Home Brew Beer

Flip top bottles? What's the deal with the seal?

2008-05-04T15:08:00.001-07:00

Last Monday I had the day off and decided to bottle my Witbier. I was concerned about timing, after all Saturday marked the 1 week mark, and the airlock stopped bubbling right about then. Would waiting a couple of days hurt or harm the beer?

I found this discussion to be very timely and relevant. How long do you let your beer ferment before you bottle? Apparently 2 weeks is the new conventional wisdom, but I suppose it really all depends on final gravity and such... Speaking of gravity, I just want to repeat, I love my thief!

I'm happy to say, this particular batch of beer has gone off without a hitch. By far the easiest brewing and bottling days so far. I just hope the final product is good, time will tell. I'm chomping at the proverbial bit waiting for a taste, but I'll be good and let the beer condition for another week or so before I crack one open. Which leads me to a question...

I've been using these flip top bottle now for a while now. The last 3 batches I've made have all found a home in the flip tops. As far as I'm concerned they beat the crap out of recycled bottles and that accursed two handed caper that came with my brewing equipment. But it's not all cotton candy and walks on the beach with these things. I would say a less than acceptable percentage of my bottles fail to provide a good seal, and some of my beer ends up flat.

One of my buddies tried to make me feel better a few of weeks ago when I opened a couple bottles of my left over Holiday Ale, in hopes of clearing the batch out and moving on with my life, only to find that 2 out of the three I opened were a little flat. He said, "Hey, it's not that bad, its like a cask ale or something..." Not quite, it's just a flat mediocre Holiday Ale...

A friend at work suggested wetting the seals before capping the bottles, but that sounds like an opportunity to introduce something to the bottles that will kill the beer. I don't know, maybe I should say to hell with it and move straight to kegging... But there's something to be said about the portability and portion control offered by bottles.

So, does anyone out there use the flip top bottles? And if so, have you had a problem getting good seals? What did you do to resolve the issue? I could use a little advice, but perhaps I should have asked this before bottling my latest batch... DOH!

More Beer Bloggers of Note

2008-05-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

I'm too busy to blog this week... So, I've added a few more Beer Bloggers of Note to fill the gap:

If I linked to your site, it means I like it and read it. But I sure would appreciate it if you reciprocated. (hint-hint)

Things to come...
Look for a post regarding my recent bottling day some time over the weekend... The Witbier is conditioning, yum... (I hope yum)

I also did a review of Allagash White to hold me over until my own Witbier is ready to roll, soon to be posted, so stay tuned!

In the mean time, check out some of the comment traffic on Part 4 of my series on beer and Christianity.

Bloggling and Bottling day

2008-04-28T08:05:00.001-07:00

Today is a rainy Monday, a perfect day for blogging, and bottling...

I'm fortunate to have today off from work, which gives me time to get my Witbier out of the carboy and into the bottles! I'm pretty psyched, as I got to use my thief today and it proved to be one of the most simple yet useful home brewing tools I've ever had the pleasure of using.

Video - This guy shows how to use the thief, if you can stand the sound of the traffic...

The thief rocks! The best/easiest hydrometer reading I've ever had. The F.G. was exactly where I needed it to be, so all is well. I currently have my bottles cleaning/sanitizing. Once they're ready, I'll get to bottling. In the mean time, some blogging...

I've recently added a few new sites to my Other Beer Bloggers of Note section, located towards the bottom of the site along the right side. If you haven't check out these blogs, you really should. Each one offers a unique perspective on beer and/or home brewing. My most recent additions are highlighted below:

Also, I've added twitter to my site. Not sure why, I just did, after reading this discussion over at the aleuminati: Twitter (All in a ...)

The verdict is not out yet on how useful, if at all, this will be. Might be a good thing for blogging on road trips or staying in touch with other beer bloggers. Time will tell...

That's it for now, I gotta run some errands while the bottles do their thing... More to follow!

Home Brewing Beer & Christianity: Part 4

2008-04-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Part 4 of Home Brewing Beer & Christianity...

In the previous three installments, we discussed a number of alcohol related facts straight from the Bible, relating them to home brewing and beer consumption for people of the Christian faith, and even those that are not...

In Part 1 we made these points:

Jesus made Wine, really good wine! (Proverbs 3:5-6) So, how could making beer be so bad? In my opinion, it's not, as long as you don't use the beer for sinful purposes.
Getting drunk is a sin and often leads to more sin. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) Drink in moderation for physical and spiritual health. Keep in mind, this also allows for better beer enjoyment. Think quality, not quantity.

In Part 2 we made these points:

Tempting your friends who lack self-control is not a good thing, so don’t do it… (Romans 14:21-22) While the Bible does not forbid alcohol consumption, it does tell us not to tempt those around us that may be easily corrupted.
Christians should not cause other Christians to falter... (1 Corinthians 8:9-13) If a fellow Christian does not approve of your home brewing or beer consumption, don’t rub it in their face, save the beer for later. More importantly, if a fellow Christian has previously struggled with addiction, or believes drinking will lead them to further sin, don’t encourage them to drink.

