Looking at how homebrewing is tied to the do it yourself movement.
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2012/02/home_brew_and_the_diy_innovation_movement_.single.html
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
What’s brewing
My wonderful wife has delivered a coffee and doughnut stout kit to me for my birthday…now all I need is more bottles. The recipe calls for coffee and coconut flakes…I really need to think about this one and see if I can modify it a little.
I’ve designed a logo for my homebrew and it's been sitting around since I started back in October now just have to find the time to color it in. I’ve posted a photo of it here. What do you think? If anyone knows how to do coloring in Adobe Illustrator CS5 please let me know.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
U.S. Presidents and beer
U.S. Presidents and beer
Article on the relationship our Commanders in Chief have had with brewing.Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Bottling your first brew
You’ve patiently (or not) waited the two weeks for the fermentation
to finish. If you are like me you probably took a peak each day to watch
the yeast bubbling away. Now the time has finally come to bottle your
brew.
Since I only brew a gallon at a time I only have to fill 6-10 bottles at a time. The bottles I use are 16 oz grolsch bottles in cobalt blue. I get 6 and 3/4 bottles of beer off of a one gallon brew.
The first step is washing and sanitizing the bottles. I wash the bottles inside and out using a bottle brush then I throw them in the dishwasher for a full cycle to make sure they are really clean. After they dry I soak the bottles in a sanitizing solution and place them back in their case, upside-down wrapped in paper towels. I really should get a bottle tree since it would make this step a lot easier.
To prime the bottles I use some maple syrup mixed with some water to thin it out. This is according to the instructions on the kit recipe.
I then siphon off the beer from the carboy into the pot with the primer. I’ve been pretty successful with my auto siphon for this step.
The hard part for me is trying to not get a lot of sediment out of
the carboy. I have been really careful about not letting the siphon hose
touch the bottom and I usually leave a little too much brew at the
bottom but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I next set up my bottling line in the kitchen with the primed pot on the stove at an angle and my empty bottles on a tv tray next to the stove. This puts the bottles at a lower level than the pot on the stove.
The first time I bottled I only had my auto siphon and my hose with a clamp. I got the hang of filling the bottles before I started by practicing with water and a bottle I wasn’t going to use. I figured out the hose clamp was harder to close than I thought.
Six and 3/4 bottles filled in about 20 minutes and they went back in the closet for another two weeks. Waiting is still the hardest part.
Since I only brew a gallon at a time I only have to fill 6-10 bottles at a time. The bottles I use are 16 oz grolsch bottles in cobalt blue. I get 6 and 3/4 bottles of beer off of a one gallon brew.The first step is washing and sanitizing the bottles. I wash the bottles inside and out using a bottle brush then I throw them in the dishwasher for a full cycle to make sure they are really clean. After they dry I soak the bottles in a sanitizing solution and place them back in their case, upside-down wrapped in paper towels. I really should get a bottle tree since it would make this step a lot easier.
To prime the bottles I use some maple syrup mixed with some water to thin it out. This is according to the instructions on the kit recipe.
I then siphon off the beer from the carboy into the pot with the primer. I’ve been pretty successful with my auto siphon for this step.
The hard part for me is trying to not get a lot of sediment out of
the carboy. I have been really careful about not letting the siphon hose
touch the bottom and I usually leave a little too much brew at the
bottom but I’d rather be safe than sorry.I next set up my bottling line in the kitchen with the primed pot on the stove at an angle and my empty bottles on a tv tray next to the stove. This puts the bottles at a lower level than the pot on the stove.
The first time I bottled I only had my auto siphon and my hose with a clamp. I got the hang of filling the bottles before I started by practicing with water and a bottle I wasn’t going to use. I figured out the hose clamp was harder to close than I thought.
Six and 3/4 bottles filled in about 20 minutes and they went back in the closet for another two weeks. Waiting is still the hardest part.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Long Beach, CA, Beer Scene: The Congregation Ale House
I saved the best for last when it comes to the Long Beach beer scene.
Due to unexpected circumstances I ended up with a day off to myself.
After a good work out and taking care of a phone call to the Yard House (see the previous post here and the follow up here) I went out to explore.
After a good work out my first stop was Rock Bottom Brewery. I just stopped in for one beer at this nation-wide chain. At least I know what I’m going to get when I go to a Rock Bottom. The beer
is usually pretty ok (read as “I’ll drink it but it’s not my first
choice”). I sat at the bar and tried to decide what to have.
