Messages

1

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

« on: May 15, 2013, 07:39:04 AM »

Kolsch and Vienna Lager have been the two most popular of the beers I have on tap with the lite beer people. I am surprised at how some people who I thought were lite beer drinkers for life eventually come around to liking more flavorful beers.

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

2

Ingredients / Re: Hop suggestions for White IPA

« on: May 13, 2013, 08:24:59 AM »

Here's the "recipe" from Deschutes, which I believe is similar to Boulevard. Doesn't give all the information, but gives you a starting point.

 http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/recipe/chainbreaker-white-ipa-clone

Good luck!

Bruce

3

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Birthday Beer Awesomness

« on: April 27, 2013, 08:39:38 AM »

Nice birthday gifts indeed. I'm sure you'll put them to good use. Thank you for your service to our country.

I also did well a few weeks back. I got the "Turtle" (for making black and tans), a couple carbonator caps, a gift certificate and some money from my wife to help buy pups to replace my two Golden Retrievers that I had to put down in the past few months. We got two little Goldendoodles. Been a while since we've had puppies around. They sure have lots of energy, but very loving little guys. Great birthday present.

Bruce

4

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Yakima Valley Hops ROCK!

« on: April 06, 2013, 07:48:31 AM »

I'll have to check them out some time. 20 minutes up the freeway.

BTW Micah, ONLY reason I'd head to the Wet Side is to see the in-laws

Have a great weekend.

Brews

5

Equipment and Software / Re: Oxygen aeration with tank

« on: February 18, 2013, 09:15:38 AM »

I used the stone with flex tubing for 10 plus years. I found it was hard trying to move the stone where I wanted it. I bought the wand (can't recall if it's Williams) and love it, the flex tube is retired.

Bruce

6

Equipment and Software / Re: Conical Fermenter

« on: January 17, 2013, 08:37:16 AM »

I have my conical inside a converted upright freezer. The freezer is on a hydraulic cart I bought at Harbor Freight (around $130). I can control my temps and wheel the fermenter around and raise it up if I need to. Been very handy.

Bruce

7

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Calculating Losses to hoses

« on: January 16, 2013, 10:23:21 AM »

Can't you drain the hose into a sanitized beer pitcher then dump into the fermenter? Hate to waste 2 plus pints of potentially good beer!

Bruce

8

Equipment and Software / Re: Conical Fermenter

« on: January 14, 2013, 05:21:28 PM »

The bottom valve is for dumping trub and yeast. The side valve is for pulling samples and transfering. There will only be a couple cups of liquid below the side valve.

After cooling wort and transfering to the conical, let it settle for at least a couple hours, then dump the trub out the bottom before adding O2 and yeast.

Congratulations, you'll love it.

Bruce

9

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What were your gateway beers?

« on: January 14, 2013, 09:15:13 AM »

Hiney wine in a can. Saw a Hiney bumper sticker. It read "I love Hiney" with the heart, only the heart was upside down to look like a "Hiney". Funny stuff.

10

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What were your gateway beers?

« on: January 14, 2013, 08:29:47 AM »

Grant's Scottish Ale and Imperial Stout in the mid 80's.

11

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Hop production in North Carolina

« on: January 10, 2013, 08:49:28 AM »

An old college buddy of mine living in the Twin Cities area asked me if I knew some growers or people to share information on growing hop for that area. Interest is popping up all over...


Bruce

12

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 1/11 Edition

« on: January 10, 2013, 08:44:13 AM »

Good luck on the test Michael.

No brewing, just cleaning and organizing the shop/brewery.

13

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: The skinny on Denny's 1450

« on: January 09, 2013, 08:45:32 AM »

I brewed an APA in early December with 1450 (dated sometime in October). It fermented around 60 degrees and took about 10 days to finish. It had gravities of 1.058 and 1.012. I really like how it brought more of the malt flavor out. I reused the yeast in a brown porter on December 29. It started at 1.050 and was sitting at 1.022 last night, there is still some activity so I'm hoping it's going to finish below 1.015. I moved the fermenter into a warmer room and sloshed it around a bit in hoping to keep it going.

14

Going Pro / Re: Achtung!

« on: December 28, 2012, 11:23:29 AM »

Congratulations Matt! Are you thinking in the Twin Cities area? I went to college (U of M, St Paul) back there in the 70s.

Good luck!

Bruce

15

Ingredients / Re: Belma Hops?!?!?

« on: December 28, 2012, 10:41:07 AM »

Please keep us posted how the IPA turns out. I picked up a pound a month ago when I stopped there. I'm thinking of using them in a lighter beer (blonde or wheat) as suggested earlier.

Bruce