These last two points are good guidelines for Christians and non-Christians alike, good life advice that we all could benefit from.

In Part 3 we made this point:

God made food & drink as a gift for us to enjoy. (Psalms 104:14-15 & Ecclesiastes 9:7) God gave us the ability to make beverages that "gladdens the heart" and the Bible instructs his people to drink "with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do." (Amos 9:14) God willed his people to "plant vineyards and drink their wine," perhaps a case for starting your own hop garden!

In my opinion, the Bible indicates the joy of producing and enjoying your own wine, and I think that logic can easily and soundly be applied to beer as well. The ability to make and enjoy a tasty beverage is a gift from God, one that Jesus himself took part in...

BIBLICAL FACT: Jesus drank and was criticized for it...

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Matthew 11:19

We already know that Jesus made wine, but as indicated above, he also drank. Jesus was a man of the people, he ate, drank and fellowshipped with people from all walks of life. How else would he have gotten his message out to the world if he did not dwell within it? Sadly he was wrongly criticized for this, just as some of us that drink and keep the faith are today. If you consider drinking, making alcohol, and hanging out with so called 'unsavory types' sinful, what does your logic say about Jesus? Something we should keep in mind before we condemn people who enjoy "adult beverages" responsibly and who dwell within the greater community.

BIBLICAL FACT: We know Jesus had a farewell drink with his disciples at the last supper…

“Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

Matthew 26:27-29

Obviously, in this case, the wine was symbolic of Jesus’ sacrifice for all of us, and not just a meaningless toast. But it was, in a manner of speaking, the ultimate toast. Not only did Jesus drink and toast in honor of his sacrifice for us, but he also promised to toast with us again, one day, in heaven. That’s pretty cool, isn’t it? That's one party I'll be damned if I'm going to miss, literally...

BIBLICAL FACT: There's going to be a great party in Heaven, and there will be "adult beverages" available...

"On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

Isaiah 25:6-9

Good food and drink is the least of the good news in the scriptures above, but it's all good news in my book. A great party, the end of death and suffering and no more sadness. We know there will be the "finest wines" at this feast, hopefully there's some good beer too. Either way, I hope I see you all there for the big party!

Final Thoughts…

To the best of my knowledge, the Bible does not forbid Christians from drinking or making beer, wine, or any other drink. Alcohol, like food, is actually a gift from God, and should be enjoyed responsibly in moderation. The ability to grow the necessary ingredients , and then turn them into fine beverages is also a gift from God. So, from what I can tell, home brewing and then enjoying the fruits of your labor is a good thing! That being said, drunkenness and addiction are sins, and should be avoided, and we must be careful not to corrupt those around us. If you can not handle alcohol responsibly, as God intended, it’s best to avoid it.

I’m open to discussing this topic with anyone. I enjoy making and drinking beer, but my faith is much more important to me. If I have misinterpreted the scriptures, please let me know. I’m open to learning more, and want my ways to be proper. Let me know what you think…

In case you missed them, here are Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3..

Here are some other interesting sites...

Monday Night Brewery (Christian brewers and bloggers)
RiverBrew (Home brewing ministry)
Daniel Whitfield (Alcohol and the Bible)
Alcohol, Abstention and Redemption
Beer Philosopher: Link 1 & Link 2

Do you have other related links? Please post a comment and I'll add them to the post. I look forward to your feedback, please post a comment, lets discuss!

Cheers and God Bless!

Beer Menu: A great tool for your next trip to NYC

2008-04-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

Have you seen beermenu.com yet? Now where was this great tool when I was planning my semi-recent NYC beer tour?

They just launched the site today but they already have 1210 different beers listed and where you can find them in the city.

Cool site, started by "avid beer lovers who started homebrewing at ages 4 and 7..." (Pictured on the left.)

Too funny! I wonder if their parents knew they homebrewed, and if they let them sample the fruits of their labor?

Happy Birthday Liberty Ale, oh and me too

2008-04-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

33 years ago tomorrow, something very special happened... Let's call it a 'happy little accident' or a 'pleasant surprise' as my parents would call it... That's right, 33 years ago, I was born... (What can I say, I'm getting old!)

So, my birthday weekend starts tonight with a tasty dinner with the Misses on a roof top patio restaurant in the local area and a nice cold beer to go with it. Looking at the beer menu on line for this place I see they offer Anchor Steam's Liberty Ale. Coincidently, 33 years ago today, Anchor Steam's Liberty Ale was born... So crack open a Liberty Ale with me this weekend and wish us both a Happy Birthday!

From the Anchor Steam website:

Liberty Ale was first introduced on April 18th, 1975 to commemorate the bicentennial of the famous ride by Paul Revere. Before it became a permanent year-round product, variations of our Liberty Ale formula enjoyed brief tenures as Our Special Ale, available at Christmastime.

One if by land, and two if by sea, and I on the roof top patio with a beer in my hand I shall be...

Tomorrow morning, I'm brewing up a batch of Witbier, and then heading out for a brunch of sorts at the local watering hole. After that, I'll see where the night takes me!

