Messages

166

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing THis Weekend - 7/1 Edition

« on: June 29, 2011, 10:51:50 AM »

Brewing up a helles to drink in late summer.

167

The Pub / Re: Tell Us About Your Pets

« on: June 09, 2011, 11:20:50 AM »

Good stuff, thanks for the conversational ammo guys.

One last question! We want to find a good (ONLINE) video training series so we can be prepared for how to train a puppy. Any recommendations?

This isn't an online video, but I would highly recommend these two books:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Your-Dogs-Best-Friend/dp/0316610003/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307643263&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Raising-Puppy-Revised/dp/0316083275/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307643263&sr=8-1

The Monks of New Scete are proponents of crate training, and their training works great, just make sure you follow their instructions.

You shouldn't be afraid of puppies, but you should be afraid of 8 puppies, ask me how I know. 

My boy Merlin is my avatar, I'll post a picture of my girls (kestrel and cider) when I get a chance.

168

The Pub / Re: Tell Us About Your Pets

« on: June 09, 2011, 11:12:20 AM »

Sorry to hear that urthirsty, I'll tip a pint in her memory tonight.

169

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 5/27 Edition

« on: May 27, 2011, 11:06:59 AM »

No brewing this weekend, just drinking. 

Made a batch of peach melomel last night, so I'll be keeping an eye on that.

170

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: My First Dry Hop

« on: May 26, 2011, 05:13:00 AM »

Are you using whole hops or pellets?  Either way I usually just toss them in at the end of the primary when fermentation has nearly stopped.  The whole hops float on top while the pellets sink to the bottom and I transfer after 7 days.  It sounds like you are going to put the hops in the secondary and then transfer to a clean carboy after 5-7 days.  I would recommend against this, the more times you transfer the beer the more likely you will introduce oxygen and increase the chance of infection. 

I would put the hops in the primary at the end of fermenation let sit for 5-7 days then keg or bottle.

171

The Pub / Re: Hummingbirds are smart critters

« on: May 20, 2011, 05:56:48 AM »

(They're not Canadian Geese, they're Canada Geese).

This was one of my pet peeves when I taught my field ornithology class.  Sadly, most of the students never quite got it.

172

The Pub / Re: Another Lost Buddy

« on: May 11, 2011, 06:12:55 AM »

So sorry to hear that.  I'll raise a snifter of wheat wine in memory of Soileau's Kei Gogi Wetzel when I get home.

173

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 5/6 Edition

« on: May 05, 2011, 10:05:14 AM »

For Big Brew our club is brewing a dubbel that will be aged in bourbon barrels.

174

The Pub / Re: Watcha plantin' this spring?

« on: May 04, 2011, 12:37:53 PM »

A few questions for those of you with more experience:
 1. My blueberries are doing horribly - wilted leaves, although the fruit looks like it's forming. My soil is really clay-like, loamy. Could this be the problem?

  4. My hops have holes in their leaves. Will this keep them from growing, or prevent the hop cones from forming? What could it be? I've seen ants crawling on them but I didn't think ants liked hops.

Blueberries need acidic soil, so clay isn't good for them. Get some diataceous earth or compost and put it around the plants, and they should do better.

Holes in hop leaves will most likely be from slugs at night. Unless they eat the whole plant, I wouldn't worry.
 

Ah so I don't have to dig the blueberries up, I can just sprinkle the dirt on top?

Slugs... Yeah, I see their shiny trails when I get up in the morning but they usually hang out around the low garden wall we have. I'll sneak out late tonight and check.

Mike Mcgrath, former editor of organic gardening and host of a local NPR show "you bet your garden," recommends putting an inch of peat moss and an inch of compost on the soil around the plant.  I spread it out about a foot away from the plant, but make sure you don't put it up against the stem.

175

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Rinsing Lager Yeast

« on: May 04, 2011, 09:43:30 AM »

I've also had no problems rinsing ale yeast, but never see a distinct layer when rinsing lager yeast.  I've never waited as long as Denny is, so I am interested to see how well it works.

176

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Diacetyl rest - how long is too long?

« on: April 30, 2011, 05:22:43 AM »

I've gone a week at 60 or so and it wasn't a problem.

177

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Dry Wine Yeast in Mead

« on: April 29, 2011, 06:15:43 AM »

I make mostly sweet meads, but I usually put 10g (2 packs) dry yeast in a 5 gallon batch.

178

All Grain Brewing / Re: I'm going to do a decoction, damm!t...

« on: April 29, 2011, 06:06:45 AM »

Like infusion amounts for a step mash, I haven't yet found any calculations that are accurate for pull amounts for decoctions in a cooler.  I pull a lot more than Promash recommends just to be on the safe side.

it's easier to heat more than you need and cool it down before you add it, than it is to dump your whole decoction in the mash, miss your temp, say "oh crap" and scramble to heat up water.

That sounds familiar.  My first decoction I blindly followed the amounts that Promash suggested and my temps were off...still made tasty beer though.

179

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Can a brother get a BJCP exam?

« on: April 20, 2011, 06:00:15 AM »

I am in the same boat, although I am trying to take it again to get a national rank.  As a club we finally decided to hold our own exam to try and increase the number of judges in the club.  I just have to wait until March 2012 to take it.

180

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 3/18 Edition

« on: March 17, 2011, 10:11:33 AM »

Brewing a Munich dunkel with the Hellabock yeast and bottling entries for the NHC.