Messages

2446

The Pub / Re: What's the Weather Like Where You Are?

« on: December 14, 2011, 08:34:16 AM »

We're *finally* getting some more snow. About 12-16" out of this storm, and it's our first significant one in over a month. The next few days look to be sunny with a couple feet of fresh powder.

2447

The Pub / Re: Christmas Lights

« on: December 14, 2011, 08:16:28 AM »

This year, I'm guessing our tree is 12-14' tall (I didn't measure it before putting it in the stand).

"No, it's not too big. Just a little full."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp8lwpvQEIM

2448

The Pub / Re: growler law in colorado

« on: December 13, 2011, 11:15:31 PM »

They're all friendly competitors too, it's not unusual to give each other yeast or ingredients or whatever help they need.

That's completely different IMHO. I want all craft brewers to succeed, but I'm not going to give my direct competitors free advertising.

What if someone takes a growler to a party and their friends really like the beer, but never find out who actually made it? Admittedly, it isn't the likeliest of scenarios, but for a small brewery every single customer counts.

2449

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: A new trend...?

« on: December 13, 2011, 09:15:23 PM »

I would conclude that the can line might be cheaper than a bottle line.

The up-front costs are actually more, but the per-can production cost is cheaper than bottles. It breaks even after 5,000-20,000 bbl, depending on the scale and the cans/labels used.

2450

The Pub / Re: growler law in colorado

« on: December 13, 2011, 09:10:40 PM »

I should have clarified. It's legal to fill another brewery's growler as long as it's done at the time of sale. Pre-filled growlers have to have labeling consistent with their contents, just like any other package. It's actually a federal law (27 CFR 7), but Colorado has no overriding statute.

That said, were it my brewery I would not fill other's growlers (or would put stickers over them). That's just common sense when running a business.

2451

The Pub / Re: growler law in colorado

« on: December 13, 2011, 03:48:25 PM »

Yes.

2452

The Pub / Re: Study confirms alcohol can lead to unsafe sex

« on: December 13, 2011, 03:48:07 PM »

so the take home message is that alcohol does lead to sex.

Tell your teenage friends!

2453

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: A new trend...?

« on: December 13, 2011, 02:25:17 PM »

Cans are a win-win for both the consumer and the brewery. The only downsides are the stigma associated with cans, and the expense of either replacing a bottling line, or installing a supplementary canning line. Most established craft breweries have already invested in bottling, but if I were opening a brewery today and had to choose one or the other, I'd be canning.

ETA: This is probably a regional thing too. Here in CO I'd estimate that *non-canning* breweries are in the minority. We even have a couple of can-only beer festivals. Sierra Nevada is behind the curve, although I'm happy to think about how much attention a brewery of their size will bring to cans.

2454

All Grain Brewing / Re: Humdinger Attenuation Issue

« on: December 13, 2011, 02:22:25 PM »

I had one tell me my English mild was 1.004 based on the conversion from Brix, but when I put it in an actual hydrometer it read 1.012.

This is really odd - typically it would be the other way around, with the refractometer reading higher due to the alcohol than the hydrometer would.

I think he meant after applying a correction. In that case, the "standard" correlation almost always gives a result below the actual FG.

http://seanterrill.com/2010/06/11/refractometer-estimates-of-final-gravity/

2455

All Things Food / Re: Fancy deserts

« on: December 13, 2011, 02:18:05 PM »

First thing that came to mind:

2456

All Grain Brewing / Re: Storing Bulk Grain

« on: December 13, 2011, 12:36:57 PM »

Keep it cool and dry and away from vermin. No need for it to be airtight unless you're planning on storing grain for years, IMHO.

2457

The Pub / Re: Almost like a BFI thread!

« on: December 12, 2011, 03:40:38 PM »

Five comments so far, two of them racist. How's the weather in the South, Keith?

I heard shots and locked the doors and hid under the desk with the lights turned out. 

In all seriousness, that's the only smart move in that situation.

2458

The Pub / Re: Another book thread

« on: December 12, 2011, 03:37:53 PM »

Up next is Omnivore's Dilemna by Michael Pollan.

That's a good one. It manages not to be *too* preachy, which is the third rail of diet books IMHO.

2459

Zymurgy / Re: Fast turnaround.

« on: December 12, 2011, 03:34:15 PM »

1272 is a good choice for a fast turnaround IMO. It's basically just a more flocculant Chico.

2460

Equipment and Software / Re: How Often to Replace Plastic Tubing?

« on: December 12, 2011, 09:03:41 AM »

Long-term, I'd move to something more robust than One Step for sanitizing. One Step/PBW/CMC/OxiClean/etc. are great cleaners, but not necessarily great sanitizers. I've had a Lacto contamination that was almost totally resistant to CMC, for example.

Pretty much everyone in brewing uses either an iodophor or an acid blend (like Star San) for sanitizing. Ideally, I'd get both and alternate.