Cheers!

Home Brewing Beer & Christianity: Part 3

2008-04-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Part 3 of my little series on Home Brewing Beer & Christianity...

In the previous two installments, we discussed a number of alcohol related facts straight from the Bible, relating them to home brewing and beer consumption for people of the Christian faith, and even those that do not...

In Part 1 we made these points:

Jesus made Wine, really good wine! (Proverbs 3:5-6) So, how could making beer be so bad? In my opinion, it's not, as long as you don't use the beer for sinful purposes.
Getting drunk is a sin and often leads to more sin. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) Drink in moderation for physical and spiritual health. Keep in mind, this also allows for better beer enjoyment.

Bottom line, making beer (or wine) is a fine thing to do, as long as you avoid drunkenness. In addition to interfering with sound decision making, getting drunk hinders your ability to really enjoy the quality of the beer you drink. If you're going to go that route, why bother home brewing or purchasing craft beers? Might as well pick up a 30 pack of the cheap stuff if all you want to do is get your drunk on...

In Part 2 we made these points:

Tempting your friends who lack self-control is not a good thing, so don’t do it… (Romans 14:21-22) While the Bible does not forbid alcohol consumption, it does tell us not to tempt those around us that may be easily corrupted. (Ex: Don't bring your bulimic friend to an all you can eat buffet, and don't give your alcoholic buddy a bottle of beer.) This is something we should keep in mind as home brewers, the fruits of our labor could harm others, so discretion should be used when handing out the samples...
Christians should not cause other Christians to falter... (1 Corinthians 8:9-13) This guideline is closely related to the one above. If a fellow Christian does not approve of your home brewing or beer consumption, don’t rub it in their face, save the beer for later. More importantly, if a fellow Christian has previously struggled with addiction, or believes drinking will lead them to further sin, don’t encourage them to drink.

These last two points are good guidelines for Christians and non-Christians alike, good life advice that we all could benefit from listening to. These guidelines are often used to prohibit alcohol consumption among Christians, but, the bible does not forbid home brewing or drinking. In fact, both food and drink are considered gifts from God…

BIBLICAL FACT: God made food and drink as a gift for us to enjoy, in moderation…

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart."

Psalms 104:14-15

I wonder what, “gladdens the heart of man,” really means. Let’s go back to Webster’s for a basic definition of the word “glad”… “Having a cheerful or happy disposition by nature” or, “experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight” or, “marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness and joy” and finally, “full of brightness and cheerfulness.”

If we take those basic definitions at face value, it’s a logical jump, in my mind, that the scripture reading means that God allowed us the ability to make alcoholic beverages as a means to find enjoyment. As a home brewer, I take pleasure in crafting a quality beverage from the barley and hops God has provided. Eating and drinking with friends and family creates a social environment that often leads to great fellowship.

The trick is not crossing that line between healthy fellowship and that inappropriate feeling of alcohol induced stupidity previously mentioned in part 1 of this little series. Knowing where that line rests is best left as a personal decision of conscience. If you have doubts, put the glass down.

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do."

Ecclesiastes 9:7

This verse tells us to take pleasure in food and drink, it’s God’s will and proof that he does in fact love us and wants us to be happy! This verse reminds me of the now infamous misquote (incorrectly attributed to Ben Franklin) "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

The real Ben Franklin quote discusses Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine and equates that to the every day gift of rain and its effect on the growing grapes in vineyards that are destined to become wine.

"We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy."

Ben Franklin's letter to André Morellet, French economist, circa 1779

Franklin clearly enjoyed a good glass of wine, rather than beer, and praised God for it as a gift. I don't think it's a far leap to view barley, hops and ultimately beer as additional gifts from God, do you?

I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

Amos 9:14

In Amos 9:14, the bible discusses drinking wine from your own vineyard as a sign of God’s blessing. Perhaps drinking beer from your own home brewery isn’t so bad either? Maybe I should start my own hop garden after all… These last couple of versus directly relate to making your own wine, but I think these versus could soundly be applied to brewing your own beer as well.

Closing thoughts...
Yes, the Bible does warn about the dangers of alcohol, but it also says a lot of wonderful things about it too. Above are just some of those positive comments the Bible has to offer. In a nutshell, God has given us the ability to plant crops and turn those crops into beverages for our enjoyment. To enjoy a fine beverage, to awe in its complexity, flavor, aroma and appearance can be equated to appreciating a beautiful view in nature. Appreciating what God has given us, responsibly, brings glory to him and enjoyment to us. Crack open a quality of beer this evening and Thank God for it!

Next time...
Next time, we'll wrap up this series, and discuss Jesus and his own use of alcohol. This may be a bit controversial, but you won't want to miss it. In case you missed them, here are Parts 1 and Parts 2. More to follow, Cheers and God Bless!

Home Brewing Beer & Christianity: Part 2

2008-04-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

Last time, I discussed two important facts from the bible:

Jesus made Wine, really good wine! (Proverbs 3:5-6) So, how could making beer be so bad? In my opinion, it's not, as long as you don't use the beer for sinful purposes.
Getting drunk is a sin and often leads to more sin. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) Drink in moderation for physical and spiritual health. Keep in mind, this also allows for better beer enjoyment.

