Sprouts & Wine & Ales

I invite you make the acquaintance of two of my first tomato seedlings. I have several sets now sprouting and they warmed my heart today as the snow fell between fits of sunshine!

They warmed my heart as I bottled two gallons of blueberry wine. Sure is pretty in that one clear bottle, eh?

Those little sprouts warmed my heart as I racked my one-week ales, a batch of sarsaparilla, one of cardamon and a crazy collaborative ale - one that was a result of "teaching" how ale can be made with any botanical. I asked each attending to jot down any one botanical that they would like to experience in an ale. I gathered all that I had on hand and mixed together maple syrup, roasted coffee beans, dried apple and wormwood. It smells amazing and while it's a tad too bitter (at this point), the flavors are remarkably complex and rather delightful! It will continue to mellow out, but I'm thinking I'll try this blend again, only with (much) less wormwood!

Next week ... they should all be ready for bottling!