Messages

31

Equipment and Software / Re: Thermometers

« on: November 09, 2012, 07:43:14 AM »

My Thermapen is one of the best purchases I’ve made..  I love it. I use it for everything I need to measure the temperature of…..well almost everything..the end is pointy.  I signed up for the Thermoworks email list.  You automatically get entered into their monthly win a thermapen drawing and you get emails of their current sales.  When the thermapens(refurbished) went on sale I bought mine.... and it came with some Jelly Belly jelly beans.  Its been a while since the refurbished have been on sale so they are probably due soon.

32

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Labeling bottles

« on: October 10, 2012, 05:52:04 AM »

I usually use the sharpie on the cap method for my regular everyday beer.  For labels for gift beers, I make them pretty much as mentioned above. I was using pregummed labels, and they worked great, but I will probably switch to paper with a glue stick for this next batch.   One thing I started doing is after they are printed I spray them with a clear coat to keep the ink from running when they get wet.  It may not work if the bottles are put in an ice bath, but it helps keep them from running if they get wet from the pour.

33

The Pub / Re: Northern Brewer... shipping... Argh.

« on: September 20, 2012, 07:59:21 AM »

I used to order a lot of my stuff from NB, but I switched to other places because NB ships UPS.  For a while every box that came to our house from UPS was crushed.  The real deal breaker for me was Saturday delivery.   I do not get to brew too often anymore, so I have limited days to brew.   One of my delivery dates was the Friday before brew day.  Friday came but the package didn't and since UPS doesnt deliver on Saturday, my brew day was over Friday night. I only order beer stuff from places that ship FedEx because they deliver on Saturdays and that could be the difference for me....and the boxes arent crushed.   If NB switched to FedEx I would probably order more often from them.

Back to the delivery date, we've received a lot of packages from UPS and FedEx before the delivery date on various shipping methods. Hopefully you get it in time.   I will say that orders that are being shipped other than ground should not be held up without the customer being notified. I also dont think they should have told you that you would get it by Friday if it was shipped 3 day select yesterday.  You may want to contact them if it doesnt arrive in time.

34

The Pub / Re: Covers

« on: September 20, 2012, 07:15:16 AM »

On two somewhat related notes.
I did not see the movie, but read the book.  My parents gave me the DVD to watch, but my wife wants to read the book and wants me to wait to watch it until she reads it. The opening title you posted was great. I may have to watch it without her.

I am a Zeppelin fan, but they also had not been in my playlist for a while.  I recently heard the Willie Dixon version of I Can't Quit You Baby and that started me listening to them again recently.  Funny how the original version can reinvigorate a passion for a cover... what was older made something old new again....or something like that.

35

All Grain Brewing / Re: composting spent grain

« on: September 04, 2012, 08:34:43 AM »

That's funny. I just saw them for the first time this summer this weekend. I added grain two fridays ago from that brewday and when I went to add our normal compost scraps this weekend, the pile was full of them.   I usually have them earlier.  It may be because it's been such a strange weather year.

36

Beer Travel / Re: NJ spots?

« on: September 04, 2012, 08:27:19 AM »

I haven’t been around that area in a while but you may want to check out the bars/restaurants in Morristown. You will probably be able to find whatever type of food you want there as it is a bar/restaurant kind of town.  The Office has decent food and a good selection of beers. I think there is one in Summit and one in Morristown.  It’s a small chain so the quality may also depend on the location you go to.

If you are willing to drive 20 minutes out of the way, I would suggest the Cloverleaf Tavern in Bloomfield.   They have decent pub food and a good beer selection.  It can get very crowded, especially on beer appreciation night, which is the first Tuesday of every month. www.cloverleaftavern.com.  Poor Henrys in Montville is supposed to be decent, but I haven’t tried it yet.    Please update this post after you visit. I’d like to hear about some place you tried, especially if its somewhere I haven’t been to.

37

All Grain Brewing / Re: composting spent grain

« on: September 04, 2012, 07:28:05 AM »

go online and order yourself some black soldier fly larvae. They will eat that grain up in no time.

Are these hard to get in your compost pile naturally? I must be pretty lucky because I get them every year.  They definitely do their work on grain and are pretty gross.  I will never forget the first time I turned the pile and saw all those big suckers wiggling around.

I thought about starting a earthworm colony for composting purposes. I wonder what spent grain would do to them?

The worms love the grain in my compost bin, I would think they would in a worm colony. It may be hard to keep the colony from going anaerobic though.

38

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: I once had too Many Beers.

« on: August 30, 2012, 12:39:41 PM »

I once had too many beers
before I went shopping at Sears
I got kicked out of the store
For trying to score
With a couple of angry cashiers

39

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: I once had too Many Beers.

« on: August 30, 2012, 07:02:01 AM »

I once had too many beers
her complaints fell on my deaf ears
About little romance
and me not wearing pants
and how it's been that way for years

40

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What do you think of this commercial

« on: August 29, 2012, 10:24:19 AM »

It makes me think that its time to brew a bratwurst beer.

Bratwurst in the mash or secondary?

I'm thinking secondary.   Should it be homemade bratwurst as well?

Im thinking raw homemade brats added to the boil.  Remove the brats and Grill them, store them and add them at packaging. That way you dont loose any sausagey goodness.

41

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What do you think of this commercial

« on: August 29, 2012, 09:52:49 AM »

It makes me think that its time to brew a bratwurst beer.

42

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: I once had too Many Beers.

« on: August 29, 2012, 07:06:17 AM »

I once had too many beers
While hangin with all of my peers
Went to grab a Saison
But they were all gone
Which caused me to break out in tears.

43

The Pub / Re: Cell-phone woes

« on: August 29, 2012, 06:53:13 AM »

i used an old nokia for about 5 years until the screen was so beat up it couldn't be seen. i still used it but it infuriated my wife who bought me an iphone 3g.  used that for past 3 years with no problems.

I had an old Lg that was cracking in half and my wife harped on me about using it. I was just going to get another cell phone but she wanted a smart phone so of course if she was getting one, I was getting one. Now I cant live without it. I use it for everything.

If you upgrade to a new (subsidized by verizon) phone, then you have to switch to the new shared data plans. If you buy a phone at full price (currently an Iphone is over 700$) then you can keep the unlimited. This changed on June 28th 2012.-

Not surprised. I figured it was only a matter of time before they started doing that.

44

The Pub / Re: song title game

« on: August 29, 2012, 06:32:47 AM »

Train kept a Rollin - First song performed by Led Zeppelin written by  Bradshaw/Kay/Mann

45

All Things Food / Re: New Hottest Chile...Carolina Reaper?

« on: August 29, 2012, 06:20:41 AM »

Im a fan of habaneros too.  I also like to use scotch bonnets.  I like that they are sweeter than habaneros but still hot. I like to use them especially when making Jamaican beef patties or other Caribbean foods.