Phriendly Phil’s Velociraptor Pharm n’ Pettin’ Zoo

Ordinary Bitter (10 gallons, OG 1.040)

9.9 pounds Briess Pilsen liquid malt extract
1 Pound 40L Crystal Malt
1 ounce Columbus pellet hops (13.5% α, 60 min)
1/2 ounce East Kent Goldings whole hops (6.3% α, 15 minutes)
1/2 ounce East Kent Goldings whole hops (6.3% α, steep 15 minutes)

Safale S-04 yeast / Safale US-05 yeast (split batch)

Had some trouble brewing this one — two boilovers in a half-barrel boiler (!) left hops from both boiled additions sticking to the sides and lid.

Also, my damned digital thermometer began lying to me, so I ended up chilling this way below pitching temperature — the S-04 had about 24 hours lag, and the US-05 still hadn’t fired up.  I didn’t aerate the wort much, but with the large amount of yeast from the dried yeasts, that shouldn’t matter much.

Black Death 3 still remains to be brewed, although it might be postponed indefinitely for something more in the Trappist vein.

I was at the company party, which was at an upscale downtown bowling alley. One of my co-workers was drinking a Bud Light in one of those bowling-pin-shaped bottles, but the way he was holding it, I could see neither the label nor the bulge at the top. I thought he had an Orval, and when it was clear he did not, I mentioned that I was about to ask him if they really had Orval there.

I don’t think he knew what the fvck I was talking about, although my pronouncing it “Orville” probably didn’t help any.

So here I am watching The Polar Express with the kids; we’ve just gotten past the point where the boy says “I believe,” then Santa shows up and asks “What was that you said?”

It took manful effort not to say “you heard me just fine, Fatso” at the screen. (Note: I failed to resist on a later viewing, drawing a sharp glance from Lori.)

I’ve seen too many Tarantino flicks.