Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
HOMEBREW Digest #0420
HOMEBREW Digest #420 Fri 18 May 1990
FORUM ON BEER, HOMEBREWING, AND RELATED ISSUES
Rob Gardner, Digest Coordinator
Contents:
Upcoming Newsweek article on homebrewing (Steve Anthony)
Not all brewpubs, but this is Maryland on my list. Also Brickskeler in DC (John Mellby)
Thank you! (CRF)
Bitter in extracts, casks (RUSSG)
Exploding Wyeast pkgs., Defusing Time Bombs :-) (Enders)
Kudos and a last note on homebrew for the unwashed... (cckweiss)
a talk with the ABC (Marty Albini)
princeton brew pubs (Operation Just Because)
my cheap immersion wort chiller (Kenneth R. van Wyk)
Send submissions to homebrew%hpfcmr@hplabs.hp.com
Send requests to homebrew-request%hpfcmr@hplabs.hp.com
Archives available from netlib@mthvax.cs.miami.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 08:45:53 -0400
From: Steve Anthony <steveo@Think.COM>
Subject: Upcoming Newsweek article on homebrewing
Keep an eye peeled for an article on homebrewing in one of the next few
issues of Newsweek.
Bung-Ho!
Steveo
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 08:25:04 CDT
From: jmellby@ngstl1.csc.ti.com (John Mellby)
Subject: Not all brewpubs, but this is Maryland on my list. Also Brickskeler in DC
Maryland
Olney Ale House - 2000 Sandy Spring Rd. (corner of Maryland Rt 108
and Bird Rd) (301)774-6708
Maryland -- Baltimore:
Sisson's Restaurant - "on East Cross Street, a few blocks from the Inner
Harbor, has become the first brewpub in Maryland. Sisson's is serving
golden and amberales, along with its existing list of about 60 specialty
beers and a menu that features Cajun and Creole dishes and fresh seafood."
Another point of view on Sisson's - "I visited there Nov 89 after
reading this posting. I was *not* impressed by the beer -- certainly not
enough to drive the 40 minutes it took to get there. The beer was
`wimpy', lacking in any substantial body, and not real tasty. Their
porter was the best of the three they had, the others being a pilsner
(I think), and an amber ale. At least it had some taste, but again, a
Bud had more body. Almost no hop or malt aromas either (per style). I
hope they eventually get their act together and do a reasonable beer
with guts and spirit."
Baltimore Brewing Company - Albemarle Street at Pratt. "The newest and
brightest star on Maryland's brewing stage. Authentic, elegantly-
served German cuisine, comfortable setting. Three regularly-brewed
lagers: Helles, Pils, and Dunkles. Helles is similar to industrial
brews, light body and character. Pils is robust and redolent with
hops. Dry and tasty. Dunkles is a creamy dark beer with a roast
malt character." Another comment: "Currently three beers: Helles
(rich, full-bodied, well-hopped), Pils (lighter, also full-bodied
and very well hopped), and Dunkle (dark, full-bodied, malty). All
very good, German-style beers. The guy I talked to said they are
going to be offering a bock and a weizen as the seasons evolve. I've
been there twice, and the character of the beer has been slightly
variable, due largly to the newness of the place. Very busy on
weekend evenings. Reasonably good German food, too, and all at fair
prices."
Maryland -- Cambridge:
Wild Goose Brewing Co. -- "Makes only one beer at this time, "Wild Goose
Amber". Coppery color with a predominintly bitter hops flavor and a
long-lasting hops aftertaste. Very good."
Maryland -- Glen Burnie:
The British Brewing Co. - 6759 Baymeadow Dr. "Until ~Nov. 89 only
sold to a chain of bars, now available in bottles, at least in
Annapolis, MD; name is Oxford Class. English style ale, low
carbonation, nice amber color. Precious little malt/hop aroma. I
didn't find it had a lot of taste, and not much body. While drinking
it, I kept thinking of tap water. I describe it as `wimpy', but a
friend of mine enjoys it quite a bit (he says there's lots-o-hops).
