Baseline Beer

I finally have all (I hope) of my pilot brewing stuff down at the brewery, so I am making my first pilot batch here. I am calling it my baseline beer because I have no idea what the water is like down here.  I have checked the city reports, so I have an idea, but I need to see how it makes the beer taste.  I haven't even mashed in yet and already know I need to get a carbon filter, which I was planning on doing anyway.  From what I can tell from my building and the taste of the water, I am getting the most basic treatment the city does.  It isn't a big deal, but without even making a batch, I know the water is not brewing ready as it comes in.  On to the beer:

Rodeo Amber
Malts: American 2-Row, CaraMunich, Chocolate Malt, Crystal, Munich
Hops: Cascade, Chinook
ABV: ~ 5.4%
Playlist: Wade Bowen: Live at Billy Bob's (No Finished Yet is the best song)

So it took me this long to realize I forgot something, my mash paddle (okay, spoon).  So for everyone's information, I am mixing the mash on the first batch at the brewery with a 7/8 inch wrench.  It works surprisingly well.

I decided to make the Rodeo for this batch because I think it will give a good profile of the water.  Not to give a brewing lesson, but different aspects of the water content will affect the beer in different ways.  For example, for a hoppier beer, it is good to have higher levels of carbonates (harder water) because it brings out the bitterness better.  With the Rodeo, it is more balanced between the malty sweetness and hop bitterness, so should give me an idea how the base water will affect different styles.

Okay, I know I'm smart, but I can't take credit for actually thinking about that beforehand.  I just wanted to brew the Rodeo and wrote that last paragraph to justify it and look smart.  The facts about the water are correct, but justifying the Amber was made up 15 minutes ago.

Gotta Hop