Topics

16

General Homebrew Discussion / Alaska brewery plans to use beer as a source of green energy

« on: February 04, 2013, 09:02:59 am »

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/04/alaska-brewery-plans-to-use-beer-as-source-green-energy/?test=latestnews

The Juneau-based beer maker has installed a unique boiler system in order to cut its fuel costs. It purchased a $1.8 million furnace that burns the company's spent grain -- the waste accumulated from the brewing process -- into steam which powers the majority of the brewery's operations.

Pretty cool, eh?

17

Equipment and Software / All things jockey box

« on: January 29, 2013, 09:21:40 am »

Serving beer this past weekend at a local beerfest, we borrowed a friends jockey box.  Had some issues to get it to pour without too much foam. 

Anyway, we quickly realized we need our own jockey box to get our process "dailed in."  So I do a little surfing, and have some questions.......

Are stainless coils better than aluminum plates? 

One website said it's important to cover the coils completely with ice.  Is that true?

What about pressure?  I've heard everything from 5psi, to 35psi..... 

And then there is size of lines, size of coil, etc.

What else am I not thinking of as I plan to spend $300-$500?

18

Equipment and Software / Thermopens on sale

« on: January 18, 2013, 09:43:18 am »

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/thermapen/splashproof_thermapen_open_box_sale_2013.html?utm_source=Nl-2013Jan18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=title&utm_content=inbox&utm_campaign=openbox-cs

I sure love mine.  More in the kitchen, than the brewery, but this is one cool device.

19

Going Pro / 1st BrewFest

« on: January 16, 2013, 04:26:56 pm »

Well, we've been in business about 6 months now, and will be pouring at our first beer fest next weekend.  (www.strangebrewfestpt.com)

Anyway, we're looking for any suggestions you guys may have.  It is nice that they will write me a check for all 6 kegs (1/6 bbl) as soon as we arrive. 

Any and all thoughts are appreciated. 

20

Beer Recipes / Chocolate Tabasco Porter

« on: January 10, 2013, 10:10:47 am »

We're gonna try and brew this beer this weekend.  We had to mail order dried tabasco peppers. 

We got 6, .5 oz packages.  We want it to be pretty well flavored with both the chocolate and the peppers.  We're starting with a basic porter recipe from Beersmithrecipes.com but wondering how much cocoa and the dried peppers for a ten gallon batch. 

Any clues?

21

Beer Recipes / The Ghosts of Homebrewing past

« on: January 10, 2013, 08:45:27 am »

My inlaws passed away about 4 years ago, and as we were cleaning out the house, there was a hutch with a bunch of cookbooks, and magazine recipes.  Basically, we just moved the whole hutch, and never went through that drawer. 

Until last week.

And what did I find?  You guessed it, a home typed (remember typerwriters?) reciped for homebrew.  I'ts got to be from the late 50's - early 60's based on what I know about the in-laws.  I knew they used to make wine, but I nver knew about the beer.  Anyway, two pages, neatly typed recipe and insttructions.  And of course now I want to brew this recipe. 

Or maybe not.  I'm not sure what "beer settler" is.  Maybe a fining?

I'll see if I can get scanned and post here somehow, but the recipe is basically:

Hop flavored malt syrup
Table Sugar
Fleischman's bread yeast (that's right)
Beer Settler.

Anyway, it was way cool to find, and I'll probably just frame them, and hang it up in my tap room. 

22

Going Pro / How crazy is this?

« on: January 07, 2013, 08:49:16 am »

Have you ever seen those photo frames that display on electronic image?  They are almost like a small video screen, where one can change the picture at will.  I've even seen some of the newer ones where you can change the picture remotely. 

You could set one up at Grandma's house in Pittsburg, and change the picture displayed from Seattle.

That got me thinking. 

A network of sorts of brewpubs could take pictures of the chalkboard tap list, and upload the image on a real time basis.  Then, on the wall in each brewpub would be a few of these framed screens to show what's on tap at other brewpubs around town.  You could be having a beer at my brewery, but know the guy down the street just tapped his famous IPA. 

(or having a beer at that brewery, and know I just tapped my Amber.)

I think it would show the beer drinking public, that all us brewers are friends, and want to help each other.

23

Going Pro / Tripling capacity

« on: December 14, 2012, 12:29:16 pm »

We should have a 1bbl system by the middle of next month.  Now the question comes up do we just brew less often, or do we go out and try to get another couple accounts. 

24

All Grain Brewing / measuring efficency

« on: December 06, 2012, 10:13:43 am »

I see many posts regarding homebrew efficiency.  I'm wondering how many folks really go to all the hassle to accurately measure efficiency.  At least I think I wonder.  I remember a BrewStrong episode where the crew was explaining how to accurately measure one's efficiency, and IIRC it was quite involved with exact potential of grains, and very spcific water volumes. 

Or is there an easier way?  I have beersmith set at 75% efficiency, and I always come close to the estimated OG.  (1.065 on BS, and I'll hit 1.060) I suppose I could adjust the efficiency in BS to the point where I'm right on, and figure that is my efficiency. 

How do you all measure your efficiency?

25

Going Pro / Post approval inspection

« on: November 30, 2012, 03:13:21 pm »

OK, so I just got a call from an investigator with the TTB.  Will be meeting with him Tuesday evening as a "post approval inspection."  Over the phone he said he just wants basically the same infrormation we have already sent to them in Ohio.  Plus we'll have our excise tax reports and Brewer's Report of Operations for him, should he ask. 

Any hints from any of you that have been through such an inspection?  I have government audits all the time in my healthcare job, but have no clue what to expect in a brewery.  The weirdest thing is that this will be the first time ANY person from ANY government agency has been to our brewery, and we've been brewery for about 4 months now. 

26

General Homebrew Discussion / Pot beer could be next high for some home brewers

« on: November 14, 2012, 02:58:58 pm »

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/11/14/colorado-homebrewers-get-high-off-pot-beer/?intcmp=features

From the article:

Now marijuana and beer will soon become a legal combination, at least for home brewers in Colorado and Washington. With the passage of Amendment 64 in Colorado and Washington Initiative 502 last week--which legalizes adult marijuana possession, cultivation and sales in the two states--home brewers may be able to legally add marijuana to their recipes.

hmmmmm. 

27

Going Pro / Is this a good deal?

« on: November 05, 2012, 02:29:53 pm »

hmmmmm.   

http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/for/3387581635.html

28

Events / Fresh Hop Festival - Yakima, wa

« on: October 01, 2012, 08:23:30 am »

http://www.freshhopalefestival.com/

Just a little reminder about the Fresh Hop Festival this Saturday in Yakima.  Not the biggest festival around, but they do have a nice line up of breweries this year. 

29

Ingredients / IBU scales, why so different

« on: September 13, 2012, 09:36:53 am »

Beersmith allows you to calculate IBU's.  But it includes three different scales, and on my most recent IPA, one said 88, and another said 120.  I didn't check the third.  Why are these so different, and is one considered  "the gold standard?"

30

Equipment and Software / Pellet packs

« on: September 05, 2012, 01:57:27 pm »

Just got an email from this company.  I have not used pellet hops in years, but I wonder how well these would work.....

http://www.pelletpacks.com