Messages

1

Beer Recipes / Re: Ballast Point Homework Series...

« on: May 16, 2013, 02:25:57 PM »

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/community/news/show?title=ballast-point-homework-series

dayum! 18% crystal.  i'd like to taste this before making it sometime...

Dude, you (and many others) have to get over your fear of crystal.  It's how you use it, not the amount that's there.

I've had a few Ballast Point beers while visiting California and they were all terrific. They just hit Illinois, but I imagine this won't

I brewed an Anchor Porter clone I got from the Northern Brewer forum and it used 15% crystal. I loved it. I just went looking for the thread and there was blatz

thanks for the great work korbinian - be sure to update once you have brewed it.

korbinian wrote:
15% crystal 40 (he said I could even use more)


whoa??!! :shock:

http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=89557

2

The Pub / Re: NTSB Recommends 0.05% BAC Limit

« on: May 16, 2013, 08:35:51 AM »

This leads me to another aspect of this whole conversation. I've always believed that driving tests in the US are way too easy. Knowing how to parallel park and make a K-Turn is a joke in the grand scheme of driving. I think everyone should be subjected to a few different courses, maybe even over a few days.

I was really lucky that my dad and grandfather both took the time to teach me the skills i really needed for driving on the road. They would take me to this bus depot parking lot when it was raining and make me spin the car on purpose to get a grasp of what it was like to lose control of the vehicle, how to avoid it and how to recover from it. They also did this with 2 different cars in both the rain and the snow and I have to tell you, the first time you do it its scary as hell but after 4 or 5 times it becomes natural to just turn into the skid and recover from it. And when that skid happens in the real world, and it will, you won't panic, you'll just react.

Just think about what you learned in your driving class and what its really like on the road. Its a huge difference and unfortunately it takes time to build up the experience needed to actually be a good competent driver.

Can you imagine if we let people fly planes with the same amount of training?

I worked as a letter carrier for awhile and the best part of the training was the driving instruction. We spent time in class and on the road with instructors. It was pretty eye-opening after having been licensed for 15+ years.

Of course I still took the door off a postal vehicle one day because of the ridiculous built-in blindspot on the Grumman LLV A utility pole can completely disappear behind the side view mirrors.

3

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Goose Island beer

« on: May 15, 2013, 05:14:39 PM »

I think there's been a bit of a diaspora since the ownership change, though I think to some degree there were always people leaking out to other local breweries.  This is good for the local craft beer scene. I'm not sure if the rate has increased, but I bet it has.

There's a bunch of former GI brewers in this video celebrating 25 years (It's  too long and doesn't mention InBev, but oh well.)
http://beerpulse.com/2013/05/goose-island-beer-company-celebrates-25-years-video/

The brewpub still does some great stuff. And I too wish they'd bring back the oatmeal stout.

4

The Pub / Re: A bomber is rarely a good deal

« on: May 12, 2013, 12:31:15 PM »

I actually really enjoy Rogue's 7oz beers. That seemed like a good size for a big beer, for me. I don't think they were very popular though.

I bottle part of a batch of my RIS in 7oz bottles for my wife. She usually doesn't want a full 12oz of something big.

5

Beer Recipes / Re: Is this a 3F Gumball clone?

« on: May 10, 2013, 04:45:19 AM »

Maybe not a clone, but it looks like it will get you in the neighborhood.

6

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 3/8 Edition

« on: March 07, 2013, 08:13:35 PM »

Got a starter going for a wit. I'm using Wyeast 3944 for the first time, as the LHBS was out of Forbidden Fruit.

7

Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Bigfoot 2013

« on: February 28, 2013, 08:04:42 PM »

Apparently they were breaking even at best on Bigfoot and went to four packs as a way to decrease the sticker shock when they raised the price:
http://www.beerpulse.com/2012/03/why-sierra-nevada-bigfoot-is-moving-to-4-packs/

It's still pretty reasonable compared to other high gravity beers, IMHO.

8

Ingredients / Re: My Recent Experience with Citra

« on: February 26, 2013, 03:12:29 PM »

Interesting to see others' impressions of Citra. I like them, but my wife had one pint of Three Floyd's all-Citra Zombie Dust APA and told me I must brew something similar. I've brewed a couple of batches using 2011 crop, so I'll be curious if the flavors change when I start in on my 2012 supply.

9

The Pub / AB InBev accused of mislabeling ABV

« on: February 26, 2013, 03:02:35 PM »

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-26/ab-inbev-overstates-alcohol-in-budweiser-lawsuit-claims.html

The most interesting thing to me is that they're accused of reaching their final ABV by adding water and CO2. I drank enough 4% BMC in Utah to think that's the truth.

10

The Pub / Anchor expansion plans

« on: February 20, 2013, 04:49:22 PM »

http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/more-on-anchors-pier-48-san-francisco-brewery/

They had a 270 bbl brewhouse in storage for almost 20 years!

11

The Pub / Re: Pub blather

« on: February 15, 2013, 01:51:15 PM »

I would also be pissed off if I found an Eagle that had been shot! I was not going to drink today but with this news I might have to!

Man, that sucks. Eagles in flight are awesome to behold.

There are locks on the Illinois River at Starved Rock in Illinois that attracts bald eagles in the winter when the rivers freeze over. This winter has been too mild, so we haven't been able to go.

12

Beer Recipes / Re: Brewing a Barley wine.

« on: February 07, 2013, 10:27:07 AM »

I am looking forward to a vertical bigfoot expidition. Sometime this week maybe. I have 1 bottle of 2007 and then 2009-2013. It's only okay for me when fresh, but after a year or two it starts to be really amazing. I had a 2006 a couple years ago and that was AMAZING so I am really looking forward to the 2007

I have 2 or 3 2008s left. The last one I had was really, really good. I'm not sure how long the rest will last

13

Beer Recipes / Re: Brewing a Barley wine.

« on: February 06, 2013, 05:28:28 PM »

...If pressed I'd say "American" was my favorite style but I hardly ever drink them anymore. If you want real hop presence you'll need a lot of them and be forewarned that hop character fades rather quickly. You'll lose 50% probably in the first year alone.

wow...different strokes, I guess.
I don't think a barleywine is even worth drinking until its at least a year or two old ...and preferably older!

I guess I'm just an old traditionalist (and getting older).

I drink a bit of Bigfoot when it first comes out every year and stash more in my cellar. I love the way it changes over time. If I want a high ABV hop bomb, I'll buy a Three Floyd's DIPA like Arctic Panzer Wolf

14

The Pub / Re: Oh that Google

« on: February 04, 2013, 07:27:43 PM »

Also, I've been impressed with how fast google is indexing things these days. Sometimes I'll post something or be involved in something and it's available via google search within 4 hours. Mind boggingly fast.

There's a small forum I post on where my posts are sometimes indexed within minutes. Amazing stuff.

15

The Pub / Re: Pint Glass Pricing Poll

« on: January 17, 2013, 07:36:53 PM »

D'oh, already voted. Make my $8 a $5.

I don't think I can change anyone's vote, but you can.

Ah now I see the remove vote link.