Haha, I hear ya.

The last few weeks, i've brewed:

Primary: AHS 20th Anniv. Blonde
Secondary: AHS 20th Anniv. Porter
Kegged: AHS 20th Anniv. Hefe

Brewing this weekend: AHS Fat Tire Clone

4/25/2011 3:11:13 PM

so my girlfriend and I finally unpacked our beer glassware this weekend. Jesus christ do we have wayyyyy too many. I was planning to buy a bakers/wine rack to store them but we may have to rethink this a bit. I'm kind of thankful she only had 1 year's worth of glasses she collected at her bar but also kind of sad she didn't have the other few years because from what she told me she had dozens of stemmed beglians and specialty glasses

4/25/2011 3:16:32 PM

yeah i want to get one of each of the sam adams glasses.

they're awesome... however i already have way more glasses than will ever be useful.

4/25/2011 3:36:14 PM

You really only NEED a couple glasses for all the styles. The basics listed below capture almost every style. The additional types are highly specific to certain styles, but not needed and IMHO not particularly that much better than their basic glass counterpart.

For instance, you can use a Tulip for a lambic or a Pilsner glass for a bock, but if you want the specific glass, it would be a Flute & Stange.

Basics:
Pint Glass, Pilsner, Weizen, Snifter, Tulip

Additional:
Stein/Mug, Flute, Goblet, Stange

The only other glasses I have are collectibles. I don't have that much room in my cabinets for something I may use once every 6-months like a Stange glass for a Kolsch.

The Sam Adams glass is great for the Boston Lager, but it's not really made right for most styles. It's not like I'm going to fill it up to the top with a Belgian Strong Ale, just so the lip can enhance the aroma.

But I do like collecting glasses. In fact I typically try to buy a piece of glassware at every brewery I visit.

[Edited on April 26, 2011 at 1:00 PM. Reason : .]

4/26/2011 12:59:10 PM

i know we don't NEED them, but we liked collecting them (seperately before we got together) so now the collection has doubled. most of the shakers will get boxed back up and put in the closet though.

4/26/2011 2:25:05 PM

Just FYI, Bull City Homebrew has moved locations. They're no longer in the ghetto of durham. They have relocated to the corner of hwy 55/54 in Durham/RTP. Right across the street from Chick Fil A.

1906 NC Hwy 54, Durham, NC 27713

I'm stoked because this is less than 1 mile from my house and I no longer have to drive all the way to Capital Blvd. just to pick up small things

4/26/2011 2:47:57 PM

I like collecting glasses as well, when I refinish my basement this year I think I'm going to incorporate my favorite glasses & bottles into some sort of feature wall or something... still thinking of how best to display them.

^that is pretty cool, my local HBS is like 13 miles from my house (~30min).

[Edited on April 26, 2011 at 4:11 PM. Reason : ,]

4/26/2011 4:10:08 PM

can someone precisely tell me what all i need to convert to all grain? and the most economical way to do so.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_33_82_449&products_id=12793

seems a bit silly.

4/26/2011 4:58:31 PM

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/


+

Batch Sparging




may need an extra pot to heat your 2nd batch sparge water if you catch your first runnings in your brew kettle.

4/26/2011 6:20:48 PM

I'll be brewing an all-grain Fat Tire Clone this saturday I believe if anyone wants to join and learn more about all-grain brewing.

I'm no expert, but I can definitely teach the basics!

[Edited on April 26, 2011 at 7:27 PM. Reason : .]

4/26/2011 7:27:27 PM

Kegging Question:

When I connect the CO2 to one of my kegs, the faucet turns itself on and beer comes out...what do I need to do to the faucet to keep it from "opening" when there is CO2 pressure?

These are Perlick 525ss faucets.

4/26/2011 8:15:35 PM

hmm, that's interesting. Do you need to do something like depress the pressure valve and take a little pressure off before connecting the CO2?

4/26/2011 10:43:17 PM

I just noticed this on a new keg that I tried to connect tonight. I'll mess with it more tomorrow, but I'm assuming it's just the air in the lines. Maybe if I open the tap all the way up and let the line fill with beer, it'll be fine.

