Fire!

We've got fire! We've got flame! And we've got refrigeration! We also have a ton of leaking valves, water spraying out of hoses, confusing pumps, centrifugal force, drip pans, mops, and rags. Yesterday, after speaking with the burner company, we were able to repair the pilot on the burner with a simple line instead of a new valve. And you should see that baby work! Flip the button and you have a flame 3 feet in diameter.

So we brewed batches of water yesterday. Two batches to be exact. And we probably had one batch on the floor. Not exactly, but close. It was a mess. Hoses everywhere. Valves leaking mysteriously one time and not a next time. Our brand new $84 valves were a total disaster. We each (Tim, Nick, Chad and I) had at least one experience when we went to undo a hose and water came rushing out in our face, either from the valve or left over in the hose and we would think - "What if this was boiling hot wort? What if we lost this much beer? What a mess!" So we continue to brew with water until we get it down perfect (and we get our license from the ATF - which is expected today!) .

We are so close, we can practically smell the boil. The hops in their silver bags are happily chillin in our new walk-in refrigeration. The yeast, while getting close to expiration, is still buzzing along, dreaming of the day it is going to turn that sugar into alcohol. And, thanks to Scott, those stainless steel fermemters are shining brightly and ready to go.

Dan to the rescue today! Chad called Dan Sattherwaithe - the highly trained and experience brewer from SevenBridges this morning to give them advice on the hose/valve situation and get them going on their first brew!

Pictures coming soon...