Messages

1

All Things Food / Re: Hot tip

« on: May 08, 2013, 01:54:24 am »

Spinach salad and strawberries are great together.  We make a spinach and strawberry salad with an apple cider dressing for our summer parties. Everyone loves it.

That sounds good.  And healthy too!

and a sprinkling of Poppy Seeds!

2

Homebrew Clubs / Re: Do other clubs have this problem?

« on: May 08, 2013, 01:49:12 am »

Guido,
You said the club officers are doing stuff...events, education, discounts, etc.
Sounds like they ARE doing something.

Perhaps the by laws need to specify that to remain a club member in good standing, you have to host or assist with at least one event, tech session or what ever each year. 

Set a limit, like two visits as a guest, then you must pay dues and join.

It generally seems to be that no matter the club size, 20% of the membership do the lions share of the work to keep the club going. Acknowledge the folks who do, do what you can, and plan events that reward those who participate.

We have around 40 members. 20 show for meetings and about 4-5 people volunteer to do stuff when asked. As a result, I don't ask as much as I "assign" tasks. People are learning that if they don't step up, they can't complain, and they might get leaned on. A good set of officers makes for a good club, but sometimes a dictatorship is a useful temporary solution. 

3

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Bottling from a keg

« on: May 06, 2013, 09:41:38 am »

Having used the Foxx and the More Beer CPF....go for the More Beer. The 3 way valve makes it WAY easy to operate. I have also used the Blichmann and my feeling is with all of the above....they are a pain to sanitize and clean and they are expensive for how often they get used.

I now go for the bottling wand and rubber bung method.  Easy to use, easy to clean, cheap.

4

Beer Recipes / Re: Rye pale ale

« on: April 24, 2013, 09:55:47 am »

What Denny said...I think you want at least 15% rye in in a "rye APA". I love Citra so I say go for it. Seems like a lot think it is overpowering so say to use in in moderation. I think Citra goes well with Cascade and Centennial

+1 + Columbus and Chinook

5

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Brewstrong

« on: April 24, 2013, 09:53:21 am »

I am not a BJCP judge. I have judged at sanctioned competitions. I have organized BJCP competitions and I have stewarded at local and NHC level. Some people judging at BJCP level are not doing what they were awarded their credentials for. The score sheets are sorely lacking in useful information and thoroughness.
This is very disappointing to people competing to better their beers. For some judges, it's obvious that judging has become a chore they don't enjoy or take as seriously as they should. They should stop judging.
Fortunately, there are a huge number of qualified judges doing an exemplary job of providing the feedback most of us are competing for. It's the luck of the draw really. Don't give up after one or two crumby experiences. After a while, some of the score sheets become entertaining in what they reveal about the judge!

You can not judge something with no criteria against which to judge. In beer comps it's the style guideline.
Trust me...there is nothing so heartbreaking as tasting an absolutely perfect beer that can't win only because it has been entered in the wrong category, but, there's plenty of opportunity to commend the brewer in the final section of the score sheet. (overall impression)
when you're having to judge it.

Judges do a thankless job, at their own expense. They miss out on some of the activities at NHC and other festivals where the competitions are held. They travel to various locations at their own expense and all they get are measly points toward higher ranking for their efforts. They should never, ever be dissed. Shame on Jamil for doing so. He's undoubtedly a great brewer and I respect that, but it's disappointing to hear that he made disparaging comments when so many homebrewers idolize him. Go ahead and criticize when it is called for. Judges need to be held to high standards if they are going to contribute to the brewing community, but it can be done in a civil and constructive manner. Then again, the whole tenor of the Brewing Network programs is very juvenile, albeit, while providing some good information.

6

Events / Re: Big Brew Day 2013

« on: April 20, 2013, 11:15:30 am »

I'm hosting like I have for years, but it's gonna be a pretty small event.  The biggest brewfest around always gets scheduled for the same day and a lot of people do that instead.

