A Fine October Visit

Well, I am sad to say that I think this past weekend was our Indian Summer.  And it was GLORIOUS.  

To make the weekend even better, we hosted Dick and Elaine Stoll, John Ed Beam and Bob and Lana France (my parents). Dick Stoll is a Master Distiller and he is pretty much the only guy who has experience running our stills.  John Ed Beam is the third Beam brother and son of David Beam.  My parents came to help out, which was an added bonus!

The men did not waste time getting to work...milling corn, soldering, cooking the grains for the mash, readying the fermenter, and running the whiksey still for the first time! The Beer Still was run earlier in the week using our first mash to strip it for the whiskey run. 

Dick remembered everything.  He was invaluable and ran the equipment like no time had passed.  Like the Beams a few weekends before, he had great advice and suggestions.  Nobody is afraid to get their hands dirty or take one any task.  

The mash is bubbling away in the fermenter awaiting distillation.  The interaction of the yeast cells with the grains is amazing to watch.  

As the colder weather approaches, part of me likes the thought of being in the warm and cozy distillery with the stills heating and humidifying the space, the beer bubbling in the next room awaiting its turn in the bellies of the copper pots.   

And the adventure moves forward.......