Yeast and a new pump on the way

Yeast, among a few select other raw materials make beer. Different styles of beer require special elements to really make them shine. Yeast is one of those critical elements. Recently I ordered up some fresh strains of yeast for the Mid-Winter brews.
The strains I procured today make up the beers that you may have a chance to try in the next few months. Here is the short list:

WL San Francisco Lager
WL Edinburgh Ale
Wyeast Canada/Belgium Ale Private Collection Jan-March 2009
Wyeast Pilsner Urquell

I'll be fermenting at cooler temperature's this Winter with the expectation of making
cleaner tasting beer.

I also picked up a new pump for wort and hot liquor transfers.

Back in the mash tun

I brewed up the Chocolate Stout last Monday. This was the first brew of the new year for me. Lately my time has been taken up by the usual barrage of Winter activities, solo and with the family.
I took advantage of some free time to myself and finally made it down to the basement brewery to start filling up the fermenters for 2009. I decided on the chocolate stout because it is such a solid beer in my arsenal. It's good to be able to rely on tried and true recipes from time to time. It lends to less of an ordeal in the whole brewing process since I'm not putting the time in to design something new. So with that said I think that I will continue to bring on the clones this Winter.
Happy Brewing!