I'll report back tomorrow with findings!

4/26/2011 11:11:56 PM

I don't think that should be happening, regardless of whether it's air or beer in the lines. Maybe you got a faulty faucet? What kind of pressure are you dealing with?

[Edited on April 27, 2011 at 7:40 AM. Reason : d]

4/27/2011 7:39:34 AM

does anyone have experience with using wood chips/blocks in the secondary? I'm trying my hand at an IPA that I'd like to dry-hop for a while, and my local homebrew store sells oak chips that I think are more geared towards wine making.

They're really expensive, and I wasn't thinking I would need toasted oak wood for an IPA. Any suggestions? I live in Boulder, CO, so going out and chopping down an oak tree isn't an option. All we got here in cottonwoods, aspens, and ponderosas. Thanks for any advice

4/27/2011 2:11:50 PM

umm, i don't think you mean to dry hop with oak chips. but kevmcd did some bourbon oak aging recently so he can probably offer some insight

4/27/2011 2:33:07 PM

^^I know the BrewHut has some for beer additives, but may be too far for you.

http://store.brewhut.com/plainoakchipsbeeradditive-4ounce.aspx
http://store.brewhut.com/toastedoakchipsbeeradditive-4ounce.aspx

From what I've read, no more than 1-2 weeks unless it's a really high O.G. With 1oz. plain oak chips maybe 10-14 days, with 1oz. toasted oak chips, maybe closer to 7-10 days. What does your recipe say?

If it's Oak cubes I think they take 2 months at least... but they could just be saying that for wine...
http://www.stompthemgrapes.com/cart.cgi?group=0&child=1114

Stomp Them Grapes is closer to Boulder on the north side of Denver...

[Edited on April 27, 2011 at 3:07 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on April 27, 2011 at 3:10 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2011 3:05:16 PM

thanks for the insight, Stomp the Grapes is the store we have in boulder, I think it's called Hop To It, but they're owned by the same people. I think their prices suck compared to what I paid when I was still living in Charlotte.

Wow, thanks for the BrewHut find - never heard of the place, but those prices are way cheaper than stomp them grapes'. Aurora isn't too far away at all. I'll toss these in half the batch and let you guys know if I can taste any difference between oaked and non-oaked in the secondary.

4/27/2011 3:31:05 PM

I'm not sure what was up the other night, but the perlick is working fine now. It's not a new faucet...been using it for a few months now, but it just didnt want to cooperate the other night. It's all better now. ::shrugs::

4/27/2011 5:48:20 PM

^^The Brew Hut is owned by Dry Dock Brewery, so when you go, allot some time to stop and have a drink. It's my LHBS for a good reason I'm in Denver BTW.

I'd ask the guys there about oak aging as well, they are very knowledgeable.

[Edited on April 27, 2011 at 6:56 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2011 6:54:58 PM

anyone ever had success with fruit beers? the gf wants me to try and brew a blueberry wheat.



i dont really feel like tying up equipment to do so. thinking of just telling her it requires lagering and i cant do that.

4/29/2011 1:47:37 PM

my peach wheat has turned out great. if anything i should have left it on the peach for a little bit longer. the recipe is a few pages back. it was essentially an american hefe racked onto fresh peach puree in the secondary.

4/29/2011 1:54:02 PM

^nice!

Kegged a Pilsner Lager this weekend and holy shit it's good. Page 23 needs 100% more beer pics!

5/2/2011 8:47:35 PM

this weekend i'll be able to open my Black IPA, i'll post some pictures when i do, although i can tell you right now, you won't be able to see through it

pretty decent clarity on the pilsner, did you cold crash it? use any fining agents or irish moss?

[Edited on May 2, 2011 at 11:30 PM. Reason : ,]

5/2/2011 11:26:56 PM

^awesome. i have been super patient with my bourbon smash black IPA...i am going to try and bottle it tonight. should be very clear as i have left it cold crashing at about 36deg for a few days.