I decided on their Brewmaster Select tap which happened to have the seasonal I had been eying on the menu. Cupid’s Arrow is a red malty smooth beer that made me think of Valentine’s Day. Wish I could have stayed there and drank it all day. Kudos to brewmaster Hayley Shine has a winner with this one.
After walking around for a bit and a brief stop at Cold Stone Creamery for some salted-caramel and twix ice cream I went to meat some friends at the Congregation Ale House.
Let me start by saying any place that calls happy hour “daily mass”
wins cool point in my book. If I could claim beer appreciation as a
religion I would be at least a deacon. Double cool points for “Midnight
Mass” Sundays through Thursdays and Palm Sunday ($4 Palm by Palm Breweries).
This local chain of three locations has a great theme of a church for beer appreciation. The interior of the Long Beach location has high ceilings, exposed beams and a great stained glass piece behind the taps at the bar. The bar is small with about eight chairs and embedded chill coasters to keep your beer cold. It was funny to watch people try and move the metal plates as if they were paper.
The food is all ala carte but their fries and the port wine burger special was amazing…it made my night. As for the beer they have a great medium selection of bottles and rotating drafts.
I began the night with a Flanders Red, one of my favorite styles of beer, Strubbes Grand Cru Oud Bruin Flemish Red. Cherry, smooth and a little sour mixed with champagne-like bubbles.
Beer number two was ordered just because of its name. Shallow Grave Porter by Heretic Brewing was a robust porter that lived up to its name. Another beer I wish I could drink all night this one was caramel and chocolate with a smooth mouth feel. Reminded me of the earthy smell of a fresh dug grave…good Samhain beer.
Beer number three was my disappointment for the evening. I usually like a scotch ale but the Scotch Isle Ale by Craftsman Brewing really did not sit well with me. The flavor seemed off with an astringent taste. This was one of the few times I’ve ever left a beer sitting on the bar. Sorry guys…
Well
that’s my beer trip to Long Beach, CA. Overall good beer selections
that will make your time worthwhile. It’s always good to see old
friends, catch up and share sea stories.
Coming up soon on the blog…bottling your first homebrew, labels and bottle fermentation. Stay tuned and remember if you don’t like the beer you’re drinking…brew your own.
After a good work out my first stop was Rock Bottom Brewery. I just stopped in for one beer at this nation-wide chain. At least I know what I’m going to get when I go to a Rock Bottom. The beer
is usually pretty ok (read as “I’ll drink it but it’s not my first
choice”). I sat at the bar and tried to decide what to have.I decided on their Brewmaster Select tap which happened to have the seasonal I had been eying on the menu. Cupid’s Arrow is a red malty smooth beer that made me think of Valentine’s Day. Wish I could have stayed there and drank it all day. Kudos to brewmaster Hayley Shine has a winner with this one.
After walking around for a bit and a brief stop at Cold Stone Creamery for some salted-caramel and twix ice cream I went to meat some friends at the Congregation Ale House.
This local chain of three locations has a great theme of a church for beer appreciation. The interior of the Long Beach location has high ceilings, exposed beams and a great stained glass piece behind the taps at the bar. The bar is small with about eight chairs and embedded chill coasters to keep your beer cold. It was funny to watch people try and move the metal plates as if they were paper.
The food is all ala carte but their fries and the port wine burger special was amazing…it made my night. As for the beer they have a great medium selection of bottles and rotating drafts.
I began the night with a Flanders Red, one of my favorite styles of beer, Strubbes Grand Cru Oud Bruin Flemish Red. Cherry, smooth and a little sour mixed with champagne-like bubbles.Beer number two was ordered just because of its name. Shallow Grave Porter by Heretic Brewing was a robust porter that lived up to its name. Another beer I wish I could drink all night this one was caramel and chocolate with a smooth mouth feel. Reminded me of the earthy smell of a fresh dug grave…good Samhain beer.
