In Which Our Intrepid Band of Beeronauts Survive a Cold Winter, Brew a Copper Ale and are Hailed as Conquering Heroes

Lo, in the second month of the second decade of the third millennium a great Darkness did descend upon the Northwestern kingdoms. Black boiling clouds filled the skies, and the sun, which once shone brightly upon the land, revealed itself no more.  On the midday hour of the third day, the heavens did crack themselves asunder and torrents and floods did deluge down upon the swollen and bloated earth.

The gentlefolk of this land could do naught but stare up into the blackness and gnash their teeth and rend their clothing as misery and despair fell heavily upon all who dwelt there.   Darkness ruled the lands for as far as any man could travel and Despair possessed the hearts of even the most Valiant.

The wisest amongst them sought out the Oracle. Some lit fires before her and others fell prostrate before her sightless gaze and yet a few beseeched her for her wisdom and from within the incensed smoke a single word was revealed to those that Truly Saw.  And from that Word a great rejoicing spread among the faithful for that Word was good. 
And the Word was: “Beer.”

And in the dawn that never rose, a beacon of light did manifest itself upon the darkened hearts of Man.  A place of sanctuary was foretold: a Land called Mainbrew, an oasis brimming with hops, where barley and grains flowed freely from its borders.  And from this place Beer could be crafted and the ancient knowledge to produce Beer was ensconced safely within its walls by the Men who dwelt there.

And the people did travel to the Land of Mainbrew to gather the barley and the hops, and some just came for the Holy Bottlecaps of Pink (which were very hard to find in that distant Age), and a recipe was crafted that day by a denizen of Mainbrew,  Jon the Foolhardy,  who opened the ancient Tome of  Recipes, looked out upon the flooded lands and, whilst a filled goblet in his hand, proclaimed to all who would listen: “Yes, this beer is good.”

A roar rose that day from the throats of those that heard and a great celebration did spread across the land as hundreds of fires were lit in the cottages and dwellings of the people and the prophesied beer was brewed by all who still believed.  Weeks later, the beer was consumed, and, lo, the rains did stop and the clouds did part and the Sun did break through and shine upon the swollen rivers and the deadness of the trees did turn again to green;  Life once more sprang eternal from the barren wasteland.  Eventually, the history of that long Dark Winter turned to legend and the legend to myth and the people of the Great Northwest did drink their copper ale while Joy and Sunshine once more did reign down upon the world in which they lived.....

Orpheus
A Seasonal Copper Ale

9 lbs Light Malt Extract

**8 ounces Crystal Rye

** 6 ounces English Crystal 135L

** 6 ounces Cara-Red

** 1 ounce Roast Barley

1 ounce No Brewer Hops.............. 60 minutes

1 ounce No Brewer Hops.............. 20 minutes

1 ounce Goldings Hops............ 10 minutes

1 ounce Goldings Hops............  2 minutes

White Labs Dry English 007, or US-05.

Bottle with one cup of corn sugar, or keg as normal.