Yes, January IS a good time to brew beer!

Wow!

Matt is right in that there seems to have been a drought of posts here on the blog since the New Year. I wish there was some monumental excuse or event I could blame the lack of keeping all four of you informed on the happenings in the world of beer, but alas it is not the case. Just plan laziness on my part. Although, on the up side, even though our posts have been anemic, our beer consumption (especially new beers!) has been quite healthy.

So much to write about, where to begin? I guess the most important is to let you all know Matt and I are brewing Monday MLK day. Yes, we know it is January, and that this winter in K.C. has been on the slightly frigid side but we are willing to brave the cold all in the name of brewing great beer (and perhaps the greater driving force, in desperate need of re-stocking our homebrew fridge). We are getting back to our homebrew roots by brewing our Inaugural Belgian Ale - the first beer brewed by M&B. An excellent example of the Belgian style using an authentic Belgian Ale yeast strain and the use of candied sugar to boost the alcohol. Slightly less heavy than a true Belgian double, but a good tasting session beer. Our two other beers will be from the same base grain bill but will turn into two distinctly different beers, one will use a Belgain Saison yeast strain the other our first ever lager - a Czech Pilsner. Both should be quite tasty and Matt and I are very excited at the opportunity to stretch our brewing skills with the Pils!

As I noted earlier, Matt and I have been busy expanding our beer tasting horizons over the Holiday break. Mostly with Lagunitas Brewing Company offerings, all quite tasty (and becoming one of our favorite brewers). We also made a nice little pilgrimage to Freestate Brewery down the road in Lawrence sampling many of their fine brews. If you have the chance to get over there, right now they have Cape of Good Hope IPA on tap - absolutely phenomenal!

Of course being the New Year, we all have new resolutions that we are rapidly breaking. Hoever, one I hope to maintain is to be a little more faithful in posting to the blog. So keep tuned for all things beer!

Cheers!

-Ben