Beer number three was my disappointment for the evening. I usually like a scotch ale but the Scotch Isle Ale by Craftsman Brewing really did not sit well with me. The flavor seemed off with an astringent taste. This was one of the few times I’ve ever left a beer sitting on the bar. Sorry guys…
Well
that’s my beer trip to Long Beach, CA. Overall good beer selections
that will make your time worthwhile. It’s always good to see old
friends, catch up and share sea stories.Coming up soon on the blog…bottling your first homebrew, labels and bottle fermentation. Stay tuned and remember if you don’t like the beer you’re drinking…brew your own.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Long Beach Beer Scene: The Yard House: UPDATE
I finally heard back from the Yard House about my experience drinking a beer full of glass a couple of weeks ago. If you missed it here is the original post.
Last night I received a form letter back from the corporate office with a $35 gift card. The letter simply said thanks for letting us know about your experience and we apologize. Please accept this gift card as a token of our apology. We hope you give us another chance.
I’m not too hip on accepting this for a couple of reasons.
1. I don’t feel they were sincere at all. I got the sense the manager was more concerned that I would sue them than if I was truly ok. All he did was ask if I was ok, nothing else.
2. My bill with tip was $50. At the time of the incident I would have given kudos to the manager for at least comping one of my beers but he didn’t even do that.
3. While the gift card is a nice gesture it does noting to address the fact that my throat closes up and my stomach churns every time I think about this and that I am now checking every glass I drink for glass.
What do you think? Let me know.
Last night I received a form letter back from the corporate office with a $35 gift card. The letter simply said thanks for letting us know about your experience and we apologize. Please accept this gift card as a token of our apology. We hope you give us another chance.
1. I don’t feel they were sincere at all. I got the sense the manager was more concerned that I would sue them than if I was truly ok. All he did was ask if I was ok, nothing else.
2. My bill with tip was $50. At the time of the incident I would have given kudos to the manager for at least comping one of my beers but he didn’t even do that.
3. While the gift card is a nice gesture it does noting to address the fact that my throat closes up and my stomach churns every time I think about this and that I am now checking every glass I drink for glass.
What do you think? Let me know.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Long Beach, CA, Beer Scene: The Pike
Met some friends at The Pike Restaurant and Bar in Long Beach, CA. The place is a hipster dive with great food and a small microbrew beer selection.
When we first arrived the place was relatively empty. The decoration is tchotchke nautical with some great tunes on the jukebox.
I started the night with a Red Seal Ale by North Coast. The Red Seal is a nice amber that I don’t find too hoppy.
As the place began to fill up we grabbed a table and I grabbed a Magic Hat #9 by Magic Hat Brewing. I can get Magic Hat anytime here in North Carolina but I’ll drink it when I really don’t see anything else I want.
My friends spent the evening with several pitchers of Pabst Blue Ribbon. I remember when Pabst actually brewed this in Milwaukee not too far from the Pabst Mansion. Now the Pabst Brewery is based out of Los Angeles…kinda reminds me of the salsa commercial where the guy says it’s made in New York City…not quite how it should be.
The food was very good and a good price. I had the fish and chips.
The one detractor for me was by 9 p.m. it was crowded and when the DJ started too loud. The music and crowd were interesting but not really my scene.
When we first arrived the place was relatively empty. The decoration is tchotchke nautical with some great tunes on the jukebox.I started the night with a Red Seal Ale by North Coast. The Red Seal is a nice amber that I don’t find too hoppy.
As the place began to fill up we grabbed a table and I grabbed a Magic Hat #9 by Magic Hat Brewing. I can get Magic Hat anytime here in North Carolina but I’ll drink it when I really don’t see anything else I want.
My friends spent the evening with several pitchers of Pabst Blue Ribbon. I remember when Pabst actually brewed this in Milwaukee not too far from the Pabst Mansion. Now the Pabst Brewery is based out of Los Angeles…kinda reminds me of the salsa commercial where the guy says it’s made in New York City…not quite how it should be.
The food was very good and a good price. I had the fish and chips.
The one detractor for me was by 9 p.m. it was crowded and when the DJ started too loud. The music and crowd were interesting but not really my scene.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Are you on untapped? Brew Bowl XLVI
I’ve been using untapped
to track what beers I’ve had for a few months now and I love it. My
biggest problem is I now have to transfer what beers I’ve had before
using untapped into the program.
untappd:
untappd:
Game day is fast approaching and everyone is anticipating the battle. While you’re watching the Pats battle the Giants for football superiority, be sure to check-in to your favorite game time brew to unlock this years Brew Bowl XLVI badge! Any check-in will do it on Superbowl Sunday (Feb 5th, in case you hadn’t already marked your calendar). While you’re at it, let everyone know who you’re cheering for in your check-in (not required)!