OK, taking these two points at face value, making beer (or wine) is not a bad thing to do. And by extension, drinking the end results of that effort is also OK, as long as it is done in moderation. Sounds pretty simple and clear to me, so what's the big deal about alcohol then?

The big deal...
Not everyone is mature enough or physically and mentally capable of enjoying alcohol responsibly. For some, drinking responsibly comes easily, but for others, alcohol is something that should be avoided.

If you fall into the first category, good for you! But what about your friends and family? Can they drink responsibly? How does your drinking affect them?

BIBLICAL FACT: Tempting your friends who lack self-control is not a good thing, so don’t do it…

“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."

Romans 14:21-22

If your buddy has an eating disorder or an uncontrollable thirst for alcohol, you should not be part of his problem. Don’t tempt your friends and family, don't lead them astray. You wouldn’t bring a bulimic friend to an all you can eat buffet would you? Of course not… So don’t bring your alcoholic friend to the local watering hole either. Just some good old fashioned common sense courtesy of the Bible...

Double standard?
It’s interesting to note that this scripture reading discusses both food and drink. People of faith are often ready to condemn folks when it comes to alcohol consumption, but what about those that over eat? Is gluttony not a sin?

Should overweight Christians be held in the same view as Christians with alcohol problems? This is debatable. Alcohol abuse can have many consequences that are external to the abuser, negatively affecting the people in their lives. While over eating tends to have more internal health related consequences for the individual. In any case, neither are good practices.

BIBLICAL FACT: Christians should not cause other Christians to falter

"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall."

1 Corinthians 8:9-13

Clearly God does not want Christians to do anything that might offend other Christians, or worse, encourage them to sin against their conscience. Hopefully my discussion of this very topic does not offend other Christians (or anyone else for that matter), as this is not my intent.

Here’s my take on the 1 Corinthians 8:9-13, as it relates to alcohol. If a fellow Christian does not approve of alcohol, don’t rub your differing opinion in their face, save the beer for later. More importantly, if a fellow Christian has previously struggled with addiction, or believes drinking will lead them to further sin, don’t encourage them to drink. That seems like fair and sound advice to me, how about you?

Closing thoughts...
I think we can all agree that the Bible provides some clear guidance on alcohol consumption. Don’t be a drunk, and don’t tempt or offend others (Christians or non-Christians) who lack self control or have different opinions on the topic. All great advice, even if you're not a Christian.

Next time...
Now that we got the list of "things not to do" out of the way, I'll go into what the Bible tells us we can do in my next update. The Bible tells us that ability to make and savor great beverages is a gift from God, to be enjoyed! So stay tuned , you might be very surprised what the Bible has to say! More to follow, Cheers and God Bless!

Home Brewing Beer & Christianity: Part 1

2008-04-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Part 1 of my little series on Home Brewing Beer and Christianity...

As a life long Christian, I’ve had to do some serious soul searching regarding my hobby of home brewing. I can honestly say that learning to brew my own beer has helped me gain a more mature and responsible view on alcohol consumption. But, it wasn’t until I began to dig into the bible that I truly learned what God’s views on alcohol are.

Why am I mixing my faith with my hobby of home brewing? This verse sums it up…

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

This is my way of acknowledging God, and ensuring my trivial little hobby does not conflict with my faith. After doing some reading and thinking, I don’t think it does.

There are some clear messages about alcohol in the bible, here's a couple…

BIBLICAL FACT: Jesus made wine, and he made really good wine…

“They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

John 2:9-10

When Christians are confronted about their alcohol consumption, they often turn to the scriptures that tell us about Jesus' wine making miracle. Yes, Jesus made wine from water for a wedding. Can alcohol be so bad if Jesus actually made wine, specifically for a party? The verse even comments on the fact that the wine Jesus made was “good wine” and not the cheap stuff you would typically serve guests after they've had a few drinks already. In life, when faced with a dilemma, we're often asked, "What would Jesus do?" In this case, he wouldn't serve low quality booze.

In today's terms, it would be like running out of beer at a party, only to have a stranger walk up and make a batch of the best home brewed beer imaginable in seconds. think Trappist Westvleteren 12 quality, and then serving this miracle treat to your guests. Most folks would have made an emergency beer run to the corner package store for a couple 30 packs of Bud Light. Jesus certainly set a high bar for party planners throughout history.

Imagine how good that wine must have been, literally made by the Son of God, not that junk they serve out of a box! Now if Jesus made his own wine, how could making your own beer a bad thing? I suppose that really depends on what you do with that beer…

BIBLICAL FACT: Being a drunkard is bad...

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

The bible is clear on this, being a drunkard is a sin, right up there with stealing from others or cheating on your spouse. But how do you define the term drunk?

