Messages

1

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Just had the best brew day!

« on: December 09, 2009, 07:10:36 pm »

Saw this on the Onion today...

Virgo
Aug 23 - Sep 22

Admit it: Things just haven't been the same for you since you gave in and started wearing pants again.

What is wrong with me... Why am I posting this nonsense?

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Black IPA underway

« on: November 27, 2009, 04:39:31 pm »

Keith, do drunk you think you is?

And weaze, most beer styles were mistakes... Stout for example, imagine the cheap bastard that burned his barley and made beer with it anyway. Post pics, I'm interested.

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Ingredients / Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?

« on: November 26, 2009, 06:34:29 pm »

Try both, IMO you want to layer natural flavors and even artificial flavors (use an easy hand with these) to support the original flavor. For exampIe I used maple and fenugreek (used in artificial maple syrup) in a Baltic Porter, thanks to Randy Mosher's Book for the idea. I refined it a bit using some research about how artificial flavors are created, you can use this for just about any food or drink.

1. Character Item (Coconut)
2. Contributory Item (Artificial Coconut Extract) supports the flavor in item 1
3. Differential Item (Jaggery) makes item 2 acceptable to the taster

Use a light hand with this, remember that you don't want a coconut beer with a hint of porter.

Good luck.

4

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Whatcha Brewin' this week -- 2009 Nov 25-Dec 1?

« on: November 26, 2009, 06:19:27 pm »

they guy brewing two ag batches and the 45 gallon guy....  i'm exhausted after reading about your days......

lucy too......

It's not just me. We got 6 volunteers out of our 60 member group, so it's not a big deal. The hard part for me was drilling the granite blocks.



I also made part of the starter yeast, but probably won't be asked to do anything else since I'm the newbie.

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All Grain Brewing / Re: Pumpkin Seeds???

« on: November 25, 2009, 05:28:09 pm »

tubercle, I'm with you. Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale has roasted pumpkin seeds, and it's my fave pumpkin beer (and I really hate most pumpkin beers.)

I think you should always try to run with those bright flashes of genius, because even if they are failures at least you regret something you did do rather than something you didn't do.

As for the fat content... add carapils and damn the torpedos.

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The Pub / Re: Lets get to know each other!

« on: November 25, 2009, 04:50:12 pm »

Too Much Coffee Man!! Nice.

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The Pub / Re: Happy Thanksgiving

« on: November 25, 2009, 04:38:33 pm »

Quick story. I have become so sick of boring turkey, so I went to Momma's Deli on Arthur Ave in Bronx, NY and picked up a Lasagne big enough for 20 people. It was for me and my wife (maybe a friend or two), I told the counter guy that and he said without missing a beat... "anything else"

dude. SERIOUSLY?!??




Of course, I picked up a LB of antipasto, and marinated mozzarella as well.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!

8

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: AHA Membership

« on: November 25, 2009, 04:14:25 pm »

Darkside, Funny thing happened today while I was searching around NYC for Bock yeast (didn't find it but I did grab some octoberfest). I was at "Hydroponics and Homebrew too" in Queens and asked if they give discounts for AHA members and got a lecture from the owner about how homebrew clubs put everyone out of business with their requests for deeper and deeper discounts. Seemed like a pretty bogus story to me.

I know that mailorder places will cut you a break but you'll have to ask. If you really want deep discounts go to your local brewery, or get in on a group buy with your local homebrew club.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Whatcha Brewin' this week -- 2009 Nov 25-Dec 1?

« on: November 25, 2009, 04:07:45 pm »

Working on a club project this weekend. A stein beer

Thanks to BobbyfromNJ for the recipe

Whales Stein Bock
5-B Traditional Bock
Author: Whales
Date: 11/29/2009

Size: 45 gal
Efficiency: 80.0%
Attenuation: 75.0%
Calories: 218.3 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.065 (1.064 - 1.072)
|==========#=====================|
Terminal Gravity: 1.016 (1.013 - 1.019)
|================#===============|
Color: 14.58 (14.0 - 22.0)
|=========#======================|
Alcohol: 6.45% (6.3% - 7.2%)
|==========#=====================|
Bitterness: 23.7 (20.0 - 27.0)
|================#===============|

Ingredients:
52.0 lb Munich Malt 1
50.0 lb Pilsen Malt
3 lb 2-Row Caramel Malt 165L
3 oz Magnum (14.5%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
3 oz Tettnanger (4.5%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
0.0 ea WYeast 2308 Munich Lager
0.0 ea White Labs WLP838 Southern German Lager

Schedule:
Ambient Air: 70.0 °F
Source Water: 60.0 °F
Elevation: 0.0 m

00:03:00 Mash In - Liquor: 35.0 gal; Strike: 166.09 °F; Target: 154.0 °F Of course, go into the cooler at 175f and let it cool to 166 before dough in.
00:33:00 Sac Rest Alpha - Rest: 50 min; Final: 154.0 °F
00:33:00 Batch Sparge - First Runnings: 23 gallons @ 168.0 °F,
Sparge #1: 12.18 gal sparge @ 185.0 °F,
Sparge #2: 12.27 gal sparge @ 185.0 °F,
Total Runoff: 48.27 gal

All volumes can be divided by 5 to get individual batch volumes.

