Time to brew!

Several times in the past year I've been invited over to my friend Chris's house on a brewing session. Chris is a avid homebrewer with many great batches of beer under his belt. From the first time that I had smelled the boiling wort, I was intrigued on the actual process, but after seeing the equipment needed, I had decided it was something I could not undertake. I thought that I could help brew here and there, but with tasting some of his home brewed beers, the thought of homemade beer was permanently etched in my brain. Chris has the capability to brew anything he wanted; from a self made recipe, to a clone of a nationally known microbrew. To top it off, at any given time he has four beers on tap on his kegorator. Damn, he has it made!

After several "Brewtours" with friends, I developed a huge appreciation for microbrews, craft beer, and many imported ales. I would usually pick eating at a brewery and having a pint over a equally nice(or nicer) restaurant.

Fast forward one year, Jamie was trying to figure out what to get me for my birthday. With not much on my list, she was low on ideas. One night while barbequing dinner, the idea of homebrewing beer (and cider) came up. I told her who to talk to if she was serious about buying some of the equipment, but I honestly though it was not going to happen. A week or so later she brought several large boxes home after work. I wonder what it was?

She went all-out. After working with Tim at BFD Sacramento, she got me a complete starter homebrew kit. From the bottle brush, to the gas burner, I was ready to go. Wait, well almost ready; I had to figure out what I was going to create..........