The brewer is from England, and he keeps increasing the amount of
carbonation from what it typical in England to what can keep
Americans pacified. He also seems to be tweaking the recipe in each
batch, as subsequent tastings have been different. I'd recommend
drinking this beer at cellar temperature, although the label
suggests drinking it cold (Americanism?)."
Bun Penny - in Harbor Place
P.S. I got lots of responses go far (many contradictory) on San Jose
pubs and brewpubs, but I have a lot to explore and little time to do it in.
Surviving the American Dream
John R. Mellby Texas Instruments
jmellby%ngstl1.ti.com P.O.Box 660246, MS 3645
Dallas Texas, 75266
(214)517-5370 (214)343-7585
*************************************************************************
* "Panama came at an ideal time. Congress was out of session. It was *
* Christmas time. Our workload was rather slow. ... So it was an *
* ideal time to have a quick war." *
* -- General Hansford Johnson *
*************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 10:00 EST
From: CRF@PINE.CIRCA.UFL.EDU
Subject: Thank you!
Hi, all!
My thanks to everyone who replied to my query about _Brewing Beers Like Those
You Buy_. *Everyone* said the same thing: the book is very British, very
dated, and definitely for grain brewers. So, sorry John; I'll decline on
buying your copy-- even cheap! :-)
On the other hand, I got several recommendations for the _Winner's Circle_ (is
that correct?) recipe book from AHA. Since I hope to be in Denver/Boulder
again this November, I also hope to go to the AHA offices. Does anybody know
if you can purchase stuff (like books, T-shirts) direct, on site? I might as
well save on the shipping and handling costs if I can.
Again: my thanks!
Yours in Carbonation,
Cher
"Nothing is foolproof; fools are *so* ingenious!"
=============================================================================
Cheryl Feinstein INTERNET: CRF@PINE.CIRCA.UFL.EDU
Univ. of Fla. BITNET: CRF@UFPINE
Gainesville, FL
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 10:06 EST
From: <R_GELINA%UNHH.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu> (RUSSG)
Subject: Bitter in extracts, casks
Does anyone know the amount of bittering (in alpha units) in the average
hopped extract? Does it vary very much between extracts?
On a less technical note, I had some homemade apple wine last night. It was
good, BUT what it was pulled from was even more interesting: A white oak
cask! The guy had 2 of them that he bought for $30 20 years ago. I didn't ask
but they were probably 100 gallons (or maybe 50 gallons, he made a 100 gallon
batch once, he might have used both for that). Anyway the wine had a nice oak
flavor to it and was really nutty (in flavor). Anyone have any experience
with oak-aged brew? How about availability of oak casks (albeit smaller ones)?
Russ Gelinas
R_Gelina%unhh.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu
PS. The wine was oak-aged 2 years!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 11:20:38 -0500
From: Enders <enders@plains.NoDak.edu>
Subject: Exploding Wyeast pkgs., Defusing Time Bombs :-)
The last time I started a Wyeast package, I only left it overnight, and
the package was quite highly presurized 12 hrs. later. Unfortunately, I
wasn't ready to pitch yet.
This left me with something of a time bomb on my hands. I didn't want
to refrigerate the package, lest I temperature shock the yeasties. Neither
did I want to leave it untouched, lest it go boom, and spray yeasties all over
the kitchen. Sooooooooo, I cleaned off the package, sterilized the outside
with bleach solution, heated a needle (to sterlize same), and poked a small
vent hole in one corner of the package. I set the package upright into a
pint widemouth jar, and relaxed, etc.
The package was still softly hissing when I was ready to pitch, so no
airborne contamination worries. Note that I was going to use the yeast the
same day. I also agree with those who say the Wyeast recomended starting times
are overly pessimistic. It probably shouldn't take more than a day or two to
get the yeast up and running, especially if you keep the activated package
in a reasonably warm place (I like to keep mine in the kitchen when I'm boiling
or mashing, of course any warm spot of 85-90F will fire up the yeasties).
Todd Enders arpa: enders@plains.nodak.edu
Computer Center uucp: ...!uunet!plains!enders
Minot State University or: ...!hplabs!hp-lsd!plains!enders
Minot, ND 58701 bitnet: Enders@plains.bitnet
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 09:22:11 -0700
From: cckweiss@castor.ucdavis.edu
Subject: Kudos and a last note on homebrew for the unwashed...
I've been hanging around this net for about a month, and I think it's
time I said "Thanks" to Rob Gardner for keeping this thing going. Nice
job! (insert E-mail convention for cheers and confetti) Post a mailing
address and I'll send ya a brewski.
Re a homebrew for mass consumption, I've had a revision to my
earlier posting to Todd Enders. I uncapped the first of my smoked
beer yesterday, and I think it might be a good one to try on the Bud
crowd. It's not too far from the mainstream in terms of color and
bitterness, but it's definitely different from anything you could pick
up at the 7-11 or other convenience store of choice.
I followed the recipe for rauchbier in Joy of Homebrewing with a few
modifications. I lightened it up a bit (in deference to what I'm told
will be 100+ temperatures coming soon), and switched some hops
from boiling to finish, just cause I like more finishing hops. With the
deletion of the darker grain adjuncts, this became a real simple all-
extract recipe. This is from memory, since I don't have any notes here at the cube:
7 lb. light extract (I used bulk)
2 - 3 gallons water
1 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke (now that I know I like this stuff, I'll try
smoking grain on the BBQ soon)
1 1/2 oz. Tettnanger boiling hops
1 oz. Tettenanger finishing hops
1/2 tsp. Irish Moss
2 pkg. the dreaded Red Star lager yeast
Boil it up for 45 min. 5 more min. with moss, 2-3 min with finishing
hops.
Strain into primary with cold water in the bottom, and pitch the
yeast (rehydrated in 95 degree water) As Pete Soper pointed out, I
must be pitching into 120 degree wort with this technique, not the
95-100 degree I thought I was. However, it took off in 12 hours. 3
days in the primary, rack to secondary, 3-4 weeks in the secondary,
2 weeks in the bottle, and down my throat.
It's basically a nice light beer, but with a definite smoke aftertaste.
Like I said, mainstream, but with a non-commercial twist.
Ken Weiss
krweiss@ucdavis.edu
PS - I meant to say boil in about 2-3 gallons water, and after straining
add enough to bring total volume up to 5 gallons of beer.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 17:08:01 PDT
From: Marty Albini <martya@hpsdl39.sdd.hp.com>
Subject: a talk with the ABC
At the last meeting of QUAFF, the San Diego homebrew
club, we were privledged to have Jim Sabins, an inspector for
the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency, as guest speaker. Tho
his talk referred mostly to California law, it may be
interesting to residents of the Real World as well.
He gave a brief talk then answered questions from the
audience, and I took notes on what I could hear over the usual
raucous babble of lots of people enjoying good beer.
His agency has responsibility for enforcing about five
thousand (that's 5*10^3) laws. Statewide, there are 225
inspectors, 15 in the San Diego region to patrol around five
thousand license holders.
We discussed license procedures and fees--this was
hopelessly dull and you can get the data elsewhere. He did
point out that brewpubs count as manufacturers, not retailers,
so a lot of laws don't apply to them. For instance, if the ABC
gets community objections to a retail outlet, there's a
hearing, and public objections can scuttle a licenses app. Not
so for a "manufacturer." Also, each new label for an alcoholic
beverage is reviewed by an ABC person in 'Frisco, and the ATF.
He didn't have an answer to questions about why various
brewers aren't allowed to state the alcohol content on the
label.
Of more interest to homebrewers: it is a federal crime
to send alcoholic beverages thru the mail, tho UPS is legal
(UPS apparently has other ideas about the legality). You can
bring your own beverage to a restaraunt, and they can charge
you a corkage fee to serve it to you, if they have a license
to sell that beverage. If they don't, it's questionable, and
ABC has a lot of arbitrary authority. If it's causing a "law
enforcement problem," they can haul you off to jail and/or
revoke licenses.
You can brew up to 200 gal/year if there are >1 adult
in the household, 100 gal/year otherwise. In your own
household, there are no restrictions about who you can serve
it to. The text of the law states that you can transport it
off premesis for competitions, and Jim stated that anything
short of selling it was ok too; the only restriction is age.
Homebrew is supposed to be under %4 alcohol by volume.
If greater, its alcohol content must be labelled on each
container or tap.
He didn't go into any of the really silly laws, and
was interrupted halfway thru by a singing "happy birthday"
telegram to the owner of the local homebrew supply emporium.
He handled himself quite well, and appeared to enjoy the beer.
The agency he works for is not noted for its sense of humor,
by contrast.
- --
________________________________________________Marty Albini___________
"Thank god for long-necked bottles, the angel's remedy."--Tom Petty
phone : (619) 592-4177
UUCP : {hplabs|nosc|hpfcla|ucsd}!hp-sdd!martya
Internet : martya%hp-sdd@hp-sde.sde.hp.com (or @nosc.mil, @ucsd.edu)
CSNET : martya%hp-sdd@hplabs.csnet
US mail : Hewlett-Packard Co., 16399 W. Bernardo Drive, San Diego CA 92127-1899 USA
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 90 17:27 MST
From: Operation Just Because <SQUID@rvax.ccit.arizona.edu>
Subject: princeton brew pubs
A friend of mine is going to Princeton
for Memorial Day Weekend (and then some).
Does anyone know of any good places to
eat/drink there? Also, any suggestions
about what to do in Princeton (besides
renting a car and going to N.Y.C.) would
be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Squid a.k.a. Heidi Schlitt (not Schlitz)
------------------------------
Date: 17 May 90 21:26:13 EDT (Thu)
From: hplabs!gatech!oldale.pgh.pa.us!ken (Kenneth R. van Wyk)
Subject: my cheap immersion wort chiller
A couple people asked me about my $13 wort chiller that I mentioned
in my recent posting on half-mashing, so here's what I did:
10 ft. (already) coiled 3/8 inch O.D. flexible copper tubing
This was in the plumbing area of the local Hechinger's
lumber/home supply store. I saw similar tubing in Sears with
their refrigerator stuff (used in an automatic ice maker) - see
note below. Cost: $9.99.
3/8 inch compression fitting to ? inch pipe fitting. Cost $1.something
? inch pipe fitting to garden hose adaptor. Cost $1.something.
Sorry to sound evasive on this. I knew the 3/8 inch beginning
and the garden hose end - any intermediate size didn't concern
me. I merely matched up the adaptors in the store. I would
have preferred to have done this with one flange, but none were
available, so I combined two. Note that you will need to put a
bit of teflon tape on the threads of the intermediate threads
to prevent leakage.
3 ft. 3/8 inch I.D. clear tubing. Cost $0.25/ft.
Since the copper tubing is already coiled, there's very little work
involved in shaping it right. I just took the coil and stretched it
out a bit, and bent the ends a little bit. You probably want to be a
bit careful not to kink the tubing at this point. Rather than waste
good copper tubing running both ends out of the stockpot, I used clear
tubing on the bottom end and ran that out of the stockpot.
Tighten up the compression fitting and the intermediate adaptor,
connect one end to a garden hose and pump up the jam. :-) Like I
said before, I combine the immersion chiller with a big utility sink
full of water. The chiller output goes into the sink, and I carefully
drain the sink as the water level approaches the top of the stockpot.
Rocking the stockpot a bit from time to time to get fluid currents
moving in the pot and in the sink can't hurt either (and, in fact, is
probably unavoidable :-).
The chiller, once I decided on the parts, literally took me all of 10
minutes to assemble. The cost savings over commercially available
chillers was enough to justify doing it myself. As I said before, I
chilled 4 gallons of boiling wort in about 20 minutes. You can
probably improve on this a bit if you use a longer piece of copper
tubing - Sears has a 20 ft. piece of pre-coiled tubing, but the O.D.
is smaller (1/4 inch?). I felt that the trade-off between tube length
and water flow was worth using the shorter tubing. (Freakin'
Mechanical Engineering degree, dontchaknow... :-)
Hope someone else finds this useful!
Cheers,
Ken
------------------------------
End of HOMEBREW Digest #420, 05/18/90
*************************************
-------
