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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Wrong?
« on: May 22, 2013, 02:51:34 PM »
the fact that you are enjoying it is what is truly disturbing.
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Kegging and Bottling / Re: SS Bottles
« on: May 22, 2013, 10:55:11 AM »
At first I thought "neat"! 
Then I read $50! I said "Whoa!" 
Then I thought, what is the benefit to a ss bottle (at $9 per bottle) over a recycled glass bottle? The glass bottle you can see if it is dirty, mine have been recycled (never bought new) for years, and were free (or $2 per with 12oz of free beer).
I own one SS growler in case I need for non-bottle (or stealth needed) locations.
Then I read $50! I said "Whoa!" Then I thought, what is the benefit to a ss bottle (at $9 per bottle) over a recycled glass bottle? The glass bottle you can see if it is dirty, mine have been recycled (never bought new) for years, and were free (or $2 per with 12oz of free beer).
I own one SS growler in case I need for non-bottle (or stealth needed) locations.
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The Pub / Re: NTSB Recommends 0.05% BAC Limit
« on: May 14, 2013, 03:10:42 PM »Quote
PA is kind of known for it's bizarre and backwards liquor laws as well the overzealous folks on the liquor control board who 'enforce' the law.
Words to remember when we are all in Philly next month.
I do know of more than one college towns setting up DUI checkpoints on bike paths....the 0.05% BAC limit can more easily be abused....
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The Pub / Re: NTSB Recommends 0.05% BAC Limit
« on: May 14, 2013, 12:25:20 PM »
I wish I could claim that sort of high ground (refusal to imbibe when needing to drive), but most people don't realize that operating a bicycle is just as illegal as driving with a BAC that exceeds 0.08%....
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Beers for the non-craft drinker
« on: May 14, 2013, 12:13:43 PM »
I hate to waste beer on the BMC crowd. Helles, Maibock, Am Wheat, Blonde, Kolsch are all good choices, though.
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The Pub / Re: NTSB Recommends 0.05% BAC Limit
« on: May 14, 2013, 11:49:42 AM »
I have no problem with a 0.05% BAC, but admittedly I will have to change my habits a bit to ensure that I comply. This will hurt my local breweries (especially the bar staff) and be offset by additional purchases at my LHBS.
I wonder what my BAC was after judging the latest homebrew comp? I know I wasn't up above 0.1....but might have been at 0.05%.
I wonder where the BA and AHA are with this? It seems like bad publicity to come out publicly against, but also could be potentially bad for business and add to member's liability.
I wonder what my BAC was after judging the latest homebrew comp? I know I wasn't up above 0.1....but might have been at 0.05%.
I wonder where the BA and AHA are with this? It seems like bad publicity to come out publicly against, but also could be potentially bad for business and add to member's liability.
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The Pub / Re: Sam Adams Cans
« on: May 03, 2013, 01:53:23 PM »Quote
I don't care for cans. I've never previously considered myself a retard, but maybe I've been wrong all this time.
+1.
I don't enjoy drinking from them, if given a choice (same beer, different package) I choose bottles, and I tend to not choose the "can only" craft choices except when that can is a 15.5 or a 5.13 gallon size or I am involved in an activity where bottles aren't allowed.
But, on the other hand, I don't buy that much packaged beer at all....ever.
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Homebrew Competitions / Re: NHC regional experiences
« on: May 03, 2013, 08:54:38 AM »Quote
I'm curious to hear if others met with similar panels in other NHC regionals,
@ Witty.
I can only tell you of my experience judging in Denver. As an inexperienced judge (was unranked at comp time, now am "recognized" and awaiting another exam score from test in March to see if I make grade to become "certified"), I was paired with no less than a National judge or extremely experienced brewer (he had his PhD in Brewing Science from University of Brussells...which was awesome for me....and might have also been national but who cares at that point). I would guess that Denver has a nice collection of National ranked folks to make this a reality, but my guess is that the organizers make the best pairings they have avaliable and many non-bjcp folks are known to the organizers through club functions to be qualified homebrewers. Rarely does someone get conscripted off the street except in dire emergency.
Taking tests is not everyone's bag....I know i hate doing it, and will be reluctant to shoot for another higher rank again no matter how much experience I have.
So, it is more likely than not your judges weren't complete newbies, or NY at worst had a dire situation and needs more qualified volunteers (that are willing). If the sheets were of poor quality, that could be an issue, but rank has little to do with how conscientious the taster is at that moment, nor how many beers he/she had been through before yours in flight and in earlier session(s), too. Some of the best comments I got from my beers this year were from the less experienced judges...best as in understandable, constructive, and helpful....not that I liked all of what they had to say.
