I'm still alive.
True story.
I've been brewing and having a great time teaching, in fact I have another series of classes coming up in May at the local Whole Foods on Ray Road in Chandler. All grain, one gallon classes. Pretty cool.
I've been looking into some custom Growlers- check out these links
http://www.vessyl.com/
http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/Vertical/1_MENU/1b_Overview/Overview.html
http://www.handmadegrowlers.com/
http://www.romanickpottery.com/Growlers.php
https://portlandgrowlercompany.com/
Yes, that was mostly so I can remember, but you may enjoy them too!
Cheers!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Game of Thrones Labels
As a group, we like doing themed beers. In this case, 20 brewers (well, 19... I took 2 spots) brewed beers centered around the HBO show, Game of Thrones. Previously we did the 12 days of Christmas, and next is a NASCAR theme.
I had not seen the show, but since I joined the group I have watched both seasons 3 times. FUN show. And a fun challenge for everyone. If you are in a homebrew club, you should try it- it makes you think outside what you might ordinarily brew and try something new. AND you walk away with some beers from your friends too!
Also, because I'm a complete geek, I got custom caps made for each of my brews. That's simply ridiculous, right?
I had not seen the show, but since I joined the group I have watched both seasons 3 times. FUN show. And a fun challenge for everyone. If you are in a homebrew club, you should try it- it makes you think outside what you might ordinarily brew and try something new. AND you walk away with some beers from your friends too!
Also, because I'm a complete geek, I got custom caps made for each of my brews. That's simply ridiculous, right?
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Best homebrew class EVARRRRRR!
WOW- was last night's class epic.
We brewed a stout. I had all the ingredients separated out- so the students tasted each of the grains.
I brought 6 stouts of varying styles to sample- we compared head density and color, flavors, colors, hop levels- a WIDE band of stouts were represented.
BJCP stout guidelines for the 6 different recognized styles were compared.
I read the stout section out of a really cool book- Beer Craft. It's got infographics, recipe theory, it's really cool.
Total and constant discussion of different grain characteristics, and we did the mash part of an all-grain beer. (mash-out and boil is next week) This allowed students to have hands on time with all the steps- we discussed manifolds, different sparge methods, single versus multi-step mash, malting, grain types, different mash temps, mash tun types, etc etc etc.
Seriously- this was the best class yet!
We brewed a stout. I had all the ingredients separated out- so the students tasted each of the grains.
I brought 6 stouts of varying styles to sample- we compared head density and color, flavors, colors, hop levels- a WIDE band of stouts were represented.
BJCP stout guidelines for the 6 different recognized styles were compared.
I read the stout section out of a really cool book- Beer Craft. It's got infographics, recipe theory, it's really cool.
Total and constant discussion of different grain characteristics, and we did the mash part of an all-grain beer. (mash-out and boil is next week) This allowed students to have hands on time with all the steps- we discussed manifolds, different sparge methods, single versus multi-step mash, malting, grain types, different mash temps, mash tun types, etc etc etc.
Seriously- this was the best class yet!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Obsession
A man stands in front of the toilet, late at night.
Directing the steam, he thinks ” What can this teach me about the circulation of wort around my immersion chiller?”
I have serious mental issues
Saturday, February 16, 2013
AZ Beer Week!
I don't know why I put an exclamation point on that- it's fun for everyone else. Just work for me
<<cue violins>>
Just kidding- AZ Beer Week is pretty cool. Right now, Strong Beer Fest is kicking off, and the party rolls for a week.
MOST importantly, I start the Homebrew class again!
Already have 10 people signed up, though there will be a lot of people absent for the first class due to AZ Beer week obligations. Which is fine- I'm going to make them come over for a make-up class, and they have to bring me beer ;)
James Swann wrote a little note about me: http://www.issuu.com/azweekly/docs/azweekly_issue7-beer-web/1
My favorite homebrew supply store is going to sponsor the class again! BYO on Baseline is contributing some extract and grains. The first time around, we brewed double batches so people could get 12 beers.... it resulted in an unfair burden on the sponsor- a couple of hundred of dollars in supplies. That really was due to the recipe and over-reaching on my part, but- they have agreed to forgive me and sponsor again!
