G'day Boomerostities

Well that was bloody close! Boomers Geronimo Pale Face Ale actually turned out ok and is testament to the fact that it ain't over till the large girth, height challenged lady sings.

So here it is....

Ok so it is bitter but as, soon to be Master Brewer, Jason is heard to say "man up ya pussy". Ever helpful I guess that means "man up ya pussy". Sorry it would lose something if I translated it. Anyhow behind the specifically designed and unique bitterness lurks some really excellent flavours. I'm just impressed I don't have to wear the Boomers Hood Of Shame (again).

So, soon to be Master Brewer, Jason did actually return from his tripping around although following on from his PRIVATE sheep herding sessions he has started to look longingly at Fluffy....

Fluffy is our resident booze hound. Always on hand to pinch any spilt grain and beer (ala the stunned look). Fluffy has taken a shine to, soon to be Master Brewer, Jason even after I warned her about the domestic habits of New Zealand men folk. Take note kiddies excessive lapping up of spilt beer can be detrimental to your health!

With the return of Master J (his new preferred title) no time was wasted contemplating our navels and Fluffy's desireability to certain individuals from the land of the long white cloud. We immediately embarked on the brewing of Boomers first Pilsner. To be known from this time forward as Boomers Smash Pils.

The selection of a Pilsner was all about tweaking things to get more clarity in our final product. It has been an issue with the Pilot Plant to date and as Pilsners are always difficult buggers to master we thought that would be the place to start. So Master J (I suggested Biggie Smalls) took the command seat once more although a little more ably assisted by myself now that I've gained a wealth of knowledge attempting to screw up two different styles of beer on my own. All went to plan, all targets achieved we await a clear and tasty outcome. Here's a couple of pictures of scene of the crime....

Master J mesmerised by his own handy work

Smell that hops aroma!!!! Yeah baby!

Taking a quick call from Prime Minister Gillard regarding her home brewing issues

Contemplating his new found feelings for Fluffy

OK so here's the bit you're always waiting for..............drum roll..........the educational bit.........yah!!! Oh stop your bloody grizzling and just keep reading.....

History of Pilsner

In 1838 the citizens of Plzen, Bohemia (The Czech Republic now) saw something that would make any beer lover cringe. The brew masters of the town rolled 36 barrels of ale out into the street, opened them up, and spilled the beer in the main square of town letting it run into the ditches and finally into the nearby Radbuza River. The brewers had decided that the ale had become undrinkable. Even for breweries of Plzen with over 800 years of brewing experience, issues of contamination could still come up. Ales were prone to being spoiled either by wild yeasts or bacteria.

A New Beginning

This time, though, would be different. The brewers gathered after watching their work run down the street and decided that they to take drastic measures to make sure that this would not happen again. By this time, brewers in Bohemia and across Europe had learned of the importance of yeast to the brewing process. There was some debate about whether fermentation was a living process or the by-product of the death of yeast, but there was no question that this mysterious little life form had a big affect on the character of a beer.

They hired Josef Groll, a Bavarian brewer, to come to Plzen and teach them the German lagering method of brewing. Legend holds that in 1840 a monk smuggled some of the precious lager yeast out of Bavaria. Whether this is the case or not, when Groll arrived in Plzen there was a supply of lager yeast available. He also found a nearby source of excellent Saaz hops, a Noble variety of hops that he would have been familiar with from Germany. The brewers of Plzen had a well that supplied very soft water. With caverns carved for lagering in the local sandstone, the stage was set for lager brewing.

A New Recipe

Using light barley that was only partially malted and none of the roasted or smoked barley that the German brewers were using, Groll added generous portions of the fragrant Saaz hops to his brew. On October 5, 1842 he and the other brewers of Plzen gathered for their first taste of the new beer.

A New Beer

When they tapped the cask, they saw a beer unlike any other that they or anyone else in the world had seen. The color of straw, it was light and clear. One could see right through it to the other side of the Bohemian crystal glass. Still cool from the lagering tunnels, this was a surprisingly refreshing beer, not dark and heavy like the ales that they were used to.

The brewers of Plzen knew that they had a great new beer here. Thanks to the Radbuza River, not only did news of this new beer from Bohemia spread, but so did a lot of the beer itself. Plzen, or Pilsner, beer was born.

Many Copies, One Original

Since then Pilsner Urquell has become one of the most copied beers in history. So much so that the brand name – Pilsner - became the name of the new style.

Aside from improvements brought about though advances in refrigeration and sanitation little has changed about the way that Pilsner is brewed. There are many different variations on the recipe but most contain lightly kilned malt and Noble hops varieties, usually Saaz. Often breweries will soften water from their local sources in an attempt to replicate the naturally occurring soft water of the Plzen brewery. Doing so enhances the delicate flavors of the grain.

Other variations have been made to cut costs as breweries allow the bottom dollar to dictate. Such variations include replacing part of the barley with rice. Rice is cheap and contributes little flavor or aroma to the brew. With the flavors contributed by the barley cut the balancing hops can be cut too driving cost even lower. The result is a beer with an equal amount of alcohol but less flavor and aroma making it seem watery when compared to other 100% barley pilsners. Though the breweries that produce these beers continue to call them pilsner, some have assigned a new style category to describe them – American Light.

Whatever you call it – Bohemian Pilsner, German Pils, American Light – Pilsner is easily the most popular beer in the world. 

So now the wait is on. Will the Pilsner have clarity and great flavour as expected or will Jason have to wear the Boomers Hood Of Shame? What's Neil planning for his next solo debacle? Who's the shadowy new figure lurking in the background known as 'The Dude' and why is he coming to Boomers Brewery this weekend? Why is Sputnik a lazy little bastard? No arms are no excuse! For answers to these questions and more stay tuned!!!

Meanwhile check this out..... 

Post script: Got an e-mail from soon to be Master Brewer, Jason who wanted to be referred to as Master J. Apparantly he's changed his mind. He is now to be addressed as J Master J!

Shhhhsh......bloody Kiwi's......gotta train Fluffy to bite!!

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