Celebration ale?

[bigdave]

Say you wanted to brew an ale to celebrate an event and you had about 9 months to brew & condition this celebratory ale. What would you brew?

[jmc]

Say you wanted to brew an ale to celebrate an event and you had about 9 months to brew & condition this celebratory ale. What would you brew?

I'd say it depends on what you like and who you are celebrating with, and what their tastes are.

For Christmas I like to brew a special ale which last 2 years has been a bottled Belgian style as I like it and luckily most of my mates do too.

If you don't want to go with one strong ale that benefits from time to mature another approach is to use the time to brew a few brews of standard strength for them to enjoy as you have the time.

Either way enjoy your celebration.

[lord.president]

I'd brew something that will make you sleep every night for two years..........!

[Matt12398]

Congratulations. Kid + hangover doesn't go well so a nice low ABV mild and brew it nearer the time.

[bigdave]

Sssshhhh!! I'm not allowed to tell anyone yet. lol

[AnthonyD]

I can relate to this. My wife is 17 weeks. Got until 13th March to get as many brews on as possible and stock up!

You should read this BigDave:

http://byo.com/component/k2/item/2864-b ... -last-call

[DaveyT]

+1 on stocking up and make sure they're weak. There's no use drinking bottles of falling over juice as you'll be required to be mustered with a level-head only two hours later, just when the REM's kicking in. I suppose you may be sharing this during the afternoon, too, so falling asleep during the Antiques Roadshow may not be advisable.
I once returned home from an October Fest event unable to do anything but pace the corridors in my sleep. I heard words such as 'irresponsible' and 'unacceptable' for weeks afterwards.
I'd go for brewing something many times too to practice as you may not have a clear ETA for your next brew. Picking up a past time is easier if you know how you can do it with minimal fuss.
If your partner's breast feeding you might be able to get a few in earlier than you think. I wasn't required for our first until about month four. Got some cheeky brews in in the meantime! Things then got crazier. The second will really dent the brew fridge, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
How about something along the lines of Dead Pony Club or Dark Star's Hophead? I had an absolutely revelation with something recently and it was only 2.5%. I'd love to know what it was. Unfortunately, I had been going all day and I can't remember what it was. (I had escaped to London for a weekend so was sin la familia. It got messy.)
Low ABV is the way forward. I've decided now before a doctor tells me in a few years.
Congratulations, btw. Kids are far more fun than people lead you to believe!

David

[AdyG]

I recommend the 'Dirty Celebration Ale', although it won't take 9 months to condition, but tastes great still after 6 months in a bottle, its my favourite AIPA recipe I've done:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=57583

I drank a lot of it around Easter time, and it is also the reason we are expecting another little one in about 11 weeks just before Christmas. I was going to brew another batch to enjoy over the festive season to celebrate the arrival with the beer responsible

[AdyG]

I can relate to this. My wife is 17 weeks. Got until 13th March to get as many brews on as possible and stock up!

You should read this BigDave:

http://byo.com/component/k2/item/2864-b ... -last-call

Congrats AnthonyD! I'm following that blogger on twitter and have read a few of his posts.

Don't worry it's still possible to brew and enjoy homebrew with babies & kids, you just have to be efficient and plan the timings with military precision in advance... which you will be doing anyway with feeds and sleeps.

In fact it was the reason why I got into all grain brewing (I was doing kits before but never really got good results), I was staying in more because of the baby so mates and well wishers were coming round and drinking my expensive shop bought real ales, so having a keg or two of good homebrew is so much cheaper!

[bigdave]

This will be sprog number 2 and is very unexpected (I'm still blaming the postman).

[AdyG]

This will be sprog number 2 and is very unexpected (I'm still blaming the postman).

Haha! Congrats anyway bigdave!

[jmc]

This will be sprog number 2 and is very unexpected (I'm still blaming the postman).

Haha! Congrats anyway bigdave!

Congratulations, but get your brewing in now.

Its possible to brew when they're little, but like others have said takes loads more organisation when you have 2 (or more) kids.

Get some zzz's too

[AnthonyD]

Isn't this amazing!

[Pinto]

I see no issue here - In Fact Mrs B_D will marvel at the way you gladly get up in the middle of the night to heed junior's cries (and mash in) ....and providing you get tidied away before she wakes the truth will never be known

I'd take the lazy man's way out and put on a double Brewferm kit, given your increase in duties in the months leading up ; Diablo or Grand Cru will be just hitting the guitar solo at 8- 9 months in the bottle

[AdyG]

Isn't this amazing!

That is amazing! I want one!