It started innocently enough. Andrew invited everyone over to “The Man Cave” to watch de la Hoya chase “Whiny Boy” Floyd Mayweather around a boxing ring. Turns out, that was also Kentucky Derby Day.
And Cinco de Mayo.
Quite the pickle, so we did what Americans do best: we stirred the mixing pot (brew pot?) to make our very own holiday. We’ve even got a little competition going: brew a beer that mixes all these holidays.
Andrew took the early lead by celebrating National Homebrew Day with a five-figure purchase (when you count the two digits after the decimal point) of a brand new brew kit. The Cadillac of kits. He even got a 20-foot copper wort chiller. I believe he’s making a Hop Rod Rye — beautiful scarlet colors.
Dave came up with, to my mind, the subtlest ingredient that celebrates our brewing brothers south of the border: maize in the mash. Otherwise, he rocked out a Chili IPA: he’ll be dry-hopping and dry-chiliing his brewing. Personally, I’m afraid.
Colonel Selden was a trooper, never letting his pot boil over while playing the attentive host (with his lovely wife) for the scads of Derby watchers assembled at Casa de Selden. Thank God Her Majesty had other plans, or we would’ve had to work an English Bitter theme in to our beer, too.
Bruce rocked the title category, brewing a Mexican Porter-Horse. Fear itself lurks in those inky depths — four chili peppers thrown in with the boiling hops. Remarkably, when sampling the chilled wort, the powerful chilis were evident only when you really swished it around in your mouth. Black Beauty meets Speedy Gonzalez. Or some other equally derisive Mexican cliché.
I rolled up a brew I’ll be calling Las Tripel Crown. Maize for the boys down south. Oats for my equine brothers in the race. And to clarify the beer, gelatin. You know, for the also-rans in the Derby. (I should allow Wikipedia to point out that gelatin is not commonly made from animal hooves. Anymore.) Belgian yeast was pitched the next day, which should result in a very acidic and sour beer. Much as I felt a little soured after watching de la Hoya chase Mayweather around the ring, only to get punked by the judges. Anyway, it’s Ingelmunster Ale (3822) yeast from Wyeast, so it won’t technically be a Belgian Tripel, but so what?
We’ll be tasting these beers and awarding the Triple Crown the day of the Belmont Stakes. Stay tuned.