Webster’s basic definition is, “having the faculties impaired by alcohol”… Webster’s further defines inebriation as, “to exhilarate or stupefy as if by liquor.” It’s that ability to stupefy, or “to make stupid, groggy, or insensible,” that causes the trouble. It can often lead us to make poor decisions, hurt ourselves, or hurt others. In any case, God is not a big fan alcohol induced stupidity…

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

Ephesians 5:18

If you are a true connoisseur of quality beer, why would you want to get drunk? Drinking in moderation enables you to savor and appreciate the nuances of the beer you’re drinking. After all, the brew master went to all that effort to create something special, why would you gulp it down and not take the time to appreciate it? That would be like dumping ketchup and salt on a very expensive gourmet meal and then scarfing it down without savoring it. Why bother with the fancy restaurant if you’re not going to enjoy the food on your plate? Most of us have the maturity not to do that to a fine meal, why should things be any different when it comes to the beverages in our glasses?

Become a beer connoisseur
Writing detailed reviews of beer is an interesting process that trains you to slow down and think about what you’re putting into your body. It enables you to consider the beers qualities, flavors, textures, colors and even its potential affects on your body. If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to review the next beer you drink, you just might learn something!

Next time...
Next time, I'll discuss some other alcohol related guidelines I've found in the bible, as well as some versus that I feel promote the healthy enjoyment of alcohol as an actual gift from God. So stay tuned, there's more to come!

In the mean time, here's a little video about Westvleteren beer, "a mythical beer brewed in small batches by Trappist monks"... It's brewed by actual monks!!!!

Cheers and God Bless!

- Go to part 2

Beer Review: Flying Dog Brewery's Garde Dog

2008-04-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

Flying Dog Brewery Garde Dog Biere De Garde from Flying Dog Brewery on Vimeo.

The generous folks from Flying Dog have done it again... They've sent me free beer in the mail (for my reviewing purposes), God bless them!

FYI, if any other kind and generous breweries out there who value the opinions of an average guy and the word of mouth marketing power of your friendly neighborhood beer blog, please let me know... I'll be happy to taste and review your beer on my blog any time. Just send me a sample and some documentation about your beverage and I'll make it happen. How generous of me.

Interested? Then contact me here: bryon[@]homebrewbeer.net and we'll set something up!

Beer: Flying Dog Brewery's - Garde Dog

Some words from Flying Dog:
Proving the French may actually know something we don't... Garde Dog is a traditional French Biere de Garde or "beer for keeping". This classic farmhouse ale was brewed in March for drinking during the spring and summer months. With it's toasted aroma and spicy, malty sweetness Garde Dog will liberate you from the winter doldrums.

Style: English Bière de Garde

Style Description from our friends at BeerAdvocate.com: Despite its name, a The Biere de Garde is golden to deep copper or light brown in color. They are moderate to medium in body. This style of beer is characterized by a toasted malt aroma, slight malt sweetness in flavor, and medium hop bitterness. Noble-type hop aromas and flavors should be low to medium. Fruity esters can be light to medium in intensity. Flavor of alcohol is evident. Earthy, cellar-like, musty aromas and flavors are okay. Diacetyl should not be perceived but chill haze is okay. Often bottle conditioned with some yeast character.

Average alcohol by volume (abv) range: 6.0-8.0%

(In this case, the Garde Dog comes in a little low for the style at 5.5% abv)

How was it served? From a bottle
Glass: Standard pint glass
Location of tasting: My House
Reviewer: Bryon

1. Appearance - This is a pretty beer, nearly crystal clear with a rich golden color with an initial two finger head built from tiny happy little bubbles, very satisfying, vibrant and alive. Begs to be ingested and enjoyed.

2. Smell - A smokey or toasty malt aroma with hints of fruit. (A note on smell - I have a very limited sense of smell, that comes and goes, so my opinions on beer smells should be taken with a grain of salt...)

Almost done! Goes down easy!

3. Taste - A sweet yet slightly spicy malty flavor. Mild hops make for a well balanced yet complex brew. I briefly detected hints of something akin to fruit (apple or orange?) and rye. A very pleasant and distinctive flavor; sweet, but not overbearing. Went well with the Thai food I made for dinner, but would go better with some Pan Asian Tuna!

4. Mouthfeel - Light but still substantial and satisfying. Ample carbonation gives it a little extra kick while avoiding over carbonation.

5. Drinkability - Good stuff! This is an extremely drinkable beer. A great warm weather brew that cries out for those nights on the patio. Manages to go down easy while maintaining enough character and complexity to make you want to savor it.

All gone!

Drinkability Scale from 1- 10: A solid 8, but if it were warmer out and I was sitting on the back deck, maybe a 9! (Would I have another? Yes, but sadly they only mailed me 1. This one is on the buy list this Summer!)

Another Special Delivery from Flying Dog Brewery!

2008-03-27T14:03:00.001-07:00

There was a surprise waiting for me when I got home from work today! Another special delivery (Beer-Mail) from FlyingDog Brewery.

True to her word, Stephani Kerchner, FlyingDog's PR and Event Coordinator, was kind enough to send me yet another sample for my online reviewing purposes. Thanks Steph!