I'm also helping Moto and ASH do "Hot Scotchy" Monday once again. I'm going to brew AT WORK, then bring the wort to Moto to share with eager mouths. Right Red Rye was a HIT last year, and I'm brewing it again for them. Well- not brewing. "Making wort"
So- in addition to HUGE events at work, I've got a few other things going on.
<<cue violins>>
Just kidding- AZ Beer Week is pretty cool. Right now, Strong Beer Fest is kicking off, and the party rolls for a week.
MOST importantly, I start the Homebrew class again!
Already have 10 people signed up, though there will be a lot of people absent for the first class due to AZ Beer week obligations. Which is fine- I'm going to make them come over for a make-up class, and they have to bring me beer ;)
James Swann wrote a little note about me: http://www.issuu.com/azweekly/docs/azweekly_issue7-beer-web/1
My favorite homebrew supply store is going to sponsor the class again! BYO on Baseline is contributing some extract and grains. The first time around, we brewed double batches so people could get 12 beers.... it resulted in an unfair burden on the sponsor- a couple of hundred of dollars in supplies. That really was due to the recipe and over-reaching on my part, but- they have agreed to forgive me and sponsor again!
I'm also helping Moto and ASH do "Hot Scotchy" Monday once again. I'm going to brew AT WORK, then bring the wort to Moto to share with eager mouths. Right Red Rye was a HIT last year, and I'm brewing it again for them. Well- not brewing. "Making wort"
So- in addition to HUGE events at work, I've got a few other things going on.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
It's 1:30 AM. Do you know where your children are?
Yes, I'm up at a stupid time of night.
The shocking thing is, I'm NOT watching a rediculous tv show or anything.
I realized that this w close tommy lt chance to make pickles for the homebrew smoke-out on Saturday. Since I decided that my stupid life is too busy to prepare meat to smoke, I made hop pickles. And hop salt. Because condiments count!
Hop pickles:
2 lbs perisn cucumbers, ends removed and pickles quartered
1/2 yellow onion
4 garlic cloves, smashed
2 g Citra hops, whole leaf
-set aside
2 1/2 cups vinegar
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
5g black peppercorns, whole
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 cup water
Bring all to a boil for one minute
Cool for 5 minutes.
Pour over pickle/onion/garlic/hop mixture.
Eat in 3 days
I placed a 1 gallon Ziplock baggie on top of the mixture, in the bowl, to ensure that the pickles remained submerged.
These are good for up to a month in the fridge.
Also, they could taste like crap. So- don't cry to me
I also did a version with Columbus hops and my Centennial ale.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Epic Brew Day
Since my lovely wife was out of town and I had the kids and house to manage all week, I was a busy fella. Before she came home, she said "Plan a brew day on Sunday and invite friends!"
Never one to back down from a challenge ;) I invited our homebrew group on Facebook to join me.
I had a few people come by, and one friend brought his brew system to do a brew of his own.
I brewed 3 batches- an extract amber for a charity poker night, one of the Game of Thrones challenges- house of Arryn, and one of the single hop series for my class.
Because my fermenters were full, I bottled 2 batches on Saturday and on Sunday, while brewing 3 batches, I simultaneously bottled another batch.
Let me tell ya- considering I had so much going on at the same time, it went exceptionally well. I don't think I missed any of my procedures, and I hit my gravity numbers on all the batches.
The only small hiccup was that I forgot to put the rose hips in on my Arryn brew until flameout. WHICH, I can correct by boiling some rose hips in water for 10 minutes and adding it to the fermenter today or- most likely- next week.
SO- a great day, fun friends, and great brews ahead!
Never one to back down from a challenge ;) I invited our homebrew group on Facebook to join me.
I had a few people come by, and one friend brought his brew system to do a brew of his own.
I brewed 3 batches- an extract amber for a charity poker night, one of the Game of Thrones challenges- house of Arryn, and one of the single hop series for my class.
Because my fermenters were full, I bottled 2 batches on Saturday and on Sunday, while brewing 3 batches, I simultaneously bottled another batch.
Let me tell ya- considering I had so much going on at the same time, it went exceptionally well. I don't think I missed any of my procedures, and I hit my gravity numbers on all the batches.
The only small hiccup was that I forgot to put the rose hips in on my Arryn brew until flameout. WHICH, I can correct by boiling some rose hips in water for 10 minutes and adding it to the fermenter today or- most likely- next week.
SO- a great day, fun friends, and great brews ahead!
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