Long Beach, CA, Beer Scene: The Yard House
While writing the original version of this post yesterday my browser decided to upgrade itself; and seeing as tumblr doesn’t have an auto draft save, I lost the whole thing.
I’ve been to Yard House restaurants before. They have a good draft selection and good food. I’ve never been disappointed in my experience…until this trip.
As I said in a previous post I was in Long Beach for work. We decided to do a social event Tuesday night at the Yard House for anyone participating in the training I was part of. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your perspective work got in the way and there were only four old friends at the social event instead of the class.
We all sat at the bar and ordered. On the food side I’ve always enjoyed the Yard House’s menu selections. They have a little bit of everything and everything is pretty good. It’s a chain but one I don’t mind patronizing.
We started off with guacamole and chips and an Ahi Poke Bowl. Both were very tasty and a great snack while we decided on dinner. Dinner was a mix of burgers, chicken strips and an item from the Gardein menu. The friend who ordered the Gardein item was very happy to see the vegetarian alternatives on the menu as he is usually stuck with salads and cheese quesadillas.
As for the beer, though they don’t use the distinctive glassware of certain brews they are at least good enough to pour things into something close to appropriate. In this case Belgians and other strong beers are poured into goblets.
I started out with a Lucifer by Brouwerij Het Anker. Previously produced by another brewery Lucifer was brought back to market in 2009 by Het Anker and is a great Belgian beer. Cloludy pour with a good head and a good clean taste.
My second choice was a Chimay Triple. Another one of my go to Belgian choices. The Chimay was tap poured and had a nice, light sweet/spice taste. As good as I remember it always being.
The final beer of the evening as a nice little number with a great name from Rubicon Brewing in Sacramento, CA. Monkey Knife Fight is an IPA hiding in the guise of a pale ale or vice versa. Maybe that’s the fight the name refers to…hmm. Great blend of hops makes this a good drinking beer for the end of a long day.
As for the experience at the Yard House, well lets just say it left something to be desired and left me paranoid about every beer that is not poured in front of my eyes from now on.
After I ordered my Lucifer the bartender came back an asked if I would mind waiting while they changed the keg out. It’s a good beer so of course my answer was “yes, I’ll wait”. Little did I know she had already put beer in my glass.
While she was changing the keg another bartender started a separate pour of a beer nearby and broke the glass he was using. He cleaned it up and walked away. My bartender returned, finished my beer pour, dropped it off and I began to enjoy. I had finished 3/4s of the beer when I noticed something odd about the glass. At first I thought there was ice in the bottom of the goblet but on closer inspection it turned out to be two large shards and many little pieces of the broken glass.
If you look close at the first photo in this post you can see it at the bottom. The natural cloudiness of the beer hid it from a quick glance. I called the bartender over and pointed out the problem. She was horrified that it had happened, took the glass, dumped it, poured me a new beer in a new glass and went to get a manager after conferring with one of the other bartenders.
The manager came over, talked with my bartender, came up to me and asked if I was ok. I told him I didn’t know as I had already drank most of the beer and I may have drank some of the smaller glass pieces. All he kept asking was if I was ok. I said again that I didn’t know but I wasn’t bleeding. I didn’t make as big of a deal out of the situation as I could have and I went back to trying to enjoy the evening with my friends assuming that it would be taken care of by the time we were done with the evening.
The evening came and went too quickly and when it was time to go I
got my bill. I was surprised to see all of my beers on the bill with my
food. Disappointed by how the situation was handled I paid the bill and
asked my bartender for a phone number in case I had to go to a doctor
the next day. She disappeared and the manager returned, handed me his
card and once again asked me if I was ok. I told him I didn’t know but
my throat was really feeling scratchy, like had recently drunk a glass
full of glass, and it hadn’t felt like that when I came in.
I went to the doctor the next day because my throat continued to bother me all day. The clinic said it was a little red but it didn’t look cut and if I did swallow glass, unless I suffering from severe pain in my abdomen, it was best to let it pass naturally.
I called Yard House’s corporate office and spoke with their customer service person. She said that she would look into the situation and that they would discuss this issue with the manager in question. She also said she would send me something in the mail in case I wanted to give them a second chance.