This time around, I was treated to a bottle of Garde Dog, Biere De Garde, a farmhouse ale brewed this month for spring and summer time enjoyment. Good thing it's finally spring, I'm not sure how long I could hold off...

That being said, I'm letting the beer chill tonight, and plan on sampling and reviewing it tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Oh yeah, one more thing...
I may get an opportunity to interview Flying Dog's President, Eric Warner... But before I do that, I'd like to get some great questions from you. If you have any good questions, please post them in the comments of this post...

April 7th, 1933 - A Giant Ape & Beer Bash at the White House!

2008-03-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Can you tell me why April 7th, 1933 is such a big day in history? No, it's not because of the Anniversary of King Kong... Although it is...

It's because of beer of course! On April 7th, 1933, beer became the only legal alcoholic beverage in the United States, that is until the rest of Prohibition was repealed 8 months later on December 5th, 1933.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt had made a campaign promise to end the national ban on alcohol. Now that's a guy I would vote for! His first step was to urge Congress to modify the Volstead Act to allow the sale of 3.2 percent beer in advance of Prohibition’s ratification. On April 7, 1933, Roosevelt toasted the beginning of the end for Prohibition with newly legalized beer in hand at the White House. That must have been some party! By the next day, more than 1.5 million gallons of beer flowed as Americans celebrated, I wonder how many people called out sick the next day with a hang over?

If you're in the New York area this April 7th, why not stop by the FDR library and toast FDR and the return of beer to America.

Anheuser-Busch has some interesting historical information on the big day.
The Brewer's Association has more info here, find a celebration in your area with the drop down

Despite the fact that home brewing was not legalized until 1979, I plan to brew a batch, and possibly review a couple of beers to commemorate this day in history. How are you plan on celebrating 75 years of (legal) beer in America? Hopefully by legally and responsibly drinking quality beer.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for next Feb, which will mark the 30th anniversary of legal home brewing in the United States! Well it's legal for most of us, Alabama sucks! Here's some more information from Wikipedia...

In the US, when prohibition was repealed with the 21st Amendment, home wine-making was legalised. Homebrewing of beer should have also been legalised at this time, but a clerical error omitted the words "and/or beer" from the document which was eventually passed into law.^{[citation needed]} Thus, the home-brewing of beer remained illegal for several decades.

In November 1978, Congress passed a bill repealing Federal restrictions on the homebrewing of small amounts of beer. Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, signed the bill into law in February 1979, and many states soon followed suit. However, this bill left individual states free to pass their own laws limiting production. For example, homebrewing is still illegal in the state of Alabama.

Cheers!

Beer is healthy, in moderation...

2008-03-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

I enjoy beer, but I guess that goes without saying since you're reading this on my home brewing blog. I also like working out and getting in shape, it's been a new hobby of mine this past year that may seem at odds with my love of beer. But not the case...

Check out some really encouraging facts in this recent ABC article on the health benefits of beer!

... a number of studies are showing that moderate consumption of alcohol, including beer, can have similar heart healthy effects, including making men 30 to 35% less likely to have a heart attack than those who abstain.

Alcohol, including beer, in moderation raises high-density lipoprotein or HDL, known as good cholesterol, says Dr. R. Curtis Ellison, chief of the section of preventive medicine and epidemiology and professor of medicine and public health at the Boston University School of Medicine. It also appears to have a favorable effect on the lining of blood vessels, making them less likely to form a clot or for a clot to rupture and plug an artery, and may help protect against Type 2 diabetes.

Adults over age 65 who drank one to six alcoholic beverages over the course of the week turned out to have a lower risk of dementia than non-drinkers or heavier drinkers, according to a 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

That settles it, I'm having a beer tonight after I get back from the gym!!!

The article also draws a connection between a growing interest in the health benefits of beer and "rise in the popularity of craft beers"

Unlike many mass-produced beers, craft beers tend to be brewed with a particular focus on flavor, appearance and aroma. Their appeal has attracted an upscale audience that's curious about the beverage and how it compares with wine health-wise.

Great news over all, but don't forget... DRINK QUALITY BEER AND DRINK IT IN MODERATION!

DIY: Mash Tun Project - Cooler Acquired - No Evil Biker Ex-Cons In Sight

2008-03-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

I picked up the 5 Gallon Gatorade cooler I found on Craig's List today! I can't believe how easy it was. I never purchased anything from Graig's List before, so I had some fears going into this...

Would the cooler be as good as advertised? Or would it be scratched up and nasty? Would the seller end up being a crackpot merely using the promise of a cheap quality cooler as bait in the hopes of killing me? Or would I have the critical element in building my own mash tun at a very fair price?

I'm only half kidding here, I really did have some concerns about driving out to some stranger's house, not really knowing what was in store for me. So, despite "seller 606819995's" quick email response inviting me over to do the transaction, I made arrangements to meet in a public place. Coincidently, this"seller 606819995" lives in the town I work in, and was more than willing to meet me in front of a Dunkin Donuts just 2 minutes from my job.

