I brewed another beer today...

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by azasadny

My Pelican buddy really helped me out... John70t gave me a mess of hops to use for brewing. Here they are drying out. I'll use them in a few weeks...

I just missed you that day, saw John later on.

Are those hops made into beer yet?

An Thanksgiving stout perhaps?

[john70t]

kach, Art gave me a nice bottle of very limited Bells Sparkling Ale. As in, in-house limited.
Not sure if it should even be cracked or not, but saving it for an occasion.

[Rickysa]

Here's my set-up that may interest a few here:




I tried homebrewing about twenty years ago and met with nothing but frustration after frustration...off flavors, bottles blowing up, kegs over carbonated, etc.

This past winter I looked into opening a micro-distillery and visited one in Indiana...great experience, but turned out to be too $$$. I was really impressed by the technology of the grain brewing and wondered if anything had changed in the homebrew arena...boy has it.

I was looking for a system that functioned much the same way as the distillery and found a guy that open-sourced this set up...full directions and links of where to buy the parts...all at no charge. Spent a few weeks putting it all together and bingo...new hobby!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by john70t

kach, Art gave me a nice bottle of very limited Bells Sparkling Ale. As in, in-house limited.
Not sure if it should even be cracked or not, but saving it for an occasion.

Every day is an occasion for a beer drinker.

In lieu of drinking non-gluten / gluten-free beer I've found that Guinness Stout works in moderation.

Most beers puff my belly up, I feel and look like Santa Clause after just a few sips.

[azasadny]

Wow, Rick ... what a cool setup you have there!

George, the hops that John gave me went into the IPA that I brewed a few weeks ago and is in the keg right now. You can drink mead or beer made from sorghum if you need to avoid glutens. I can't drink alcohol, so I brew it for family and friends. I may brew a stout and a wheat beer this coming weekend. It's cold in the garage, but that's where my natural gas burner is and I have to keep the doors open for obvious reasons.

[azasadny]

I love the 6 tap keezer! I'm still using the "ghetto" picnic taps on 3 kegs, so you have to open the freezer to draw a beer. I'll work on that this winter... I have 22 kegs that I'm using and I still have 6 left to finish reconditioning. I did my 1st BIAB (brew in a bag) and we'll see how that one turns out, it seems like it's going to be good!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by azasadny

sorghum

Budweiser makes a nasty sorghum based beer Redbridge (by Anheuser-Busch).

The only gluten free free I like is by Omission. They make a Pale Ale (a bit bitter), and a Lager (sweeter) - I like the pale Ale better, it's crisper.

5 Gluten-Free Beers That Are Actually Worth Drinking
5 Gluten-Free Beers That Are Actually Worth Drinking | Food Republic

4. Omission Pale Ale
This offering from Widmer Brothers is one of two exceptional de-glutenized beers they’ve launched in the past year — the other being a full-bodied classic lager. They can’t technically market them as gluten-free, since they use low-protein barley and are able to remove the gluten during the brewing process using an enzyme called Brewer’s Clarex. This extra step makes the finished product safe for the gluten-intolerant to drink, but true Celiac sufferers should probably still avoid it just in case. Definitely try this impressively delicious pale ale, it’s the first sessionable gluten-free beer I’ve ever tasted. Drink it now and drink it often.

I have also found other low acid dark beers agree with me (besides Guinness), but again moderation and frequency are key. Negra Modelo settles well with me too.

[Rusty Heap]

thanks all for the memories.

I used to push 20 gallons of finished wort through my 3 tier all grain system every weekend or two. Grew my own hops, really got into different kinds of liquid yeast flavors.


I think my max was about 10-11% content. That was 2 beer nap time stuff.

For hot summer beer, I made a Corona Bitters once, using rice as the starch source instead of cracked grain.

Kegging, the only way to go, or just rack/bottle directly into 2 liter clear plastic coke/pepsi bottles...........that works great and is perfect to take to a friends house weeks or months later.

[Rickysa]

I think my max was about 10-11% content

I just finished off the last keg of Pliny the Elder that was just north of that...whew

One thing I learned early is that I really need to do the calculations (brix et al) to know what the ABV is...I think it was the second batch I was brewing this summer, about 100 degrees outside and I got tired of running inside for the bud/miller/lite during the sparge/boil, so I figured, "Hey, I've got all the beer I need right here" and proceeded to slake my thirst with several glasses of a blonde ale...

woke up at about 3 am in the downstairs bedroom wondering how I got there...(did get the yeast pitched tho )

aza, I am jealous of your kegs!! My next step is to try to acquire as many as I can find...I'm planning on putting together a cold room for long-term storage/lagering etc.

[Don Ro]

I get my drinking water at a place that filters water...20 gals/week.
One day a guy came in and filled a ton of 5 gal. jugs...said it's the best water for his brewing ventures.
Is that true?...the water?

[Rickysa]

Don, water chemistry can make a difference in the beer...some beers are known by it (Pilsners from Pilsen, Chech., eg). Some folks have to add salts to their water, others may have to dilute...there are several different sites that can help with the calculations.

[azasadny]

I was on TV!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9J9W2vpzrg&feature=youtu.be

[UconnTim97]

Very impressive, Art!

I just bottled a holiday ale to be ready for our Christmas party.

[cgarr]

When my Son gets out of the Navy late next year him and I want to get into brewing, we may be in touch with you

I didn't know you were brewing for so many years!

You know we are in the beermuda triangle! Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Holland

[azasadny]

Thanks, guys! Besides the cheesy intro and closing "music", I like the way the video turned out. I've been brewing a lot lately and I'm happy to be back into it. Craig, I'll help you and your sen get started, it's easy and fun!!

Thanks, Tim! Let us know how the holiday ale turns out!!

[Skytrooper]

I bottled a batch of Black Lager last Sunday. I always make a special brew for Christmas gifts to friends and family. The rest of the year I make beer for me

[krichard]

My latest in the fermentation chamber. 20 gallons of a Belgian style Strong Pale Ale. It should finish out right around 9.5% ABV. Use pilsner malt, all noble hobs and trappist yeast for this one. It's a bit hoppy and has a very clean and crisp finish.



Next brews in the pipe next week are an Imperial Stout and then a double IPA. I really need to get a couple 27 gallon conicals, it's getting old splitting up 20 gallons into 5 gallon carboys and conical.

[Rusty Heap]

Originally Posted by azasadny

I've been brewing a lot lately and I'm happy to be back into it.

Azasadny is SO GOING TO LOVE his secret santa present.............I got picked a good 'un this year. (guess not so secret of his sender now)








Burp.



Home Brew Beer = heavenly nectar of the gods.




Thank you Prez Carter, for making it legal to home brew beer in 1976?



Legal notes, max 200 gallons a year, and he who pitches the yeast is the owner of the beer, no yeast = only sugar water.



Secret Santas are the bestest beer drinking buddies.

[cgarr]

Have to ask, your limited on how much you can brew legally so are their records kept? Are you audited? Or is it the honor system?

[azasadny]

Thanks, guys! Dave, I can't wait until Christmas AM!! I've never had anyone in a legal capacity ask how much I've brewed in the 20 years I've been doing it. If you sold it, I imagine someone would be at your door very quickly...