Lucky dogs. How cool would that be?  A day of brewing with Denny!  Jealous


"Freedom is temporary unless you are also Brave!" - Patriot

I went out out there one year. We seemed to drive and drive forever. Finally we arrived at this quaint little ranch with a nice brewshed where I saw the coolest garden gnome I'd ever laid eyes on......then it moved and I realized it was Denny.

7

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Greetings from Florida

« on: April 18, 2013, 09:51:14 am »

You're in good hands here. Have fun and feel free to ask lot's of questions. The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum.

8

Ingredients / Re: Wyeast Nutrient Blend how much to use?

« on: April 17, 2013, 08:44:35 am »

I add a pinch to my starters and still add 1/2 tsp to my wort.

+1 Ditto

I knew a couple brewers who did that and were consumed by their own ravenous mutated giant yeast.

9

Going Pro / Re: What Am I Missing in This Artcle?

« on: April 15, 2013, 09:05:09 pm »

Their success will be directly proportional to the number of great friends they have that are happy to drink their crappy beer once they actually start charging for it.

10

Beer Travel / Re: 2 Nights in San Diego

« on: April 12, 2013, 10:46:48 am »

Check out Hess Brewing. They're making a lot of headlines. Just got awarded San Diego's best Brewery in some contest I read about. The brewer (Nate) from Rogue's Eugene location was headhunted to build their new brewery (30bbl I believe) They started with a Nano and are reported to be doing good things. They've got a pretty entertaining blog on their Nano start up that goes back to the beginning if you're curious about them.

11

Equipment and Software / Something to help with lifting

« on: April 07, 2013, 11:15:19 am »

Any clever ideas of ways to minimize lifting stuff when brewing? I have a pump and use that for liquid transfer, but there are still kettles, fermenters, full cornies, buckets of water and other stuff that is repeatedly shlepped about. I've recently damaged my shoulder, and I refuse to give up brewing while stuff mends.
My water is about 75' from where I brew. My chest freezers are in two different buildings, but both accessible without having to go up and down stairs.  If everything were inside in one place, a hoist would be the obvious choice, but of course that's not, nor ever going to be the case.

All brilliant and/or hair brained ideas will be considered. 

12

Equipment and Software / Re: Stuck recirc in blichmann mash tun

« on: April 07, 2013, 10:55:37 am »

My set up is nothing like yours, I'm using a cooler mash tun and screen, however, I have found that if I recirc a couple of quarts...very slowly...by hand before switching to the pump it helps a lot. It's like I have to clear the fine flour that initially is on the bottom and get it on top of the grain, where it seems to stay if I maintain a nice controlled pump rate. I have better control doing this at 1st by hand, then letting the pump prime, and at that point I can recirculate as long as I want provided I'm careful not to mix that flour back into the solution again.

If I grab a paddle and vigorously mix the mash, I have to do the same thing again before recirculating with the pump or it will stick on me. Just my work around, but it may help.

13

All Things Food / Re: Moldy bleu cheese?

« on: April 06, 2013, 07:52:01 pm »

What a friend we have in cheeses!
I have cheese that's probably as old as Denny. I just cut off the outside and enjoy what's left. 

14

The Pub / Re: I'm honored

« on: April 06, 2013, 07:47:48 pm »

I also cooked a pancake the other day and when I flipped it over the burn marks kind of looked like Denny doing a batch sparge. Freaky

OMGosh that's funny.  Seriously though, you've been there for so many of us Denny. I'm doing my best to pay it forward.

15

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Stuck Post

« on: April 04, 2013, 10:04:44 am »

That is not true on all of them Tom. Some are identical except for the shape of the profile of the connector post themselves. Put the two side by side when you clean them and you'll see the difference. Keeping those O-rings lubricated with some keg lube makes a huge difference on how your connectors pop on and off too.

I'll take your word for it, but I've never seen a gas post without the cuts.  And that is saying something, I used to buy them by the hundreds, pressure test them, and sell them off.  Any idea who the manufacturer is on the ones without the cuts?

Totally agree on the keg lube, plus making sure the o-rings are in good shape.

Sorry, No idea. Kegs were fished out of piles of scrap metal back in the '80's when you could buy 'em by the pound.