The Next Step: Brewing the Estrella Pale Ale
I made a quick three-day trip to Rancho Bernardo, about 20 miles north of San Diego, to pick up my sister and spend some time with Mom, who is living in a retirement community. On the way south, I made one of my required stops: SoCal Brewing Supply in Vista.
Travis has been my go-to shop for homebrew supplies since I got back into brewing. There’s something to be said for supporting a small, local business, especially when you can walk in, talk beer, and get some good advice along the way.
I walked out about $50 lighter with the ingredients for my next beer—the third and final installment of my Paso Series: Estrella Pale Ale.
This one is going to be a relatively simple brew. The grain bill consists of 2-row pale ale malt and Munich 10L, with Citra hops carrying the entire hop profile. I’ll be using SafAle US-05 yeast to bring it all together. Simple ingredients, but I’m hoping they produce a clean, hop-forward pale ale that fits nicely into the Paso Series.
While I was at the shop, I also asked Travis about the Kegland BrewZilla 35L Gen 4.1. He actually recommended the Grainfather system, but he didn’t have one in stock. We talked about both systems, what he liked about each, and why he leaned toward the Grainfather.
That conversation got me thinking.
That night at the hotel, I started watching videos. Then I watched more videos. Kegland videos, Grain to Glass videos and just about everything I could find about setting up and brewing on the BrewZilla.
And I think I’ve found my next step in homebrewing.
Sure, I could have jumped directly into all-grain brewing with a system like this when I started brewing again. But at around $659, it’s a pretty significant investment when you’re still figuring out whether you’re going to stick with the hobby.
Now, after a few batches under my belt, it makes a lot more sense.
The BrewZilla should cut roughly three hours from my brew day. More importantly, it gives me the ability to mash, sparge and boil in a single vessel. No more separate boil kettle. No more cooler mash tun. Fewer pieces of equipment to move around and clean.
That sounds pretty good to me.
I’ll still ferment in a five-gallon bucket or carboy, but moving to an all-in-one brewing system feels like the logical next step.
Of course, before I get to Estrella Pale Ale, I have to finish the Paso Pioneer Ale.
The Pioneer Ale was dry hopped last Tuesday, four days after it went into the fermentation bucket, while there was still some krausen present. I checked the fermentation today, and everything is looking good. We’re ready to bottle tomorrow.
I had hoped to have a kegging system by now. Unfortunately, the individual selling one on Facebook Marketplace hasn’t responded after a week, so I’m not holding my breath.
That means one more batch in bottles.
After that, though, I’m going to take a more serious look at buying a freezer/temperature controller and setting up a kegging system. If I’m going to keep brewing—and judging by the fact that I’m already researching my next piece of equipment, I am—it’s time to start making brew day a little easier.
Estrella Pale Ale will be the first Paso Series beer brewed with the new system.
Having the BrewZilla now, I have a new piece of equipment to learn, a new brewing process to figure out, and another excuse to spend a morning in the garage brewing beer.
I’m perfectly okay with that.