Topics

151

The Pub / Tropical Storm Hermine

« on: September 07, 2010, 03:33:46 PM »

Went right over my house and blew the screens off! Wind gusts up to 57 mph! Power was out for over 100k folks in the city; mines is just back on after 5 hours.

You folks in N.Texas: She's headin' yer way.

152

General Homebrew Discussion / Foam!?

« on: September 07, 2010, 12:34:23 PM »

Yesterday while recirculating the wort in the chilling cycle it began to foam up. A great deal. Not sure what caused this since I'm fairly sure the outlet was submerged so as to not agitate the wort.

I was at least a gallon over in my volume and with so much thick clingy foam left over I ended up missing my TG by 10 points. Additionally my grain was weevil infested.

A multitude of factors here?

A bonus is that ferment took off like crazy with just dry yeast- well within 12 hours.

153

The Pub / Testing my serenity

« on: August 23, 2010, 08:41:39 PM »

What chapping it right now? Any current tests of your serenity? This last one's making me tired and disappointed.

Tonight, while we were tracking the trespasser going throughout our offices and work areas throughout my floor and directing security towards him... at least another was in the parking garage breaking into my car. Hopefully that was the only break-in!

Sumb****es are getting smart. While Security was escorting the decoy off campus the other was smashing and grabbing. At least that's how I see it.

I only discovered it because my supervisor let me off early. Busted out my driver's side and stole my GPS. Broke the mirror off & can't find it either.

Silver lining in there is to replace the driver's side window, already cracked windscreen and mirror will only cost me $50. And I might be able to claim my GPS on my Home-owners.

So I'm having a Light & Stormy, smoking some wings and watching No Reservations. The material is replaceable...

154

Commercial Beer Reviews / Shiner Oktoberfest

« on: August 19, 2010, 10:48:23 PM »

Shiner Marzen-style Oktoberfest. Just came out and I picked up a sixpack this AM.

Cracked a bottle and poured into a pilsner glass. Nice bright copper color. Effervescent and long lasting head. Malty, but not as much as the real German item. Slight initial metallic taste which could be the hops?

Not as sweet like I feared it would be. Nice. Not earth-shattering but the whole six will be consumed. Unlike the Commemorator that I still have a couple bottles left after several years.

155

The Pub / Favorite mixed drinks

« on: August 15, 2010, 11:30:29 PM »

Martini's. Ok a little strong but how about mixed drinks?

Me it's the Negroni. Actually a modified Negroni.

Two completely different drinks:

2-3oz Gin or Vodka
1/4 oz Campari
squeeze of lime

Plenty of ice in a Rocks glass. Stir. Enjoy.

Tastes like Ruby Red grapefruit juice from two unique perspectives. Irresistible.

156

Equipment and Software / Another March pump question

« on: August 12, 2010, 03:55:31 PM »

I'm looking at my pump and the screws holding the head on. I'm pretty sure I can replace this if broken, however can the head be removed for cleaning? Any special thing to consider when removing the head of the pump?

157

Beer Recipes / Newcastle Brown Ale

« on: August 11, 2010, 10:39:58 PM »

Anyone have a recipe? Recently rekindled a fondness for Newcastle.

TIA
euge

158

The Pub / Droid phones? iPhones? Wifi?

« on: August 05, 2010, 12:04:02 AM »

I'm interested in the mobile access point feature of some devices running Android or Windows Mobile. I could ditch my cable broadband. And my iPhone is just a plain PITA with ubuntu 10.04. However I could jailbreak the iPhone and do the same thing evidently. But I'd rather just get a new linux phone and sell the 3GS.

Any ideas about this? Plus what is this going to do to the cable broadband and DSL providers when it really takes off in a year or so?

159

Yeast and Fermentation / Weird citrus smell

« on: August 04, 2010, 11:34:02 PM »

I'm sure this is an infection.

Got the usual wonderful "yeasty beery" fermentation which then after 48 hours abruptly switched over to a gassy "fresh squeezed lemony citrus". There's faint tang of corruption in there too. Krueusen has dropped but brew is still bubbling. Normally, any infection that I see, which is rarely, it shows up weeks after the attenuative phase and has a totally different smell and a scum layer.

What could it be?

160

All Things Food / Kitchen Knives

« on: July 25, 2010, 08:47:12 PM »

My stable:

Henckels 8" Fine Edge Pro Santoku

Henckles 8" Fine Edge Pro bread knife

Cheap razor sharp Asian market special

Solid 3" hollow-ground-paring

The thin Santoku works well as a Chef's knife for dicing but can butcher too. Good all purpose knife. Amazingly the $7 Asian knife is by far my sharpest and de-bones and fillets well. Doubles as cheese-knife. A real work-horse.

I keep them all sharp with an Aluminum oxide stone

What do you have? How about an ideal knife/brand? One that you'd leave to your kids in the will...

161

All Things Food / Frying Equipment

« on: July 25, 2010, 10:26:33 AM »

Never raised with fried food. Odd considering I'm from the South .

However, I want to do some deep frying, like making sweet-potato fries or potato chips, fried shrimp and maybe Vietnamese Spring-rolls. Stuff like that.

I was looking at deep "Fryers" like Waring Pro http://www.amazon.com/Waring-DF250B-1800-Watt-Brushed-Stainless/dp/B0014JM1JE and wondering if I need this much bulky expensive unitasking equipment.

I have stock-pots and sauce-pans. Would a frying thermometer be a better buy?

Ideas? Experiences? Advice?

162

Commercial Beer Reviews / Tank #7

« on: July 20, 2010, 03:11:12 PM »

I don't see it on the website. Boulevard's Tank #7 Farmhouse Ale is: Grape-fruity. Peppery. Fruitfully sweet and hoppy. Golden pale with a long-lasting head. Dry finish. Saison? Much hoppier however me like.

I've sort of sworn off Belgian styles but this is one of the best Amer-Belgian brews consumed lately by myself. It's paired well with the sliced sausage and 100% rye bread. Kinda rustic. Despite this it's a heady intoxicant @ 8% ABV.

So share with a loved one over a simple meal.
 
Salud

163

General Homebrew Discussion / Favorite hopping methods

« on: July 18, 2010, 01:09:08 AM »

Curious about this. Usually- 95% of the time I just hop at 60 or 45 and leave it at that. At 30-40 IBU's it's plenty bitter. Sometimes I throw some hops in at 20-15 minutes along with the Whirlfloc tabs... I've done it all-which-aways but how have you done it? Any consistent method for your favorite beer?

There's three votes per person. Please feel free to express yourself...

164

Ingredients / Figs... Figs and beer

« on: July 09, 2010, 11:31:09 AM »

Just picked about 2# of fresh ripe figs off my neighbor's tree. There's hundreds more that'll be ripe in a few days...

Anyway, I plan to slice them length-ways and put them in the dehydrator.

Anyone ever brew with figs? Any ideas, experiences?

165

The Pub / Martini's

« on: July 04, 2010, 01:10:16 PM »

Lately I've been on a Vodka Martini kick. There's some really nice vodkas made here in Texas: Tito's, Dripping Springs and DeLos. These vodkas are so smooth and free of impurities that hangovers are virtually a thing of the past.

After much experimentation my conclusion is: I like mine wet with the full 3/4oz vermouth and 2-3oz vodka. Lately discovering stirred not shaken is the way to go. Olives and hot pickles make a nice garnish.



One of the things I like about Martinis' is the vinous character of the vermouth. Reminds me of Belgian beer of all things!