My First Adventures in Homebrewing

So in between all this work, I've been managing to have a great time! For starters, by brewing my own beer! I have completed two batches now, which is to say that my second one will be ready to drink in less than a week! The first was an IPA (India Pale Ale) which came out, amazingly, drinkable! It was a bit cloudy and sometimes yeasty, but everyone seemed to like it! Next is the smoked wheat (both grain kits made by Brooklyn Brew Shop), and I am very excited! My favorite part of making beer, by the way, is adding the hops, which smell so incredible it is a religious experience!

It all starts with a bag of grain 

Adding sacred hops to the boil

Cooling it took FOREVER

Adding yeast to make me some alcohol

My little set-up to keep stuff out

1 week in, a lot has happened

2 weeks in, I bottled them!

The finished product!

Ready for round two? GO!

Making my mash...

pouring the wort...

Sacred hops, different than the 1st batch

Cooling went much smoother!

Invigorating the yeast is... um... invigorating. 

Day 1, you can see the yeast hasn't settled

Day 3, smaller filter, and happy yeast stripes

2 weeks in! Let's bottle this bad boy!

Before bottling, everything must be sanitized!

Here's what's sitting under my sink now! I thought my haul was smaller this time, but now I realize it's the same! Just over 100 ounces...

What does the future hold for my new found hobby? To be honest, probably more of the same, and very little experimentation. The reason being my kitchen is just too small to make larger batches. But now that I have all the hardware, every additional batch I make will be a return on that investment, since the grain, hops, and yeast are quite inexpensive!

If you get a chance, try my beer! I love craft beer, not just to drink, but to talk about and share, and learn more about the technical aspects, so comment here or in person. 

Until next time, may the hops be with you.

"Side" Stories

There are a lot of small stories that I work on that air, but are overshadowed by larger news events, or and interesting conferences I go to that end up on cutting room floor. Best of all, I always have my smart phone camera ready to take some pics. Here are a few that have aired, or were long enough ago that I think it's alright to share online! One day, I will invest in an SLR, and up my blogging game, but for now: Please enjoy.

This is a robot, not a person, who co-starred in one of two one-act plays at Japan Society

Seinendan Theater Company + Osaka University Robot Theater Project
Written and Directed by this man, Oriza Hirata

Interviewing Rich, owner and founder of Astoria craft brewery Singlecut for a story on the U.S. craft beer boom

My reporter and cameraman posing during a story on the auction of the original Marine Corp War Memorial
(Footnote: The auction didn't meet the minimum required bid)

Japanese congressman visiting the N. Korean Abduction Display at the Japan Society in NYC

I snapped this arms-length from South Korea President Park, and UN Sec. General Ban Ki-Moon

Here's what the front of them look like, inside the Secretary General's office

Here's what they look like when I'm in the shot (amazing, right?!?)

DCTV's documentary theater ground-breaking ceremony with legend and founder Jon Alpert (in the red, plastic, construction hat), Michael Moore, and Morgan Spurlock 

Reddit's NYC Headquarters

Interviewing the general manager of Reddit, he gave me a red bull and Snoo stickers!

A candid moment in the office while preparing a sushi party for our CBS associates

The party in full swing - it was a big success!

N. Korea's UN Ambassador holding a press conference on the US using the UN's name to police the demilitarized zone.

I still have photos and stories I can't tell you about. I went to Cleveland for one, but it had nothing to do with elephants.

Iraq's Foreign Minister at the Security Council stakeout announcing progress in Iraq-Kuwait relations

A Press conference on GM and Honda cooperating for a shared Hydrogen fuel cell tech partnership

The first boat (sort of) to the Statue of Liberty on July 4th for the re-opening

Very impressive close up, always looks smaller on a smart phone camera

The re-opening ceremony was from the backside for some reason, and the sun was blazing that morning!

I got to ask a question and afterward meet Gov. Bill Richardson (D - NM), and former US Amb. to S. Korea Don Gregg

Front row seat for former PM Gordon Brown and 16th birthday and speech by Pakastani Malala Yousafzai

Since this was all work, my next post will be all play! I've been going hard at both! Leave comments, and tune in for more soon. (I know I say that every time, but to my credit, I do average about one blog a month, and as you can see, I'm quite active!)