Messages

4201

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: From Hobby to Career...Why not pursue a dream?

« on: April 14, 2010, 10:56:16 AM »

Are the federal laws the same across the US?  Have you found that you are jumping through more hoops with the TTB or State and District groups?  TTB requirements are the same regardless of which state you are in, correct? 

TTB is the same across the nation. All they care about is collecting their money and they want to make sure they understand your output so that you aren't going to fudge any #s. The reason it takes so long or can be so difficult is because, simply, they can.

Our local regulations are pretty strict. There are some laws on the books that are unbelievably stupid. For instance, if you want to open a brew pub in Alabama it has to be on a location that once produced beer legally before. Which is why there are only 3 operating brew pubs in Alabama.

We are trying to change some of these antiquated laws now through the Free The Hops organization.

I can't tell you exactly how much more difficult the local officials are going to be because we just started dealing with this stuff. We are using an architect to design the layout of the brewery to fend of changes from the Health Dept. and Building Inspector. Not cheap, but worth it in the long run.

4202

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: From Hobby to Career...Why not pursue a dream?

« on: April 14, 2010, 09:58:29 AM »

Huntsville, AL

4203

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: From Hobby to Career...Why not pursue a dream?

« on: April 14, 2010, 09:03:17 AM »

And, it's like it never ends. This is an email I got from one of my partners today....

".... I will bring the app to our meeting, but basically we will all have to do an FBI and ABI background check. There is a $1000 manufacturers fee, as well as a $400 warehouse fee, and $100 worth of application fees..."

And FBI background check. Now I hope they don't need to know about that time at Ocean City, Maryland! 

4204

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: From Hobby to Career...Why not pursue a dream?

« on: April 14, 2010, 08:34:16 AM »

I am in the process of opening a nano brewery right now and I'll let you know if it was worth it or not in about a year. I can tell you right now, it's been a big PITA thus far just dealing with all the bureaucratic bulls***. There are literally hundreds of hurdles to jump through and thousands of dollars that must be laid out before you can even brew your first pint of beer. For instance, before you can submit your TTB application you must provide a layout and before you provide a layout you must have a place to brew so you must lease or buy a facility before you can even submit your application, and the application can take 2-4+ months to be processed, so you will be paying rent while you are just sitting there waiting to brew. Also, if you make just one mistake on the application (eg: you don't use BLUE ink) you have to file again. And that doesn't even begin to include the local regulations (we have to have a trap at the street so the city can come by whenever they want to see what we are dumping in their sewer system.)

I suppose that if it would be easy damn near every one would do it.

That said, I am super excited about actually getting to brew for (what I hope will be) a living. I do agree with the 7bbl system necessity. You really need a 7bbl system before you can really make any money.

4205

All Grain Brewing / Re: Monster Mill Questions

« on: April 13, 2010, 09:33:25 AM »

I have the MM 3 2.0 and I tried malt conditioning on it once and it was really difficult and IMO totally not worth the extra effort. Not sure if it would work better on the smaller mill or not. I suppose if I had an extremely powerful motor it wouldn't be a problem. As it is I have a fairly powerful hammer drill.

4206

The Pub / Re: Favor

« on: April 13, 2010, 08:50:49 AM »

Thanks all. She is actually doing much better today. I am sitting up at the hospital with her all day so my dad can get some work done. She's not out of the woods but has made some big improvements since yesterday. The hospital has public wireless - glad I brought my laptop!

4207

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Yeast Washing 101

« on: April 13, 2010, 08:48:49 AM »

3-4 for me. Sometimes I also just collect the slurry and make several starters off that slurry on my stir plate.

4208

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: unmalted wheat in NON Belgian recipes?

« on: April 13, 2010, 05:27:03 AM »

Most of the flavor comes from the yeast (and spices). The unmalted wheat is mostly for mouthfeel and body.

4209

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Yeast Washing 101

« on: April 13, 2010, 05:26:05 AM »

Yes, I'm a huge proponent of reusing yeast. Just not washing yeast. 

4210

The Pub / Favor

« on: April 12, 2010, 06:02:35 PM »

Keep my mom in your thoughts, and if you pray, keep her there too. She's in the hospital and having a hard time pulling through. Thanks!

4211

The Pub / Re: OK homebrewers, where should I live?

« on: April 08, 2010, 10:07:36 AM »

It gets way too damn hot in the south, too. Way too damn hot. My only real complaint besides red necks. But you find them everywhere.

4212

The Pub / Re: OK homebrewers, where should I live?

« on: April 08, 2010, 09:47:00 AM »

Quite a while ago.  Like Spring of 1981.  Sad thing is, it was a bunch of us Electrical Engineering nerds for an IEEE conference.

I'm sure they have forgotten you by now. I was 11 in 1981 and living in Mechanicsburg, PA. I have been here since 1993 and it has changed a lot since then. I have been told it is a vastly different town from the early '80s. Not that there is a real incentive to VISIT Huntsville (except maybe the Space and Rocket Center) but it is a good central location close to a lot of great outdoorsy places.

a10t2 - in about 4 years I would like to be in the position to offer you a job!  You can have one now as long as you work for free. 

4213

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Yeast Washing 101

« on: April 08, 2010, 08:09:01 AM »

I tried washing yeast several times and, IMO, I see no advantage to washing the yeast on the homebrew level. Just an extra step that could compromise sanitation. Just keep most of the hops and trub in the kettle and collect and pitch part of your slurry and you will be fine.

4214

The Pub / Re: OK homebrewers, where should I live?

« on: April 08, 2010, 08:02:49 AM »

I recommend Huntsville, AL

Went to Huntsville with a group back in college.  After some of our antics, the Huntsville city cops escorted us to the city line and demanded that we never return.  And the Bama state troopers threw in "for that matter, don't ever return to Alabama".

So I guess Huntsville would not be an option for me

Bwahaha! That's awesome! So how long ago was that? I have seen the inside of the old Hunstville City jail. Not for DUI, so don't jump to conculsions. 

I realize a lot of people will snicker at an Alabama suggestion but Huntsville (and its surrounding area) really is a nice place to live. And, like I said, there are JOBS here.

4215

The Pub / Re: OK homebrewers, where should I live?

« on: April 08, 2010, 05:19:00 AM »

Here's a couple options I am sure you haven't considered.

I recommend Huntsville, AL for several reasons: its within 2 hours of some of the best kayaking on the east coast, its very close to countless back packing locations, great Mountain Biking/hiking trails in H'ville, plus there are actually jobs here and real estate is affordable. Also, its been named to many top 10- "best places to live" lists. The beer scene is just starting to wake up here but there is beer here, a couple good beer bars and a couple breweries are slated to open here just this year (yours truly, for instance.  ) I live about 20 minutes from huntsville and I own 7 acres of mountain land that backs up to a wilderness larger than the Great Smoky Mountains - I can literally go out for a 2 or 3 day back packing trip right from my back door - which is awesome! There are few places in the country where I could afford to own this much land, with this much privacy, and this size house, this close to very well paying jobs with a still robust economy.

That said, for a young, unmarried scoundrel, I will readily admit that Asheville, North Carolina has Huntsville beat hands down. Awesome beer town (arguably the best beer town on the East Coast), right off the Blue Ridge parkway - literally endless wilderness for outdoor sports. Fairly well educated. Beautiful area, one of the prettiest places to live on the East Coast. Also some very pretty, fit, southern girls.

But, if you want a good economy (and, ultimately a great place to raise your kids) it's really is hard to beat Huntsville.