"606819995" failed to give me any identifying information in our email traffic. I was half expecting something like, "OK, I'll be the muscular, tattoo covered, ex-con on the Harley with the sawed off shotgun, and I'll have a couple of my buddies in a black van with tinted windows. That's what we'll use to take you to the cooler, once we tie you up and put this bag over your head..."

So... I told "606819995" to keep an eye out for a guy in a military uniform (because that's my job) and that I would be difficult to miss. I figured, the mention of my military affiliation would subtly caution this person not to do anything unpleasant at the time of our meeting. Then I thought, maybe that was stupid, maybe this guy is selling stolen coolers to finance his terror cell, and now I'm the next target! Man this home brewing business can really be dangerous sometimes can't it?

Yeah, I had my reservations, but hey you can't go wrong for $3, it was worth the risk. Cooler selling ex-cons and terrorists be damned!

When I pulled up to the Dunkin Donuts, I scanned the parking lot for unsavory types with orange coolers in toe. And then it happened... A 30-something year old woman (small, smiling, friendly looking, Asian woman) stepped out of an Orange Honda Element. I doubled checked for any additional vehicles (IE dark vans) in the near by area, but all seemed well.

She glanced at me with a look of curiosity. So, I stepped out and said, "Are you the one with the cooler?" And she said, "Yes," and pulled the cooler from the back of her vehicle. I gave it a quick inspection, handed her the $3.00, and went about my business. Thankfully, no one was harmed in this transaction. With my mission accomplished, I headed North towards home.

OK, so in reality, buying the $3 cooler wasn't such an adventure, but I'm glad I found such a good deal. All in all the cooler is in pretty good shape. I only noticed some slight discolored streaks on a small portion of the inside. No scratches, mold or cracks are visible to the naked eye. I think I have a winner here folks.

What's next?

Now I need to decide on how to proceed. Do I want to hit up the Home Depot and buy the parts this guy used? Or do I want to spring for one of those false bottoms? I'm going to think about it for a while before I make a move, but I'm wide open to suggestions. And maybe, just maybe, I'm waisting my time... Should I just buy one of these pre-made set ups instead?

Old Burnside Dirty Penny Review

2008-03-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Man, I look tired in these photos!

Beer: Old Burnside's - Dirty Penny

Some words from Old Burnside: Our popular “Dirty Penny Ale” (5.7% ABV) is a hearty, but never heavy “black’n’tan” style* which is mixture of 60% Ten Penny/40% our own signature stout. This beer is also available year-round at your local bar or favorite beer store.
(Motto: Dirty Penny Ale …Polish One Off!)

Style: Black & Tan

Style Description from our friends at BeerAdvocate.com: This applies to pre-blended packaged beers, where a brewery will blend a dark ale with a light ale or lager. It's by no means a traditional style of beer, but rather brewers capitalizing on the concept practiced at bars where the beers are physically layered.

Average alcohol by volume (abv) range: 4.0-7.0%

(In this case, the Dirty Penny comes in at 5% abv)

How was it served? From a growler
Glass: Standard pint glass
Location of tasting: My kitchen whilst the New England Boiled Dinner cooked
Reviewer: Bryon

1. Appearance - Dark, almost black. No light would even dare to pass through this beer. Although, a hint of red amber could seen on the edges of the shallows when the glass was tipped and the bottom was reached. Low Carbonation, but a generous head, 1 to 1.5 fingers worth, comprised of small light brown bubbles.

2. Smell - A slight hint of roasted malts, but that's all my stuffy nose could detect, worse than normal... (A note on smell - I have a very limited sense of smell, even without a cold, it comes and goes, so my opinions on beer smells should be taken with a grain of salt...)

3. Taste - Roasted malts, roasted biscuity, coffee flavors with a hoppy start and a slightly sweet finish. Anyone have any chocolate? Hints of lickerish or molasses? A good flavor sweet and bitter, but slightly sour as the hoppy flavors give way to the sweetness. Reminded of a tasty muffin, at times. A mere spoonful of cinnamon and nutmeg away from being a great holiday ale.

4. Mouthfeel - Sticks to the tongue, but goes down smoothly.

5. Drinkability - Over all it goes down easy, a good drink but makes me wonder how their stout would be alone. It's not bad, but I prefer a pint of 10 Penny instead. It was a good alternative to the standard Irish Stout, and went well enough with my boiled dinner. (Kickin St Patty's Scottish style!)

Drinkability Scale from 1- 10: A solid 7. (Would I have another? Sure I would, but it has a strong flavor, better for smaller "doses". Consider it a treat, or an alternative to your standard Black & Tan, if that's your thing. Stick to the 10 Penny if you plan on doing a session.

St Patty's - Scottish Style with Dirty Penny Ale

2008-03-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I hit my local Irish pub and did a quick comparison to the big three in Irish Stouts, but ended up finish the night with a couple tasty 10 Penny Ales... In case you don't know 10 Penny is a local CT micro that was awarded “Hartford’s Best Microbrew” for 2005, 2006 and 2007. I gotta tell you, it's a damn fine beer! And it's brewed in the "Scottish tradition", a plus for guy like me with Scottish ancestry.

