Messages

1366

Equipment and Software / Re: Glass or plastic?

« on: April 28, 2010, 12:58:56 pm »

Don't forget plastic carboys ( Better Bottles ).  This is all I use.  I don't do Lagers yet, so I really don't need to worry about long term storage issues.  The orange carboy caps fit on the 6 gallon bottles perfectly and can be used with a blow off tube ( 1/2" ID tubing on the big port ) or an airlock.   The only disadvantage is they are only 6 gallons, so there's not a lot of headspace when you fill them up ( I try to fill mine to 5.5 gallons so I get 5 in the keg ), but that's when I use the blowoff tube and then switch to airlock when fermentation slows.

I figure when I do lagers, I use the BB, then lager in a keg.

1367

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What do you want your AHA Governing Committee to do for you?

« on: April 26, 2010, 07:36:54 am »

I would like to see some agreement with the shipping companies ( Fedex, UPS ) the relax the restrictions on shipping beer for competitions.  Also, maybe a deal could be struck with them for contracted shipping rates at a discount. 

1368

Questions about the forum? / Re: Deleting my own posts

« on: April 23, 2010, 12:20:53 pm »

woohoo...it works.

1369

The Pub / Re: Brew Music

« on: April 23, 2010, 11:42:59 am »

Since a lot of us drink when we brew, I think this previous thread probably applies as well.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=661.0

I usually listen to brewing podcasts when I brew.

1370

Questions about the forum? / Re: Deleting my own posts

« on: April 23, 2010, 09:52:14 am »

Maybe it just shows up for me because I'm a mod, but in the upper right hand corner of a post I see a red "X" that says remove.  Do you see that?

I think it's because you are a mod.  The solution...make us all moderators 

1371

The Pub / Re: Quick Demographics Question

« on: April 23, 2010, 08:14:26 am »

Someone just put this up on Beer Advocate:

Official launch of the 2010 Homebrewer Census

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/270314/test-census

Not sure if they will get 750k responses though.

1372

Questions about the forum? / Re: I don't exist?

« on: April 22, 2010, 12:10:36 pm »

Thought that one sounded like a PIBCAK error!   

or the id10t error 

Ain't 'puters fun?

1373

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: is it too late to plant hops?

« on: April 22, 2010, 08:12:22 am »

Where are you located?  I'm in New England and don't plant on putting my hops in the ground until after Mother's Day.  I think I put some in last year at the end of April and the suckers had popped back up this year.  

1374

The Pub / Re: Its 4/22

« on: April 22, 2010, 06:49:26 am »

Today is my 15th Wedding Anniversary.   Better remember the date

1375

All Grain Brewing / Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?

« on: April 21, 2010, 12:07:55 pm »

The faucets won't support the threaded couplers, like the kind you get with the bottle jet washers?

If not, maybe you could put water in the tub and circulate it through the wort chiller with an aquarium pump.

1376

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Is the NHC for rich people?

« on: April 21, 2010, 08:42:44 am »

I never expect to win anything ( although I did get a cool certificate for a 27 point American Stout last year  ), but I am mainly looking for feedback from some good judges.

Regional competitions do that for you

New England Homebrew competition had 350 entries last year.

VERY well run competition too

Yeah..I had an IPA in that last year and got a 40 ( but didn't place ).  Not to mention I can drop off locally and save on the outrageous shipping cost.

1377

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Is the NHC for rich people?

« on: April 21, 2010, 08:33:55 am »

I never expect to win anything ( although I did get a cool certificate for a 27 point American Stout last year  ), but I am mainly looking for feedback from some good judges.

1378

The Pub / Re: Quick Demographics Question

« on: April 21, 2010, 08:22:23 am »

http://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/media/press-releases/show?title=1200-homebrewers-celebrate-the-hobby-of-homebrewing

750K homebrewers and only 1200 ( .16% ) attend the conference.  Sounds like something the Governing Committee should look into.  Maybe if there was more attendance, the AHA could take over a whole state for the conference

1379

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Is the NHC for rich people?

« on: April 21, 2010, 08:10:15 am »

If I'm not mistaken ( which has happened in the past, present and future ), in 2007 Jamil won Ninkasi with 3 golds and 1 bronze...just 4 beers.  And in 2008, Gordon Strong won with just 2 golds...just 2 beers.  It's all based on 2nd round winners, right?  So brew 3-4 kick ass beers and you could win Ninkasi too. 

1380

Ingredients / Angle of Hop Twine

« on: April 20, 2010, 07:16:18 am »

So I found a nice sunny spot for my hops.  I'm going to plant them next to my shed and attached the twine to the shed roof.  At the apex, the height is probably 12 feet.  I want to plant 4 rhizomes ( 2 cascade & 2 Centennial ), but as I move the the slope of the roof I lose some height so I was thinking of angling out the twine to gain some back.

Is there an angle at which point they won't grow right?  I know they can be trained horizontally but shouldn't they go up first?

Also, how far apart should each rhizome be?  If I mount them, and try to cut the roots around the mounds as they grow, can they be within a couple feet of each other? ( Maybe I'd put a little distance between the 2 different varieties ).

Thanks.