Labels question: i have an elliptical design in jpeg form. what is a good laser ink paper at kinkos to use when i print them off? I have also heard that milk works incredibly well as an adhesive. thoughts?

5/3/2011 10:13:53 AM

that pils looks great.

opened a few of the ahs blonde rye (after only 2 weeks bottle conditioning... will be three this weekend), and have some slight concerns about something going a little wild.

just taste very slightly sour, but the gf and others who've tried it can't detect it.

i had concerns with the fact that my fermentation buckets and carboys had set idle for over a year, but i tried to clean them well.

either way, it's incredibly drinkable and great for a warm afternoon.

5/3/2011 10:26:23 AM

my hops broke ground today! i'll post some pictures of those when i get home as well.

5/3/2011 11:03:44 AM

Quote :

"pretty decent clarity on the pilsner, did you cold crash it? use any fining agents or irish moss?"

We did add some irish moss with 15 minutes left during the boil. It's clearer than in the pics since the whole glass fogged up when i took it outside. I'm really starting to become a fan of lagers.

5/3/2011 5:51:55 PM

I like the german pilsner style and some bocks like the doppelbock and maybe a dunkel, and a few amber lagers, but other than that.... i dunno, not a fan of lagers much

I think lagers get a bad name in part because there's so many AAL's that taste like

[Edited on May 3, 2011 at 6:17 PM. Reason : .]

5/3/2011 6:15:29 PM

^ dude, how are you growing hops out here in Colorado? Are they bucketed?

I'm brewing this weekend, since it's teach a friend to homebrew day on Saturday iirc. I didn't read this whole thread, but is it kosher to post recipes and see what y'all think? I'm doing a copper american ale with a boatload of hops, a little rye and dark brown sugar.

by the way Prospero, I don't know how often you get up to Boulder, but if you go to the Redstone Meadery and tell the dude that runs it you're a homebrewer, he'll give you 10-12 of those flip-top resealing bottles left over from their mead tasting. He only asks that you bring one bottle back filled with your beer. It's pretty damn awesome.

5/3/2011 7:42:56 PM

Starting them in buckets, will transplant into the ground after May 15th.

And heck yea, post your recipes, I love seeing what everyone's brewing. I think I've posted 5-6 of my previous brews...

5/3/2011 8:07:40 PM

Strong American:

Malts:

8lbs Briess GOLD LME 34
2lbs American Crystal 20L
1lb Munich Malt - 10L
1lb Rye Malt 29
0 8oz Brown Sugar, Dark
0 8oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine

USE TIME OZ VARIETY FORM AA
boil 60 mins 1.0 Mt. Rainier leaf 6.8
boil 60 mins 1.0 Northern Brewer leaf 8.3
boil 60 mins 1.5 Cascade pellet 5.5
boil 30 mins 0.5 Northern Brewer leaf 8.3
boil 30 mins 1.0 Mt. Rainier info leaf 6.8
boil 5 mins 0.5 Mt. Rainier leaf 6.8
boil 1 min 0.5 Northern Brewer leaf 8.3
boil 1 min 0.5 Mt. Rainier leaf 6.8
dry 7 days 1.5 Mt. Rainier leaf 6.8

[Edited on May 4, 2011 at 12:01 AM. Reason : formatting....ugh]

5/4/2011 12:00:31 AM

anyone know where to find information on upcoming homebrew competitions?

5/4/2011 9:43:36 AM

I'd look to get the Munich LME if you can to help with efficiency if you want to increase the O.G. (since I believe Munich & Rye are mash only), but if you're just steeping Munich & Rye for color and texture only then it looks good. Can you post OG/FG/SRM/IBU with your recipe, it's easier for people to convert to the system their using with the specifics. Thanks!

http://www.bjcp.org/apps/comp_schedule/competition_schedule.php
http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/events/calendar

If you don't care about whether it's sanctioned by the BJCP or AHA, then ask your local homebrew shop. My LHBS does one a month, some local breweries around do one once a year for a special beer, some local breweries like Left Hand have their own homebrew guild. You can also ask around on BeerAdvocate....

