Messages

1501

Equipment and Software / Re: Underground wort piping

« on: November 30, 2011, 02:45:41 pm »

Maybe a water tank that you can fill using that same hose we talked about?

For electric . . .

This and a Delorean would really help with time management.

1502

Equipment and Software / Re: Underground wort piping

« on: November 30, 2011, 07:56:31 am »

I also don't think your first option will work. The wort would heat the earth immediately surrounding the pipe and without any convection (it is earth after all) cooling would quickly stop.

1503

Equipment and Software / Re: Where can I get an accurate thermometer?

« on: November 30, 2011, 07:00:18 am »

Wow, you could probably guess the temperature more accurately than that. What kind of thermometer was it? If it was high at boiling and low at freezing, then its more than just a simple adjustment.

A scientific supply company might be a better place to look. Here's one, but there are many.

http://www.carolina.com/category/equipment+and+supplies/measuring+equipment/thermometers.do

1504

All Things Food / Re: Smoked Salmon Pairing?

« on: November 30, 2011, 06:51:00 am »

Personally, I like to pair my smoked salmon with non-smoked beers.  I like a weizen, saison, or other flavorful and effervescent beer, I think it helps clear the palate for the next bite, plus they have enough flavor not to be overwhelmed by the smoky fish.

I'd be interested to hear what you think of whatever your pairing ends up being though.

All of my favorite beer pairings contrast the food they are paired with, and for this reason. Smoky/slightly fatty fish? I'd go with something to neutralize those flavors. Maybe even a mildly sour beer.

1505

All Grain Brewing / Re: Time to fill up the keezer

« on: November 30, 2011, 06:43:20 am »

The time between start of boil and when your kettle is ready to accept more wort would be much more than the 1 hour boil due to post boil time spent whirlpooling, cooling, draining, cleaning, etc. Better to start the second mash 1/2 hour or more into the boil. Otherwise, this is what many commercial breweries do. Do it a few times and I'm sure you'll get the process figured out.

1506

Beer Recipes / Re: Lambic

« on: November 24, 2011, 07:02:08 pm »

Well, gueze is a blend of new and old lambics. There isn't really a "recipe" for gueze.

1507

Beer Recipes / Re: Scottish 70

« on: November 23, 2011, 10:53:13 am »

I made a scottish similar to your recipe - all base malt with a little roasted barley. While sparging, I took the first gallon and boiled it separately down to 1/2 gallon. At this point it was dark, thick, and caramelly. I added this back to the wort for a regular 60min boil and it was great.

1508

All Things Food / Re: Anyone have any brew based Thanksgiving recipes they would like to share?

« on: November 23, 2011, 06:40:09 am »

Macaroni and IPA cheese sauce - though whether mac and cheese is thanksgiving fair depends on what part of the country you're from.

I'm not so sure about IPA sauce. I love IPAs but not for cooking. This does bring up an interesting idea though. Has anyone ever used a little beer in the sauce instead of milk just to add that flavor? I would think you'd want to add just a little at the very end to avoid any clumping. I have some porter in the basement that might go pretty well in the cheese sauce.

Many brewpubs sell beer-cheese soup and there are cheese fondue recipes made with beer, so I imagined you just make a thick version and add macaroni - done. The beer-cheese soups are often made with IPA's, though perhaps just a bit so they can call it IPA soup. I usually don't like hop flavor in my food.

1509

The Pub / Re: Blue Rhino

« on: November 22, 2011, 02:08:02 pm »

We have one place in town, a dive shop, that will fill CO2 while you wait.  The guy who runs it is (I'll be charitable) a bit disagreeable.  I find the nice, happy and friendly atmosphere of the fire supplies place far out weighs the need to go back in a few days to pick up the tank over getting b!@#ed at about my "apparently illegal" activities.

Draft beer is illegal!? New one every day...

1510

Ingredients / Re: Flaked Oats vs. Old Fashioned Oats

« on: November 22, 2011, 01:57:20 pm »

I toasted oats and entered a competition and judges noted the toasty/nutty oat flavor.

I always use Quaker and never buy flaked oats from the homebrew shop. I use 'Old Fashioned', not instant or quick. Of course, that's also what I use to make oatmeal.

1511

All Things Food / Re: Anyone have any brew based Thanksgiving recipes they would like to share?

« on: November 22, 2011, 01:47:49 pm »

Macaroni and IPA cheese sauce - though whether mac and cheese is thanksgiving fair depends on what part of the country you're from.

1512

All Things Food / Cider brined turkey

« on: November 22, 2011, 11:21:56 am »

This year we're going to brine our turkey with our hard cider from last year. I was surprised - when I searched for ideas I found a cider brine recipe from Emeril, so we're going to follow that with a few changes. Our version is below.


2 22oz bottles hard cider (ours)
3 quarts fresh apple cider
2 cups Kosher salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon whole allspice
4 cinnamon sticks
4 bay leaves
4 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs rosemary
4 sprigs oregano
1 gallon ice water

1513

Pimp My System / Re: Brewenstein - The Brewing Monster

« on: November 22, 2011, 07:54:04 am »

One improvement I'd love to make would be thermostatically controlled electric elements in my hot liquor tank. I'd love to be able to wake up, fill the tank, set temp and flick a switch. Then go have coffee knowing hot water would be ready when I am.

1514

Pimp My System / Re: Tap Handle Project

« on: November 22, 2011, 07:50:45 am »

Try Adobe Photoshop Elements, which also has a trial.  I use photoshop (full version) for my labels, but elements is $79. I'm not sure what it is missing.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements/features._sl_id-contentfilter_sl_solution_sl_Explore%2Bwhat%2Byou%2Bcan%2Bdo.html

1515

Equipment and Software / Re: "BeerBug" Wireless Specific Gravity - applicability?

« on: November 19, 2011, 08:51:33 am »

Like madrungard said, a SG probe would be a cool tool. And if it reads gravity independent of temperature, it would be a useful tool throughout the process for reading SG during mashing and boiling.