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Good news, we are brewing Schokolade Bock today. Dont get too excited though, because it will not be out on tap for over a month, as we have to lager it for 5 weeks before we can release it.

Today was pretty good brewing weather, nice and cool. I hope all that hot weather is behind us for good!

The bock ran off nicely, I think our new recipe is working pretty well. We are making it in smaller batches, so it does not stress the limit of our mash tun so much. Today our final yield was just a hair over 16 bbls (we normally do 20bbl batches). Back in the old days, we made 20bbls, but sometimes it took all day, and night, and maybe some of the next day! The lauter was so slow! Ahh the good old days… i’m glad they are just memories!

Tommorrow I’m going to the Quad City Brew Ha HA Beer festival, and Chris will be at the Tall Grass Praire beer festival in Waterloo. I was planning on doing the Mt Horeb beer festival, but I had to cancel that at the last minute. We were just stretching ourselves too far. We don’t have enough tap boxes, vans, and people to do this many things at once. Well, we could, but noone would be having any fun Buckley was going to be doing the Quad City festival all by his lonesome, something he has never done before… Beer festivals can be exhausting when your the only one there, so I decided to go with him. To make it more fun, we are bringing more beers than we said we would bring. Besides Schild Brau, John’s White Ale, and Wheat, we are also bringing Warsh Pale Ale and Dopplebock! Maybe we will be the hit of the party!?

This also leaves Chris the use of a tap box for his festival… last year he used picknic pumps for all of his beers and it was a messy, foamy affair! I have some more info on the Tall Grass Praire Brewfest. It is sponsored by the Grout Museum District in Waterloo, and it starts at 5pm to 9pm, in Soldiers and Sailors Park in downtown Waterloo. Last year Chris reported we were on the only real brewery there. Hopefully this year Chris will have company from the new brewpub up there, Beck’s Sports Bar and Grill.

I have more good news! Today we accepted an offer for a new kitten for our brewery! Matt Franklin was the winner of best of show at last years THIRSTY Classic and he also raises Maine Coons. One look at these little dears, and you will see how we could not refuse! http://www.geocities.com/wildpride/kittens.html

Matt did a great job describing why these guys are so special:

I was sad to hear about your loss of Millie. My wife breeds Maine Coon cats which are large beautiful cats. The Maine Coon is the only native North American longhaired domestic cat. The Maine Coon breed is thought to have originated in Maine, where they developed into a sturdy cat ideally suited for harsh winters. The Maine Coon is known for it’s loving nature, kind disposition and great intelligence. They are often referred to as the “Gentle Giant”, and posses dog-like qualities. Maine Coons are great with children and dogs, as well as other feline friends. They were brought the Iowa as mousers and referred to as the Iowa Barn Cat many years ago. I think one would make a great addition to your brewery. My wife and I would like to donate one of our kittens to become the new Millstream Brewery cat.

Furthermore the kitten will be ready to apopt on around the time of the next THIRSTY Classic (in early November!).. how convenient! We really appreciate this gesture from Matt and his wife.. thank you so much! It has been really quiet and uneventful without good old Millie around… though i’m sure the mice are just loving their reprieve!