My experience has led me to believe that beer judging is some of the hardest drinking you'll ever do (not in quantity)....it is just a difficult practice.
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Scoresheet comment... Inappropriate?
« on: April 29, 2013, 11:13:02 AM »
If I were the judge, I wouldn't want to defend that one, but as the perspective of a new judge, I had a really hard time trying to say specific things about each entry that were unique and thoughtful. This ability diminished as I progressed through the flight.....worse at beer 9 (eisbock) after 4 dopplebocks, 3 standard bocks, and a couple of Maibocks.... yikes.
Certainly, the filter comes down a notch or two when you've been tasting since 9am on your third day of judging. It is no excuse to be rude, however. Hopefully, you can take those comments and reference what the other judge was saying and get something useful out of it.
Certainly, the filter comes down a notch or two when you've been tasting since 9am on your third day of judging. It is no excuse to be rude, however. Hopefully, you can take those comments and reference what the other judge was saying and get something useful out of it.
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The journey
« on: April 22, 2013, 08:19:01 AM »Quote
I've learned more in the last 5 years than I did in the first 15, for sure.
This has been my experience over 20 years as well. There are many facets, and not everything is for everybody, which makes discovery a wonder (and rediscovery, too....just when you decide something about yourself as a brewer or drinker, you try something and it opens up a new set of doors).
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Time can do amazing work on your beer.....remember????
« on: April 19, 2013, 10:33:38 AM »
It gets me all the time. I often do not possess the patience I know is necessary....and I am always disappointed by a green beer....of course the elation of a few weeks later more than makes up for that!!!
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: budweiser yes, but kind of cool
« on: April 17, 2013, 10:11:20 AM »
IMO, dumb gimmick.....11 ounce can for the fashonably hip.
I am a curmudgeon, however, as the only can I really like as a beer package is a keg. If ever given the choice, I choose a bottled product over an equivelant canned one....even if I pour it into a glass.
I understand the ecological and beer quality aspects of the can, and appreciate the craft beer movement to provide an "on the go" packaging alternative.....it is just my personal last choice unless I need it for a reason (like a park, or the pool).
But then again, being a homebrewer, with a kegerator, and stainless steel growlers....I am not much of a packaged beer consumer anyway.
I am a curmudgeon, however, as the only can I really like as a beer package is a keg. If ever given the choice, I choose a bottled product over an equivelant canned one....even if I pour it into a glass.
I understand the ecological and beer quality aspects of the can, and appreciate the craft beer movement to provide an "on the go" packaging alternative.....it is just my personal last choice unless I need it for a reason (like a park, or the pool).
But then again, being a homebrewer, with a kegerator, and stainless steel growlers....I am not much of a packaged beer consumer anyway.
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All Grain Brewing / Re: Preboil Gravity off
« on: April 15, 2013, 08:29:23 AM »
I haven't figured out what in beersmith tweaks that pre-boil gravity number. Mine is consistantly off by about 10 points (I always have a higher number than BS says I should), but end up within 1-3+/- of my original gravity target and I don't run off 15.57 gallons in my 15.5 gallon keggle as it tells me to (so it is not at all concerning).
I figure for me it is a combination of the equipment settings in BeerSmith, (it doesn't have a keggle setting), an estimation of what my deadspace in the mash tun is (I never checked), and that for whatever reason, my vigorous boil does not evaporate at the same rate that BS thinks it should....(I am at altitude, but I would figure my boil off rate would be higher, not lower, but boil temp is lower here, too).
At any rate, I feel like hitting your expected pre-boil gravity is an indication that you have done everything properly and all systems are go!
I figure for me it is a combination of the equipment settings in BeerSmith, (it doesn't have a keggle setting), an estimation of what my deadspace in the mash tun is (I never checked), and that for whatever reason, my vigorous boil does not evaporate at the same rate that BS thinks it should....(I am at altitude, but I would figure my boil off rate would be higher, not lower, but boil temp is lower here, too).
At any rate, I feel like hitting your expected pre-boil gravity is an indication that you have done everything properly and all systems are go!
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Lagering in corny kegs
« on: April 11, 2013, 01:01:18 PM »Quote
I haven't but I would. You could probably use the same keg for lagering and then put it on tap.
This is my preferred method with an Oktoberfest that has won multiple awards over the last three brewings. I have one sitting carbed in the can now (waiting for late summer).
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Hop Growing / Re: should I cover my hops?
« on: April 08, 2013, 02:30:04 PM »
I am going with the leave it alone method for this week's storm. You can't kill those hops here.
I am more worried about my trees.
I am more worried about my trees.