Oktoberfest from Paulaner. I myself haven't tried it, but I'm on the hunt for it so if anyone in the Chicago area locates it let me know where I can find it.

For those of you unfamiliar with a Marzen Oktoberfest style of beer, it's the style of beer that has been served at the original festival in Munich since 1818. Originally, they were brewed as a dark lager, but since 1872 a strong March brewed version of an amber-red Vienna lager (originally made by Josef Sedlmayr) has been the favorite Oktoberfestbier .(http://www.wikipedia.org/)

Whatever the case, take a moment this weekend or next to celebrate the drink you love...beer.

Cheers!

Illinois
Sept, 23
Great Lakes Oktoberfest Beer Dinner, Chicago, Illinois - Beer Dinner / Pairing

Sept, 26
Fall Oktoberfest Tasting, Lombard, Illinois - Beer Tasting
Oktoberfest Beer Tasting, Schaumburg, Illinois - Beer Tasting

Sept, 29
Oktoberfest & Pumpkin Beer Festival, Chicago, Illinois - Beer Tasting

October, 02
3rd Annual Festiv-Ale: A Celebration of Beer, Chicago, Illinois - Charity Beer Event

October, 03
HOPS! Oktoberfest 2009, Chicago, Illinois - Beer Festival
Oktoberfest, Flossmoor, Illinois - Beer Festival

Indiana
Sept, 24
Octoberfest / Pumpkin Celebration, Fort Wayne, Indiana - Beer Tasting

Sept, 26
Oktoberfest, Crown Point, Indiana - Beer Festival

Wisconsin
Sept, 25
La Crosse Oktoberfest, La Crosse, Wisconsin - Beer Festival
Septembeerfest, Oak Creek, Wisconsin - Beer Tasting

October, 03
2nd Annual Lincoln Lager Barleyfest, Merrill, Wisconsin - Beer Festival
Dallas Oktoberfest, Dallas, Wisconsin - Beer Festival

Chicago Beer Society - First Thursdays

If you're into trying out different beers, whether they are from around the world or domestic microbrews, stop by the Chicago Beer Society's "First Thursdays" event taking place next week on Thursday, Oct. 1. The event is held at the Goose Island on Clybourn in Chicago and offers up the opportunity to taste a wide selection of beer while discussing it with fellow enthusiasts.

Everyone who attends brings either a couple 22 oz. beers or a few 12 oz. bottles of a beer (cost of entry) they've either picked up on the way to the event or while traveling. No domestics allowed; everything is either a homebrew, an import or a craft/micro beer.

Come thirsty, leave tipsy. Cheers!

New Logo

A big shout out to my buddy and brewing partner, Eric Cronin, for developing the logo you see above! Although it will slightly evolve to work with each different style of beer, the octupus (Octavius), the banner at the bottom and of course the name, Octavius will remain constant. Now, on to fine tunning and further developing the most important thing...the beer!