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Brewer of the Week: Robert Salgado
When did you start brewing?
November 2009
What got you brewing?
General curiosity and the challenge.
When did you know this was no ordinary hobby, it was an obsession?
The first time I woke up at 6am on a Saturday morning to start brewing.
When did you join the AHA?
June 2010
What is your "white whale" beer (the beer you'd hunt to the ends of the earth for, and possibly die trying to obtain)?
A Burton Ale from the 1800’s.
What is your favorite local craft brewery?
Long Island needs more local craft breweries. Right now it’s Southampton Publick House but it’s not very local.
Do you have a homebrewing disaster you'd like to share?
I have many. The last beer I brewed was a Classic American Pilsner with 30 percent corn (polenta). I didn’t realize I only had a couple ounces of rice hulls left. Let’s just say it was a very long lauter, haha.
What is your favorite style(s) to brew?
Pale Ales (English & American) and Cream Ales (East Coast represent).
What style(s) will you never brew?
There's not a style that I would never brew but there's a couple that are very low on my "to brew" list. Namely, Light American Lagers, Doppelbocks & Fruit/Herb/Vegetable/Spice beers.
What was the first beer you ever brewed? How did it turn out?
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale clone kit from AHS. It came out good because I did a lot of research, before I brewed it, haha.
What is your favorite recipe based off of a commercial style?
I brewed a clone of the Epic Pale Ale from the Can You Brew It? show. The recipe isn’t conventional by any means, but produced a really good pale ale. Unfortunately I don’t know how close it was to the real thing because I’ve never seen it in stores.
Do you have a favorite homebrew trick or gadget that you've found to make your beer better/brewing easier, etc?
Kegging FTW!
Describe your brew system.
I brew on a 10 gallon All-Grain System. There are two 15 gallon kettles. My HLT is a converted keg. My boil kettle is a Penrose Kettle with Jaybird false bottom/hop topper, whirlpool inlet, thermometer, sight glass & stainless steel QD. My MLT is a 10 gallon Gott Cooler with a false bottom. I have two Blichmann natural gas burners and a chillzilla CFC. I ues a March Pump as well as 1/2" sillicone tubing with polycarbonate QD's. The two kettles, burners, pump & CFC are mounted ona bolt together anodized aluminum fram with wheels. Most of the time I brew witha single infusion mash and fly sparge; I try and keepit simple.
How frequently do you brew (times per month or year)?
As often as I can, which is anywhere from once a month to as much as four times a month.
What is your favorite malt? Why?
Marris Otter because I love the bready/biscuity flavor.
What is your favorite hop? Why?
Good ol’ Cascade because I love citrusy APAs & IPAs.
What is your dream beer and food pairing?
Fried chicken covered with bacon, pulled pork, kettle cooked potato chips & pizza with a Burton Ale from the 1800’s.
Do you have a favorite or house yeast? What qualities do you like about that yeast?
American Ales – US-05 because it’s dry (no starter required), flocculates well, and is reliable.
English Ales – WLP002 because of the flavor profile and it flocculates like a ton of bricks.
Do you belong to a homebrew club? Do you have a good homebrew club story you’d like to share?
Brewing Network
What is a beer style that is underappreciated and/or could take off given the opportunity and exposure?
Lower alcohol English-style Ales and Classic American Pilsners.
Is there any advice you would like to give to new homebrewers?
Do lots of research, ask lots of questions (only after doing research), join a homebrew club if you have the time, don’t get discouraged and remember its only beer.
Anything else you’d like to add?
If you’re interested in brewing session beers, check out my blog.
Do you have a mentor or someone you think the world should know about? Or, tell the homebrewing community a little bit about yourself so we can get to know you! Post some background info on the AHA Forum under the Hombrewer Bios category, and that person may be selected as the next Brewer of the Week.
The AHA Forum is communications central for the homebrewing community. Draw upon the collective knowledge of homebrewers around the world to get your questions answered. Help out your fellow homebrewers with their questions.
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