Messages

1

All Grain Brewing / Re: Best wood type for smoking grain?

« on: June 16, 2013, 12:48:52 PM »

I brewed 2 batches of smoked maibock a couple of years ago-one with pecan wood, the other with apple.  I had them both on tap at our Oktobefest and the overwhelming consensus was that the pecan beer was smoother.  Even my Coors light drinking buddies were drinking it.

2

Kegging and Bottling / Re: keg slush

« on: June 13, 2013, 07:09:42 AM »

I had 2 kegs freeze and didn't realize it until they were empty of liquid.  What I had created was ice distilled porter and Irish red ale and they were both delicious, but way stronger than I wanted.

3

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Is this homebrew?

« on: June 10, 2013, 01:42:31 PM »

I think brewhouse view is important too. I can taste the mountain in my beer.

As long as you don't have a mountain painted on your fermenter that turns blue when the beer is ready.

4

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Stupid noob question - gas vs liquid posts

« on: June 09, 2013, 04:25:13 PM »

Also the lip that the connector latches onto is bigger on the beer side than the lip on the gas side.  That's what makes it impossible to get it back off.

5

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Stupid noob question - gas vs liquid posts

« on: June 09, 2013, 04:24:20 AM »

Groove, "G", equals gas. Blank, or "B", equals beer.

I now buy o-rings of different colors and use them to more easily differentiate between the two.

I use black for beer, red for gas. 

6

Classifieds / Re: Selling 2.5 lb CO2 Cylinder - $35

« on: June 02, 2013, 07:30:43 PM »

Do you still have this?

Mouse

Nope, I bought it from him last month.

7

Hop Growing / Re: Thoughts on hops in pots

« on: May 29, 2013, 06:52:47 PM »

This is a five year old cascade crown in the desert, a poor growing climate.  Imagine what it would look like someplace that gets rain more than twice a year.  That's a full size lawn chair. 

8

All Things Food / Re: Growing food - The Garden Thread

« on: May 29, 2013, 08:49:57 AM »

My drip system is up and running so I planted japanese egg plants, squash, tomatoes and more hops.  They should survive my vacation this year.  My asparagus came back despite not being watered for 6 months.

9

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: LHBS

« on: May 26, 2013, 08:39:36 AM »

I buy 90% online.  The closest LHBS to me is 2.5 hours away.  I asked if they had any Roselare blend, then i had to explain what it was for.  The owner's comment, and I quote:  "why would anybody want to turn a beer sour?"
There are 2 very good stores in Albuquerque, but at 5 hours away they are not local.  When I'm up there I'll buy a bunch of stuff from both of them, but that's not very often since my daughter moved back south.

10

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Wrong?

« on: May 22, 2013, 05:13:34 PM »

There's just not enough claminess in it.

I get clammy just thinking about it.

11

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Wrong?

« on: May 22, 2013, 01:55:03 PM »

There's really nothing you can do with a Clamato to make it not foul, except not opening it.  Once you open it you'll have to pour it somewhere-it's not fair to punish bacteria in your gut, the ground or septic tank with that vile stuff.  Pilsner Urquell does go very well with sliced cheeses and dry salami.

12

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Most and Least

« on: May 18, 2013, 05:31:18 AM »

Definitely temp control is #1...

Least valuable to use are air-locks. I just don't see the need.

I totally agree with temp control, that took my beer from drinkable to very good.
But I use airlocks or blowoffs to keep fruit flies out of my fermenters.  Loosely covering them with foil results in very buggy beer.

13

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Beers for the non-craft drinker

« on: May 16, 2013, 10:08:27 PM »

...To the OP I say brew what you like and if the others don't like it they can bring their own...

Its always nice to cater to your guests if you're the host, though.

But it really isn't possible to cater to everybody's tastes. 

Everybody we know understands the kind of beer that will be served at our house and reacts accordingly.  Some bring their Coors or Bud Lite, no problem for me and it's what they like.  They still have the option of trying any of the other beers, but they can also stay in their personal comfort zone if that's what suits them.  My boss brought a 12 pack(at least) of Budweiser to my house every time he came over, his wife loved my homebrew, everybody was happy.

14

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Beers for the non-craft drinker

« on: May 15, 2013, 12:03:33 PM »

I haven't found any connection with age and liking good beer. There are from my observation as many youngsters as there are people around my age (59) who are lite beer drinkers. I would guess the average age of people at the brew pubs that I frequent to be around 45. Would be an interesting study though.

Bruce

Since pretty much all my friends are my age (40s and 50s) I can say that age isn't a factor at all.  My daughter's friends all drink good beer, my son's friend all drink BMC.
To the OP I say brew what you like and if the others don't like it they can bring their own.  At our annual Oktoberfest my rauchbier and the hefeweizen are always the most popular, even with BMC drinkers.  People who are unwilling to try homebrew always bring their own so I don't worry about them.

15

Hop Growing / Re: Bine Culling

« on: May 13, 2013, 01:38:53 PM »

Don't expect much the first 2 years anyway so that's why I said to just let them grow for the first 2 years.