Friendly Acres Brewing: New Pico Pro Brew Day

Friendly Acres Brewing: New Pico Pro Brew Day: OK, so I jumped back into brewing this week. I have not brewed a batch for about a year and have been really missing the hobby. My life is i...

New Pico Pro Brew Day

OK, so I jumped back into brewing this week. I have not brewed a batch for about a year and have been really missing the hobby. My life is in a great place and Diane has encouraged me to get back to doing it. I have been looking for some easy kits or some way of getting beer back on tap. I have a long range goal of building a "Brewing Shed" and have a new rig to do some all grain batches and be really creative. This all has to happen after our wedding in May. So I thought I may do just some stove top kits or something along those lines. When I started searching around I found this little number by Pico Brew.

The Pico Brew Pro is a counter top all-grain brewing machine. It yields about 1.75 gallons or a 12 pack. You use pre-packaged brew packs and insert them in the machine. It then uses a small keg as the kettle and fermenting vessel. It is very easy to use and easy to clean up. I purchased the machine and a few kits to get me started and I am hooked. It is fun, easy and works like a champ. They have over a 100 different pre-packaged brews to choose from or you can create your own. I have yet to do that but have brewed a DIPA, Wit and as I am writing a Porter is brewing.

The ease of this system is the draw. I am certain the quality of the beer will be great. For a person who wants the control and really create this is not the way to go. I will be eager to get my brew shed built and my all grain system up and running but in the meantime this system will allow me to keep awesome beer on tap.

Cheers! Brew and Smoke on

Food,BBQ and Brew

Well it has been quite awhile since I blogged. I am entering another new phase in my life and it is one that I am really looking forward too. I am getting married in May to the love of my life and I am excited about what our futures hold. My kids are getting older and more independent. My daughter is now a teenager and my son will be 9 this year. As my life advances so do my hobbies. I have been an active home brewer for the better part of 10 years. As you may know from my past blogs there was a time I had ambitions of going pro and make brewing my life. I still hold out hope that some day I can make that dream come true, but am content with my life as a whole now.

 I will be using this blog as a format to help home brewers, home chefs and home pit bosses alike. I have dipped my toe in a lot of different hobbies that focus around food and spirits not just limited to beer. This blog may end up being only for me but I hope others will enjoy it, contribute and come along for the ride.

I would enjoy input on what people would like to see. How to smoke a brisket?, How to make bacon jam? home brewing tip? Or maybe show me a thing or two.

Feel free to comment below and I will do my best to answer any questions.