The plan is to take all the preboil volumes and get them up to boil temp on propane, then transfer 25 gallons to the barrel for stoning. The remaining wort (about 23-24 gallons) will be boiled as a normal batch. Hop additions will be split between the two.

At the end of the 60-70 minute boil, 3 gallons will be drawn off the boil kettle batch to keep as a control (I'll bring the 5 gallon carboy for that and I'll ferment it in my lager fridge), the rest will go into the barrel after it has been moved to the fermentation cave (newman's garage).

So, in summary, half of the batch is boiled in the barrel with hot rocks, the other half in stainless on propane. A small amount is kept completely out of the oak as a control. Ultimately, about 40-42 gallons will ferment in the oak boil vessel for about 2 weeks.

10

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: AHA Membership

« on: November 21, 2009, 04:43:19 pm »

You also get discounts for brewing ingredients. 

Also, if you want your local brew pub to offer AHA specials perhaps you could ask them for it? You appear to be a well spoken person, perhaps you could use your powers of persuasion to work with your group and achieve your goals. That kind of activism and selfless behavior would certainly get you a free membership, and the gratitude of your fellow brewers. Empowerment could solve alot of your problems, and maybe get you a 2 for 1 special on Wednesdays down at the Slap N' Pickle brewery.

So while I do agree that the AHA could have done more to work on various issues, I also think that getting members actively involved in naming, and then addressing those concerns would move the process along. Take it by the reigns, even part time activism can yield major results. BTW I have only been a member a year, and plan on joining the ambassador program because of the same concerns you voiced. 

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Beer Bottle Labels

« on: November 19, 2009, 04:22:06 pm »

I am picking up a YUDU screen printer for my crafty wife, and I was thinking of screening labels on my beer, carboys, etc.

It's excessive but so is making your own beer... I mean there are liquor stores but where is the fun in that?

12

Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Lagunitas Brown Shugga' (Sweet Release)

« on: November 15, 2009, 05:03:05 pm »

My wife picked up a 6 pack for me for brewday 11/8/09. It's is my new favorite beer. I was thinking of making a clone, and would be interested in notes.

Another great beer I have tried this week was Anchor Brewery's Christmas Beer... Cherries and Currants and all kinds of good.

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The Pub / Re: If you could travel around in a motorhome

« on: November 15, 2009, 12:21:56 pm »

it was sort of a last gasp when we found out my dad was, well, about to shuffle off the mortal coil.

So sad.

It was sad, he was too young (50 years old), but that was so long ago - and it makes you realize that life is short so enjoy it while you can. There is very little that I have wanted to do that I have procrastinated and I made a lifetime of memories in that summer.

14

The Pub / Re: If you could travel around in a motorhome

« on: November 14, 2009, 07:14:28 pm »

My family traveled for 3 months in a motorhome, it was sort of a last gasp when we found out my dad was, well, about to shuffle off the mortal coil.

I remember seeing the grand canyon for the first time, I was 20' away from a moose in Yellowstone, timed ol' faithful, hiked in the badlands of South Dakota, was at the top of stone mountain in georgia, drove up big sur, I remember the smog in LA, the height of pikes peak, and the beauty of Zion. There is alot to see in the USA, we had one rule - KOA campgrounds only.

If I could go to one place it would be Crater Lake National Park. Actually Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska are the only states I haven't been to yet. Collect 'em all.

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The Pub / Re: Lets get to know each other!

« on: November 13, 2009, 08:15:43 pm »

Name: Danny
Age: 31
Current Base of Operations: NJ
Occupation: Selective Demolition Expert
Homebrew Club: WHALES (Woodbridge Homebrewers)
Happily married to my best friend Andrea for the past 7 years, no kids but we do have a smelly pointer mix named Zeke, and two cats: Guinness and Schafchen.
Brew Rig: Low tech 5 gallon bucket falsebottom mashtun, 10 gallon pot, turkey fryer. Beer tastes great, so I'm doing something right.