8 Bit Sees More Action

I'd like to say that 8 Bit Beer is back in action. Two of the three members met up tonight to complete a much needed, overdue brew night. Unfortunately, the third member is off touring the South Pacific. There's more than just chemistry in the flavor extraction from the grain steeping when brewing with 8 Bit, so we're looking forward to the next brew night where the team is whole again.

So, enough of that, let's talking beer: Bah Humbug Winter Ale and the Hell's Gate Porter.

You may notice that both of these brew names are retarded. This is usually a good sign that a recipe was chosen by the blond of the group (although, I have to admit, he has chosen some great tasting recipes, thus far). The Hell's Gate Porter is a repeat which we are attempting to brew at least as well as the previous brewing: it was a damn good porter.
The Winter Ale was chosen a few months ago, but put on hold. It seemed like a good night to resurrect the recipe so we weren't partaking in a bit of a Christmas ale during the Easter weekend.

Here are the recipes:

Hell Gate Porter
- 6 lb of dark liquid malt extract
- 1 lb of amber dry malt extract
- 1 lb of 80 L Crystal
- 1/2 lb of chocolate malt
- 1/2 cup Black Patent
- 1 oz of 8.8% A.A. Cascade (60 min)
- 1/2 oz of Ken Golding (30 Min)
- 1/2 oz of 4.5% A.A. Cascade (30 Min)
- Safale S-04 yeast

OG: 1.055

Bah Humbug Winter Ale
- 8 lb of light liquid malt extract
- 2 lb of honey
- 1/4 lb of Black Patent
- 1 lb of 40 L Crystal
- 1 oz Willamet Hops (60 min)
- 1/2 oz of Kent Goldings (10 min)
- 2 Tbsp allspice
- 1 can Welch's Cranberry juice concentrate
- peels from 4 oranges
- Safale S-04 yeast

OG: 1.074

And some highlights from the evening: