Messages

1

Equipment and Software / Re: Re: Beersmith

« on: June 05, 2013, 09:19:49 PM »

I lessthanthree this analogy.

I am fascinated by the word lessthanthree.  Even as a phone autocorrect, I wonder about the derivation.

I think he was trying to type <3, meaning "heart".  Such as "I <3 this analogy"

2

The Pub / Re: Do you hate to be corrected?

« on: May 12, 2013, 08:29:08 AM »

I don't care if those people are insulted or not.  I post the correction for everyone else who has to read it.  People have a habit of believing what they read.  Whatever nonsense was posted by the original poster will likely get shared onward by someone else, either on Facebook or in real life.  I figure that correcting it up front is doing a favor to all those people, even if the original poster gets their feelings hurt from their embarrassment.  There's already too much misinformation out there.

3

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Competition results - Bad addition on one of my sheets - what to do?

« on: April 24, 2013, 09:26:31 AM »

Not that this matters much, but I have been a stewart at both regional and national NHC comps.  I've always doubled checked the judges math.  It's wrong more than one might imagine.  The judges can get ereal busy, and anything us stewarts can do to help has always been quite appreciated.

I just judged at one of the regionals and our steward saved me by catching a math error on one of my sheets.  I'm not the type to screw up simple addition very often, but it happened.  Honestly, I think stewards are what makes these competitions work.  It would be a mess without them.

4

Homebrew Competitions / Re: NHC regional experiences

« on: April 23, 2013, 11:18:25 AM »

I drove down to judge a couple of flights for the San Diego location.  It was very well run and a pleasure to judge.  Kudos to Eric DuRose and the rest of the organizers and stewards.

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The Pub / Re: Why beer ratings are great & awards are overrated

« on: April 17, 2013, 11:30:17 AM »

It seems to me that as long as your beers aren't overtly flawed, medaling in a large competition is very nearly random. That's good news for a small brewery owner, because you can shotgun entries into a few comps and be reasonably certain that you'll medal and get some advertising on the cheap.

Just as an example, last year there were 676 breweries competing at GABF, and 254 medals awarded.

Wow, that's crazy!  How do you not get a medal?  How many categories?  I can't imagine there is much prestige in winning gold in "Best American Light Lager In A Can With a Bow Tie and a name that starts with B and ends with R."   LOL

6

Going Pro / Re: Air compressor

« on: March 22, 2013, 03:17:57 PM »

Speaking of canning, I just read that Sam Dams is going to cans.  Maybe you've heard.  They spent a million bucks developing a new can design that they're going to release to the industry without charge or royalties.  Can info at http://blog.samueladams.com/sam-can/

Interesting.  I'm cool with cans, but I try to pour my beer into a glass no matter how it was originally packaged.

It does make me wonder if they could have made it more of a pull top, like a soup can.  Then you'd basically have an aluminum pint glass.

7

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Using my Homebrew to raise money for charity

« on: March 22, 2013, 03:02:52 PM »

I know people who have auctioned off brewing lessons.  The winner gets to brew with you and keep the beer.  If they pitch the yeast, they then have made the beer in most states.

Don't know if this is the answer you were after, but that is one way to do it.

I've done this in CA.  It brings in more money for the charity and I feel like I'm helping someone possibly start the hobby rather than just giving them beer.  I also brewed a 10 gallon batch with the winners so I could keep 5 for myself.   

8

Events / Re: NHC 2013 Entry Problems - Possible Solutions?

« on: March 03, 2013, 08:05:57 AM »

FWIW the tasting exam we had in December has been graded and returned already.  Although the waiting list for the exam is pretty long, the grading is coming back faster with the new format.

That's great to hear.  It would also be nice to extend the time that the online exam results are good for.  I had to take the exam in order to get on a waitlist for a tasting exam a few hours away from home.  If I don't get into that exam, my results will expire and I'll be forced to start over again.  I don't mind the wait if I don't have to start all over again.

9

Events / Re: NHC 2013 Entry Problems - Possible Solutions?

« on: February 28, 2013, 10:58:17 PM »

I know plenty of people with more money than skill, and they wouldn't not balk at throwing a bunch of money at $40 entries if they think it'll help them win some national awards.  Raising the entry fees to an abnormally high price would just encourage wealthier people to throw money at it while pushing out people with less means and quite possibly more skill and/or desire. 

If you want to limit the amount of entries per person, it would make more sense to just limit the number of entries per person rather than making it a question of your disposable income.

10

Events / Re: NHC 2013 Entry Problems - Possible Solutions?

« on: February 27, 2013, 03:45:42 PM »

I keep seeing the reference to 30,000 being the number of entries if we limited it to 1 entry per member... but I think that's the total AHA membership number.  I highly doubt that every AHA member will enter.

If limiting it to one entry per member as a start is actually on the table (which I doubt anyway), maybe you could test the waters by having an early 1-entry registration for each active AHA member and see how many you get.  If less than the total capacity, open it up after that for open registration.

11

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The Mad Fermentationist's Top 10 Myths

« on: February 06, 2013, 12:25:54 PM »

I keg most of my beer, but I still bottle 4 - 6 cases of it a year as holiday gifts and such... so I'm definitely aware of how much effort goes into each process.  That said, kegging wins hand down in my opinion.

I have to wonder if the people who think bottling is as easy or as fast as kegging have ever tried kegging their beer?  Once you've done both a few times, it's clear that kegging is easier.

12

Equipment and Software / Re: What 10 gal fermenter?

« on: January 29, 2013, 01:21:27 PM »

I'd love to have a couple of those, but the cost of them now would be crazy if you can find them at all.

You can get new ones for $380 or refurbished ones for $265 from CHI.

I bought a refurbished 10 gallon corny keg from them for $175 a few year ago and love it.

I bought one of the 10's from them a while back as well and it works nicely.  I just wish the 15's were in that price range.  With the cost of stainless these days, I know that's wishful thinking. 

13

Equipment and Software / Re: What 10 gal fermenter?

« on: January 29, 2013, 01:18:47 PM »

I'd love to have a couple of those, but the cost of them now would be crazy if you can find them at all.

$300 on eBay.

That just seems like a lot.  For that much money, I'd rather get one of these:  https://www.kegs.com/products/select-sankey-keg

14

All Things Food / Re: Beer dinner pairings help

« on: January 25, 2013, 12:43:47 PM »

Nice, Phil!  Looks like it went great!

15

Equipment and Software / Re: What 10 gal fermenter?

« on: January 24, 2013, 11:26:13 AM »

I have used the 15 gallon cornies for about 8 years now. They are already plumbed and require NO modification. Just pop a hose on a gas disconnect and you have a blowoff tube. I have been praising these as a perfect solution for years now, and have only now just bought a conical for 15g batch sizes.

I'd love to have a couple of those, but the cost of them now would be crazy if you can find them at all.