Sunday, June 6, 2010

The longer I wait, the better it tastes

Homebrewing demands patience. It's easy to get excited and try to rush the process, but you can't. Beer is a living thing, and it has to find an equilibirum with its environment. Over the years I've learned that homebrew needs time--time to condition, to settle, to blend, to mellow. Wait long enough and the beer reaches a flavor peak that just cannot be achieved any other way. Today was such a day for Giants Fever. It's pouring from the keg with a clarity and brightness that was not evident last week. The creamy head is still there, and the dark amber/orange color. But the flavor is better! It's smoother and richer, and better balanced than before. This is that peak time, and on top of that, the Giants won a great game in extra innings.

a.d. VIII Id.Jul.