Messages

31

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Cowboy Brewers

« on: May 13, 2013, 01:30:10 PM »

If only it was Alien Cowboy Magazine...

Edit: Actually, one of the ranchers who picks up our spent grain brews at least occasionally. I'll mention it to him next time he's in.

32

All Grain Brewing / Re: Grains on hand

« on: May 13, 2013, 01:14:41 PM »

Most of my brewing is either US-style pale/amber ales, Belgian-style ales, or German-style lagers, so bear that in mind.

By the sack:
US 2-row Pale
Ger. Pilsner
Ger. Munich I

Moderate quantities (<5 lb):
US White Wheat Malt
UK Medium Crystal, ~60 SRM
Ger. CaraVienne, ~20 SRM

Small quantities (<1 lb):
Ger. CaraMunich, ~50 SRM
Bel. Special B, ~150 SRM
UK Extra Dark Crystal, ~150 SRM
Ger. Munich II
Pale Chocolate
Chocolate
Black Patent
Roasted Barley

33

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

« on: May 12, 2013, 02:12:55 PM »

One thing you guys are missing is that smaller bottles have less beer in them.

I did the math and this checks out.

34

Going Pro / Re: Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery (2nd Edition)

« on: May 11, 2013, 04:59:58 PM »

For those of us not in the know, I take it Martin and John Palmer do not agree when it comes to water chemistry for brewing?

I doubt they'd have any serious disagreements. It's more that How to Brew was written a decade ago and is well out of date in its treatment of alkalinity in the mash.

35

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

« on: May 11, 2013, 09:21:52 AM »

We sell single beers at the brewery for $2.49 and bombers for $4.99, so the 12 fl oz bottles are a better deal. It's also pretty common for liquor stores to have a "make your own 6-pack" case, and those tend to run about $1.50-2.50 for US-made beers. Could be a regional thing though.

36

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

« on: May 10, 2013, 10:12:33 PM »

Show me a brewery selling 12ouncers for a better deal than bombers, then you have an article.

I don't get it. The most I've seen a 6-pack of beer go for is roughly $15, which works out to $4.58 for a 22 fl oz bomber. At least around here, bombers bottom out at $4.99, so the same beer in a 6-pack is always going to be cheaper, per unit volume.

37

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: Attention! The Kraeusen is falling.

« on: May 10, 2013, 01:47:11 PM »

Is there any need to start to increase the temp of the beer when you near the end of fermentation?

You don't "need" to unless you're fermenting really cool, but it definitely helps to speed up the last few days of fermentation.

38

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Almost there - AL senate gives passage to homebrew bill

« on: May 10, 2013, 09:51:23 AM »

Just another example of a government protecting one business over another.

Ah yes, colorful Colorado. Where you can find craft beer on every corner, unless that corner is a grocery store.

39

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Handle on 20 LB CO2

« on: May 10, 2013, 09:14:42 AM »

That is a great price. I pay $50.00 to fill my 20 lb. tank.

Are you on an island or something? There's no way it should cost more than maybe $30 anywhere in the lower 48.

At any rate, yes, the handles rotate so that they'll clear the regulator. Getting the regulator on and off can be a PITA since you can't spin a wrench very far, but it's no big deal. Beats not having a handle for sure.

40

Going Pro / Re: Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery (2nd Edition)

« on: May 10, 2013, 09:09:29 AM »

Here's the book the guys on probrewer.com rave about, and it's only $20: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tom-hennessy/brewery-operations-manual/paperback/product-20402206.html

It's definitely worth reading, but I wouldn't consider it a replacement for the BA book. It's relatively short and geared almost entirely toward the brewing equipment side of things. (Don't get me wrong, Tom's the man when it comes to that.) Not much about financing, accounting, licensing, etc.

41

Equipment and Software / Re: Canner

« on: May 10, 2013, 08:21:47 AM »

you have to buy cans at some 10's of 1000's at a time so it might not be very useful.

That's if you want them screen-printed, in which case the minimum is about 60,000. For blank cans, I know Ball in Golden will do sub-pallet orders by request. We had to buy them stacked to less than the default height because we had clearance issues in the brewery.

42

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: Attention! The Kraeusen is falling.

« on: May 09, 2013, 11:45:26 PM »

Because I sample the grain, the wort, and the beer throughout the brewing, fermentation and conditioning process, I can understand the whole process much better than if I just waited 2 weeks.

Well said.

43

Equipment and Software / Re: Canner

« on: May 09, 2013, 09:39:33 PM »

a fund to facilitate shipping beers home from belgium when i'm there in two weeks.

That's a great idea. One of those expenses that always ends up being larger than budgeted.

44

Equipment and Software / Re: Canner

« on: May 09, 2013, 08:54:03 PM »

Does that include the seamer? $6k for both would be a good deal if they're in reasonable condition.

Actually, the seamer is all you really need. You could fill the cans by hand and then seam them, just like you would with a bottle.

With two operators, when everything is humming, that Cask filler/seamer system can do about 1 bbl/hr, which strikes me as a little excessive for home brewing.

45

The Pub / Re: Why I run Windows

« on: May 09, 2013, 10:25:22 AM »

Here my old Mac I bought used in 2005 still chugs along....

It's crazy how well-made they are compared to other laptops. I just retired my MacBook Pro from 2005. The only problem with the old one is that the battery is totally dead, which never bothered me because a 17" isn't really a portable anyway. I can put a new battery in it and sell it on eBay for about 1/3 the price of a brand-new 13".

I also just realized the new models have no moving parts, which is just awesome.