Messages

16

Events / Re: NHC Guide and Tips for a Newbie

« on: February 14, 2012, 09:17:22 am »

Fred is correct. The AHA Governing committee, in concert with the AHA, spent a fun week or so exchanging emails and building a document about lessons learned from what collectively is probably over 100 years of AHA NHC experience 

Your email is on the right track on several key tips. Once the conference has started, one rarely needs to leave the hotel. Drink lots of water. Yeah, a big greasy breakfast sure seems to help. So does Vitiman B and asprin.

Anyway, it will be posted to the conference website prior to the actual event with these and several other good tips. See you there!

17

Equipment and Software / Re: How's your Thermapen?

« on: February 03, 2012, 02:45:39 pm »

Ancient proverb states that a brewer with just one thermometer always knows his temperatures, whereas a brewer with 2 or more never does. 

18

Classifieds / Re: whisky barrels need homes

« on: December 17, 2011, 01:43:54 pm »

For what it is worth, I just emptied my 1st filling of the corn whiskey/single malt barrel and it was delightfully filled with vanilla, tannins and booze. Just rinsed it out with 3 gallons of pre-boiled water and added 5+ gallons of Imperial Stout. These are great little barrels, but you do need to order a pallette to make it worth their while...go through your LHBS shop.

19

Classifieds / Re: FS: Morebeer Hopback plus 2 male SS fittings

« on: December 17, 2011, 05:50:33 am »

Still available? Let me know - crispy275@comcast.net

20

MI / Re: Ann Abor

« on: October 26, 2011, 06:31:00 pm »

Sorry - Saturday, November 5th - Teach A Friend to Homebrew Day

21

MI / Ann Abor

« on: October 26, 2011, 04:26:50 pm »

Members from the FORD Homebrew Club, the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild and the Monroe Muskrat Mashers will be brewing several demo batchs at the recently opened Adventures in Homebrewing on 6071 Jackson RD, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

Festivities will begin at 10 and should continue to 5:00. Feel free to bring a homebrew (or 3) if you feel so inclinded, and bring a friend that would like to see the process from end to end.

22

Classifieds / Re: whisky barrels need homes

« on: October 05, 2011, 05:26:34 pm »

You won't be disappointed. I called Chip today to thank him, and to ask him some questions about these barrels.

Chip, the Head Distiller for Balcones Distillery in Texas, is the one who posted about these being available for homebrewers on the AHA Forum. He said these were the sort of barrels he wished he could get his hands on when he was homebrewing.

There is a lot of information on one end that has clues about the prior contents, dates of emptying, and alcohol levels previously in the barrels. Mine say’s “Blue Corn” and what I think is an alcohol measurement (60.4% or something like that) and date, then “Malt”, another measurement and date, along with the dump date (early September).

So I am guessing that, along with the info on their website, that these held their “Baby Blue”, a Blue Corn Whisky, and then their single malt. Their website: http://www.balconesdistilling.com/

 

23

Classifieds / Re: whisky barrels need homes

« on: October 05, 2011, 09:09:58 am »

We received the whisky barrels last week and I was thrilled wirth their pristine condition, the beautiful aroma behind the bung, and the fact that they came with their own stands! Our local homebrew shop (Adventures In Homebrewing) facilitated the deal, and several dozen of us were able to obtain one or more at a great price. I immediatly racked over an Old Ale that I had sitting in secondary, and when I tasted a small sample just a day later, it had a rgeat flavor already!

Thanks for thinking of us homebrewers these personal sized barrels rock!

24

Homebrew Clubs / Re: Serving homebrew at beer events

« on: September 27, 2011, 06:37:14 pm »

MI HB 4061 will not allow for the serving of homebrew to non-homebrewers. If passed, it will allow licensed establishments within Michigan to invite homebrew clubs to have meeting, compitions and do brew demos at their facilities. However, it will still be illegal to serve homebrew to non-members at these events.

It passed through the House Regulatory Reform sub-committe, the House, the Senate Regulatory Reforem sub-committe, and when it got to the Senate floor, the Michigan LCC asked that it be withdrawn as they had objections. Without going into the details, behind the scene activity by my friend, homebrewing partner and bill sponsor, House Representative Doug Geiss, along with the House Majority Leader and the LCC is occuring, and we hope to see it back for a vote shortly.

I agree with the other cooments as far as the organizers just knowing the rules.

25

Classifieds / Re: whisky barrels need homes

« on: September 27, 2011, 03:23:47 am »

My understanding is this week, but I think that they were all pre-sold and paid for by members on-line.

26

Classifieds / Re: whisky barrels need homes

« on: September 16, 2011, 05:54:12 am »

I worked with my local homebrew supply store (Adventures in Homebrewing- Ann Arbor, MI) and collectively through a number of local clubs, Jason (the owner) is obtaining 2 full pallets of barrels. He set up a nice on-line pre-order form that allowed him to gauge interest and get financial commitments from club members. We are looking forward to obtaining these in a week or so.

27

Classifieds / Re: whisky barrels need homes

« on: August 29, 2011, 05:41:50 am »

Hello Chip. If you would, please contact me and let's discuss what a pallet of barrels would cost. My local homebrewing supply shop (Adventures in Homebrewing) may be interested. You can reach me either through a message here on the Forum, or at crispy275 at comcast dot net.

28

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: How much beer is too much?

« on: August 04, 2011, 04:15:29 pm »

Legally - 100 gallons annually as an individual, 200 gallons as a household.

29

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Thank You AHA

« on: June 21, 2011, 09:18:35 am »

There was another request from the AHA last week through their Legislative Action Alert for Michigan homebrewers to contact their local Michigan Senate & Rep. officials.

Rep. Doug Geiss indicates that it will be on the House floor either tomorrow (Wednesday, June 22) or Thursday. If you can spare 2-3 minutes, this is the final push and we need all the support we can muster! And if you know microbrewery or brew pub owners/employees who would be willing to do the same, let them know that thier voices are important to this bill as well.

Who knows, it could be legal to have a homebrew club meeting in licensed Michigan establishments before the 4th of July if things go our way! Keeping my fingers crossed!

30

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Will YOUR brew be served next week?

« on: June 09, 2011, 05:45:25 am »

Jeff - after three days in a truck crossing the country att scorching heat, I am crossing my fingers that they do not get badly affected by the ride. The proof will be in the pudding during our Hospitality shift next Thursday!