Since tonight is actually St Patrick's Day, the wife and I are boiling up some corn beef (New England Boiled Diner) and I figured I'd hit the package store and grab an American Stout to compare with the "Big Three" from the other night. I didn't find anything that tickled my fancy at the store, so I decided to go a different route and picked up a growler of Olde Burnside Dirty Penny Ale instead.

Olde Burnside Dirty Penny Ale is Old Burnside's pre-made Black & Tan beer, made from a mixture of 60% Ten Penny/40% their "signature stout", which apparently you can not get on it's own... (Or can you?)

I figured this might be a cool thing to enjoy and review tonight with my "Boiled Dinner", so I'll sample it and post a review later tonight or tomorrow...

We need a cool Scottish holiday!

DIY: Mash Tun Project - Research Phase

2008-03-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

I've been toying with the idea of abandoning the partial grain/extract world of intermediate beer recipe kits, and moving on to all grain beers. Kits are fun and easy, and the results are very rewarding, especially when compared to the limited time and effort you need to put in to make a tasty beer. But I feel I need to grow if I'm ever going to be a serious beer maker.

So, I've been reading up on what I need to make the jump, and it looks like I need to get a Mash Tun. I've found some info on building your own from relatively inexpensive coolers and various parts that can be picked up on the cheap from your local Home Depot.

I think I found a cheap 5 gallon "Gatorade" cylindrical cooler for sale on Craig's List, right near where I work. It's listed for only $3! And I just sent the seller an e-mail to check and see if it's still available. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one. A $3 cooler might just be the excuse I needed to get off the couch and start this project! Stay Tuned!

Note: If anyone out there has any experience with building their own Mash Tun, or has advice on going all grain, please chime in, I'm all ears and eager to learn!

St Patty's 2008: Beamish, Guinness or Murphy's?

2008-03-16T15:27:00.001-07:00

This year I celebrated St Patrick's Day at the Old Dublin, in Wallingford, CT with a buddy. It was a low key night filled with corn beef, cabbage, Irish Stout, and friendly conversation. I decided to take this opportunity to sample the "Big Three" in Irish Stouts and do a simple comparison.

The bar was packed, so it was not conducive to do a full on run of beer reviews, so I simply enjoyed the beer and made some mental notes for later. Although I did snag a couple clips of bar tender (sorry can never remember her name) as she poured our first pints of the night.

It must have been meant to be, as the only two seats open in the place were right in front of the Beamish, Guinness or Murphy's taps... I'd say it was the luck of the Irish, but I'm actually Scottish. Serendipity none the less!

In a nut shell, Here's how I stacked them...

Beamish, my favorite of the three: Not as creamy as the other two, and finishes with a nice roasted coffee bean flavor. Oddly made me want chocolate.
Guinness: A St Patty's commercial classic, creamy with a much more mild taste. The roasted undertones were subtle.
Murphy's: The creamiest of the three, again a more subtle roasted malt taste, but in this case the hops were slightly more noticeable.

Overall, the three were quite similar, dark as night with an inviting creamy head, mild pleasant roasted flavor, and lighter than one would expect had they never enjoyed a good Irish Stout.

In any case, all three worked just fine with my traditional corn beef, cabbage and potato meal. Is this a cliche? Sure, but no more so then turkey, stuffing and a tastey brown ale on Thanksgiving. No, I prefer to think of it as a tradition, rather than a cliche, plus it could be worse, it could be Bud Light and green food coloring! EehGad!

What did you enjoy this St Patty's?

The irony is, I finished off the night with a couple pints of 10 Penny, you know, that local CT Scottish brew!

Green Beer!

Harpoon v. Brooklyn breweries Super Bowl bet video

2008-02-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

Harpoon Brewery in Boston challenged Brooklyn Brewery in New York to a Super Bowl bet...and lost. With the Giants win over the Patriots 17-14, Harpoon had to let Brooklyn tap their lager at the Boston brewery.

Either way, this is a pretty cool deal. I think it's great that the two companies could have a fun bet. It's good that they don't take themselves too seriously. Besides, this is good publicity for both companies, a win-win...

Where do the candidates stand on home brewing?

2008-02-04T04:44:00.000-08:00

I've decided to contact some of the remaining Presidential candidates today (via their web sites) and ask them a few questions about beer and home brewing. I hope that someone from their campaign staff at least takes the time to read through these and respond. Check back later to see if I get any responses. Now onto the questions...

Q: A number of states still have laws that date back to prohibition, banning the hobby and craft of home brewing. If elected what will you do about that?

Q: We hear a lot of talk about reducing the prices of energy, particularly oil, but what about the prices of hops and barley? These rising prices are hitting the American consumer in the wallet, if elected what will you do to help with this issue?

Q: A number of states are levying higher taxes on beer; ultimately this hurts the consumer and the industry. What are your thoughts on the subject?

Q: A question often asked is, "Which candidate would you most want to have a beer with." Do you enjoy quality beer, and if so, what is your beer of choice?