I haven’t received what she sent in the mail yet so I can’t report what the resolution to the situation was. Every time I think about this my throat closes up a little and feels like it has something caught in it and I am now checking all of my beer glasses before I drink.
Stay Tuned.
I’ve been to Yard House restaurants before. They have a good draft selection and good food. I’ve never been disappointed in my experience…until this trip.As I said in a previous post I was in Long Beach for work. We decided to do a social event Tuesday night at the Yard House for anyone participating in the training I was part of. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your perspective work got in the way and there were only four old friends at the social event instead of the class.
We all sat at the bar and ordered. On the food side I’ve always enjoyed the Yard House’s menu selections. They have a little bit of everything and everything is pretty good. It’s a chain but one I don’t mind patronizing.
We started off with guacamole and chips and an Ahi Poke Bowl. Both were very tasty and a great snack while we decided on dinner. Dinner was a mix of burgers, chicken strips and an item from the Gardein menu. The friend who ordered the Gardein item was very happy to see the vegetarian alternatives on the menu as he is usually stuck with salads and cheese quesadillas.
As for the beer, though they don’t use the distinctive glassware of certain brews they are at least good enough to pour things into something close to appropriate. In this case Belgians and other strong beers are poured into goblets.
I started out with a Lucifer by Brouwerij Het Anker. Previously produced by another brewery Lucifer was brought back to market in 2009 by Het Anker and is a great Belgian beer. Cloludy pour with a good head and a good clean taste.
My second choice was a Chimay Triple. Another one of my go to Belgian choices. The Chimay was tap poured and had a nice, light sweet/spice taste. As good as I remember it always being.
The final beer of the evening as a nice little number with a great name from Rubicon Brewing in Sacramento, CA. Monkey Knife Fight is an IPA hiding in the guise of a pale ale or vice versa. Maybe that’s the fight the name refers to…hmm. Great blend of hops makes this a good drinking beer for the end of a long day.
As for the experience at the Yard House, well lets just say it left something to be desired and left me paranoid about every beer that is not poured in front of my eyes from now on.
After I ordered my Lucifer the bartender came back an asked if I would mind waiting while they changed the keg out. It’s a good beer so of course my answer was “yes, I’ll wait”. Little did I know she had already put beer in my glass.
While she was changing the keg another bartender started a separate pour of a beer nearby and broke the glass he was using. He cleaned it up and walked away. My bartender returned, finished my beer pour, dropped it off and I began to enjoy. I had finished 3/4s of the beer when I noticed something odd about the glass. At first I thought there was ice in the bottom of the goblet but on closer inspection it turned out to be two large shards and many little pieces of the broken glass.
If you look close at the first photo in this post you can see it at the bottom. The natural cloudiness of the beer hid it from a quick glance. I called the bartender over and pointed out the problem. She was horrified that it had happened, took the glass, dumped it, poured me a new beer in a new glass and went to get a manager after conferring with one of the other bartenders.
The manager came over, talked with my bartender, came up to me and asked if I was ok. I told him I didn’t know as I had already drank most of the beer and I may have drank some of the smaller glass pieces. All he kept asking was if I was ok. I said again that I didn’t know but I wasn’t bleeding. I didn’t make as big of a deal out of the situation as I could have and I went back to trying to enjoy the evening with my friends assuming that it would be taken care of by the time we were done with the evening.
The evening came and went too quickly and when it was time to go I
got my bill. I was surprised to see all of my beers on the bill with my
food. Disappointed by how the situation was handled I paid the bill and
asked my bartender for a phone number in case I had to go to a doctor
the next day. She disappeared and the manager returned, handed me his
card and once again asked me if I was ok. I told him I didn’t know but
my throat was really feeling scratchy, like had recently drunk a glass
full of glass, and it hadn’t felt like that when I came in.I went to the doctor the next day because my throat continued to bother me all day. The clinic said it was a little red but it didn’t look cut and if I did swallow glass, unless I suffering from severe pain in my abdomen, it was best to let it pass naturally.
I called Yard House’s corporate office and spoke with their customer service person. She said that she would look into the situation and that they would discuss this issue with the manager in question. She also said she would send me something in the mail in case I wanted to give them a second chance.
I haven’t received what she sent in the mail yet so I can’t report what the resolution to the situation was. Every time I think about this my throat closes up a little and feels like it has something caught in it and I am now checking all of my beer glasses before I drink.
Stay Tuned.
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