I'd submit my Black IPA, but the only category that fits is 23 Looking forward to the new BJCP guide that 'rumor' says the Black IPA will be included.

[Edited on May 4, 2011 at 11:22 AM. Reason : .]

5/4/2011 11:05:50 AM

Just found this... looks pretty damn good for free!

http://beercalculus.hopville.com/recipe

5/4/2011 12:51:37 PM

^^ excellent. i'm hoping as well. just bottled the Bourbon Smash black IPA and would like to save one for a competition...i think its going to turn out that good. i'll post pics when i pour one in 2 weeks!

5/4/2011 2:57:55 PM

^^nice! bookmarked.


I'm currently in the market for a used fridge / freezer I can use as a fermentation chamber. As I suspected, temps inside my house have been too wild to continue fermenting in the closet since it warmed up a bit.

I'm anxious to get started back up though, since I've still got the AHS 20th Stout and Pilsners waiting to be brewed.

5/5/2011 7:53:55 AM

just keep in mind if you dry hopped something and want to save it for competition that the dry hopped aromas fade over time, even when bottled. my black IPA from last year, in which i found a few bottles when i moved last month, had lost all but a very faint smell from the big hop burst it had when fresh.

i need a master homebrewer to judge my hefe. i also need to brew, going through withdrawls!

5/5/2011 8:07:48 AM

yeah, Beer Calculus is what I used for that recipe I posted. It's a pretty sweet site, and I like that it will be a digital archive of all your batches. I've got a 3-ring binder that's keeping all this info now, it would be easier to have it online.

for that Strong Amber ale recipe, from Beer Calculus:

1.085 OG
1.020 FG
13 deg SRM
68.3 IBU

5/5/2011 5:47:35 PM

^^have any in a bottle? I'll trade you some Black IPA

Some of my recipes to date:
http://hopville.com/brewer/prospero

[Edited on May 5, 2011 at 6:12 PM. Reason : .]

5/5/2011 6:10:48 PM

i'd like to start using an online tracker.

my old school ass is using a marble composition notebook that's been soaked, stained, and dripped on enough it's starting to have structural issues

but it's got character (and a certain stench).

5/6/2011 12:14:51 PM

haha i have a notebook like that too and it's wrinkled and has a ton of loose recipe pages stuck inside.

i recommend BeerSmith. you can get a free 30 day trial but in the grand scheme of things it's inexpensive and always being upgraded. http://www.beersmith.com

5/6/2011 12:31:24 PM

It's taking the guy YEARS to port beersmith for Mac.

I wanna use it but I need something for my MacBook.

5/6/2011 2:45:55 PM

You don't use Boot Camp, Parallels, or VMWare to run Windows when needed huh?

I use BeerSmith for scaling, it's pretty good for conversions. I like the Beer Calculus because it's easier to use and just plain simple, and looks a heckuva lot better, and it's interface is nicer.

5/6/2011 2:50:59 PM

I just dont wanna pay for Parallels...and I cant ever get any of the freebies to work correctly.

5/6/2011 3:27:20 PM

So yesterday was National Homebrew Day. Hope you guys enjoyed it.

5/8/2011 8:20:03 AM

A bunch of homebrewers hung out all day yesterday at Fullsteam brewery. We brewed tons of beer and grilled out. Was an awesome day. Was anyone else there?

[Edited on May 8, 2011 at 9:22 PM. Reason : .]

5/8/2011 9:21:59 PM

I find it funny they have National Homebrew Day in May -AND- Learn to Homebrew Day in November.

Next week is American Craft Beer Week
http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/news-and-events/american-craft-beer-week

5/9/2011 1:20:33 PM

I might be getting a few Pin Lock kegs...anyone interested in any for $20?

5/12/2011 11:53:56 AM

pic of the IPA, this took a looong four weeks to condition:


Thirsty friends drank all of my pislner, most of my Kolsch, and half of my IPAs today. Kegging an all grain american pale ale this friday, bottling a weissenbier this weekend, and i've got an american wheat beer in primary.

5/15/2011 10:40:17 PM