Messages

1

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: Homebrew contest scores?

« on: August 16, 2010, 10:02:26 PM »

Hi Marty you raise a good point and I agree age does matter big time, I've actually done both in the past years. It all depends on the style of beer I've brewed. Like for example this past spring I brewed an ESB, I experiemted with dry hopping it a bit just for the fun of it well of course I entered the Blue Bonnet again but this time no success, it did get a good score of 32 and 34 but the judges found it a bit to hoppy for the ESB style, thats my bad cause it was just 1 month old. I drank some of it yesterday 6 month in and I think now is a good time for it to be submited to a contest since the hops have mellowed out alot in a 6 months period and the beer still is yummy!

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Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: Homebrew contest scores?

« on: August 16, 2010, 03:33:07 PM »

That 2nd place in the TX BlueBonnet is truly a huge honor for me, hopefully one day I can get that recipe out there to all the folks in Texas and outside of Texas with my own Micro or BrewPub ;.) In the meantime I'll try to brew something that finally brings me 1st place jeje. I highly recommend any homebrewer out there to enter there beer at least once in a homebrew contest, its amazing the things you learn from the feedback of the judges, and defiantely competitive and just to win one or place in the top three is amazing and so rewarding makes you want to brew everyday for the rest of your life!

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: How profitable can a Homebrew Store be?

« on: August 11, 2010, 08:44:46 PM »

Anyone knows of good wholesale suppliers for Brew and Wine making stores that might handle Texas?

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: How profitable can a Homebrew Store be?

« on: August 11, 2010, 02:53:51 PM »

Seems like the beer bar or lounge inside the brewstore is a plus, as for the Internet im sure I'll eventually set something up but it wont be my main focus at first. My focus would be to attract customers into the store, get new folks to try it out this awsome hobby and have fun brewing, Ill do this by providing beer classes, beer tasting events, wine making sessions as well as cheese making. I would definately carry the best and stock up with the best out there for homebrewers and wine makers and for sure hire knowledgable staff. I want customers to come visit to feel like the store is there new hangout spot to chat and have a beer as well as get there beer and wine ingredients. If anyone knows of good beer store with beer lounge or beer bar in it please let me know. Thanks for all the replys!

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General Homebrew Discussion / How profitable can a Homebrew Store be?

« on: August 09, 2010, 07:16:50 PM »

I'm currently debating the idea of opening up a hombrew store and was wondering how profitable are they or how profitable they can be? Currently where im at located in TX there is one great homebrew store but its way North of town, I beleive the city is growing fast and continues to expand to where the South of the city could have its own brewstore. I'm also thinking of possibly having a nice beer bar with a decent selection on tab to where you can come hang out have a brew and buy what you need to make beer, nice combo but got to see if that flys with TABC. So I got a few ideas just wondering if this is the way to go? Ive read there isnt much to be made in this section of the beer industry?

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Texas Microbreweries

« on: July 28, 2010, 02:53:50 PM »

Dirk, I agree that we have 512, Austin independence, Live Oaks, Uncle Billys, NXNW and various other brewpubs and beer bars such as the gingerman and draughthouse but somehow I think those guys are missing something. For example Austin Independence hasn't come out with a new beer since they started brewing there beer line has remain the same and there beers are tame in flavor for being craft beer. I remember going to there third year anniversary and they had an amzing IPA that somehow never made it to the market, if it had I would be the first buyer but they disapointed me cause it never released. 512 doesn't bottle and the one beer that was bottle recently for what I've read in reviews is tasty but various bad batches have also been reported. Live Oaks similar circumstances as 512, they dont bottle yet heard there new facilities will have a bottling line so I'm exicted for this but they also are hard to come by in beer bars and sometime a few of there selection are found sad cause there beer is very good. Uncle Billys and NXNW great brewpubs both make excellent beers but again are brewpubs and Texas laws dont allow them to distribute there beers or sell outside of there facilities. I wish some of these local guys followed in the steps of Real Ale and SouthernStar Brewery, I wish Uncle Billys had a bottling line cause there beers are yummy as well.

7

General Homebrew Discussion / Texas Microbreweries

« on: July 26, 2010, 09:20:32 PM »

So my frustration with Texas is that I believe we should have way more Microbreweries popping up than what currently exist in this state. I believe Texas is up there in beer consumption yet a good portion of that is Macro beers still. Texas as big as it is should be producing a lot more Microbreweries, brewpubs and making more local beer and definitely exporting more beers out to other states too. Another issue I dislike also is that brewpubs here are not allowed to sell there beers to the grocery store or distribute them to liquor stores or out of state, but if you go to other states such as beer heaven Oregon (Portland) brewpubs are allowed to sell bottled beer of there location, here in Texas you can purchase a growler and kegs but cant buy a six pack that to me doesn't make sense. Why so many laws to keep the little guys down in the ground, shouldn't the laws be made to help business succeed not make them to where they fail just wrong.

Best Micro in Texas:
SoutherStar Brewery
Live Oaks
Rahr, Saint Arnolds

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Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: Homebrew contest scores?

« on: July 26, 2010, 08:38:59 PM »

Excellent guys I appreciate everyones imput on this topic I know is probablly not the best of topics for this forum on partial mash but since thats how I mostly brew I posted here, I guess I better let the wife know I need an extra fridge with control temp to keep my fermantion nice and clean hahahah I think its better than fermenting in guest bedroom and having yeast all over the ceiling ;.) Hard to keep a house nice and cool without paying the cost in energy bill here in Austin TX in the summer so its been keeping me from brewing throughout the summer heat. Got to get back on my brewing horse fall is coming soon.

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Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Homebrew contest scores?

« on: July 22, 2010, 09:55:03 PM »

Hello fellow brewers, I brew partial mash and I was wondering if anyone could provide me with good tips that might help me reach scores of 40s or better if possible. I've entered quite a bit of contest in the past 3 years I've placed third place in a few of them and came in second place two years ago with a Pale Ale in the famous Texas Blue Bonnett Contest which to this day is my pride and glory hahaha. Anyhow it seems like im missing the mark on the Flavor charecteristics, my score tend to avg between 10 and 12 out of 20. If I could only swing 6 or 8 points more I would have some amazing brew since my avg contest scores hover in the mid 30s. I've ask various homebrewers at my local homebrew shop and I've heard better fermentation would help but I beleive there is probablly more I can do to get this right. Please advise.