Recently, I’ve been re-reading my Zymurgy journals, and it’s been great.  I’ve reveling in the fact that there is always something to learn or remember.  A simple example of this is related to the double bock I’m planning to brew.  A double bock is the very first all-grain recipe I brewed.  It turned out well, but I used some malts then that I wouldn’t use now.  I didn’t boil quite long enough, I didn’t use Noble hops, I started my fermentation at room temp and cooled.  About two years later, it’s become evident that my process has changed quite a bit and that I’m still learning about some aspects of brewing.

The fact that my first double bock turned out well, despite some flaws in the process, is evidence that I brewed (on a fundamental level) well the first time.  It also points out that I’ve not stopped learning.  I think that’s the thing I love about brewing; there is always something new to learn, do, and change up.  For the record, I’m still planning on some unique signatures on the brew, but I know that changing a recipe means being able to do it well in the first place.  I’ve decided to brew some classic/traditional brews for a while. 

Amazingly, or perhaps responsively to our current beer culture, I’ve decided to go back to the basics.  Sure I’m going to do some extreme beers and I plan to eisbock just about everything I brew.  But the past calls me.  There is something strangely new about re-discovering the past, something strangely appealing about the mundane.  I began to wonder if it’s because I’ve not really ever discovered the past.  I don’t know.  What I can say is that Zymurgy has sparked in me a new thirst for learning styles and their intricacies. 

Forgive me if this post is a little self-indulgent, but I do plan on sharing my “new” disoveries and (maybe) some of the recipes that I construct.  The 1700s style Porter is particularly exciting.  Meanwhile, I think Zymurgy might be an insightful starting place.