In light of the developin Kegging Workshop occuring, and not wanting to jack that thread, I thought I'd start this one on a related topic for those interested to use as a jumping off point on their own research and for those of us with keezers to show off our systems (Lucas!) and talk about what we have and why. My personal keezer is low tech and not impressive, but it lagers my beers and keeps ones ready to drink cold, I haven't had the time or money to make a collar and add taps, so if I want a beer I flip the lid and grab a picnic tap. It works out well for now.
Originally I pitched the idea of holding a Workshop in Semptember that would feature a Temp Controller Box build...but it was a mild reception.
One thing that I alway hear people ask about in the brew house is Kegging and Kegs. I do have a keg that I need to rebuild and willing to turn this into a workshop where the class rebuilds it and we discuss the different parts, gaskets, functions, etc.
I was contact by and had a phone interview today with Kate Bernot, a staff writer for the RedEye. http://www.redeyechicago.com/
She said she had stopped by the brew house several times over the past couple of weeks to gather content for her story on our brew club and wanted to interview a range of members. I didn't see anything posted on the forums about this, so thought I would give everyone a head's up that it should be in next week's paper, if you wanted to check it out.
For anyone who hasn't been following the Barrel Aging forum, we are hoping to acquire 2 new recently emptied Smooth Ambler bourbon barrels...for free. We have to pick them up at Kenwood Liquors in Homer Glen. If you have a truck or other vehicle that could accomodate them, we could use your help. Let me know what times would work. Thanks!
I'm super excited to end my brewing drought here soon - think the last time I brewed was at the very beginning of April and I'm gettin' the shakes.
Received my membership card today (thanks for the quick shipment there) and blown away by all the partners you have working with the club. My first question: I'm headed out west to a family birthday party on Saturday where the Bolingbrook B&G is a hop, skip, and jump away - should I be able to get that 10% there, or is that strictly for the downtown locations?
Hey fellow brewers! Just Wondering if any of you have seen the new plastic fermentor the guys from Fastrack are putting out, and what your thoughts are. It looks very interesting, and at 90$ I'm tempted to pre order one! The one major flaw I can see at this time would be moving the thing around to get it into position to bottle, and the stand they are proposing you use looks like it might take up some space.
It's going up in price after the end of the month, so I gotta pull the trigger soon.
Starting a new thread for this discussion/sign up, I'll have the recipe up soon, still moving, my computer is still packed away somewhere in a mountain of boxes but I want to get the ball rolling. Here is what Ken and Lance have said, so start calling dibs on strains and hopefully I'll get my computer hooked up tonight or tomorrow and we can start getting down: Talked to Lance on Thursday night after the Yeast Workshop, he thought it was a great idea and that we would learn quite a bit. His suggestion: Pale Ale with all Two Row and 12 IBUs (O.G. - 1.050)
All grain kits were shipped out yesterday via FedEx Ground. A hardcopy of the BHHCC 2014 Rules & Regulations are included in the shipment, but here is a cut-and-pasted version:
Thank you for participating in the 5th Annual
Beer Hoptacular Homebrew Club Challenge!
This is a unique opportunity to compete head-to-head (so to speak) with other tri-state area homebrew clubs, with one being crowned Chicago’s “Beer Hoptacular Homebrew Club of the Year”
Wanted to get the general consensus for the next Workshop Series offering. I was leaning towards a Temperature Control Box build co-hosted with Lucas.
We would build a functioning temperature controller for hot and cold for home kegerators or stir plates that need to hold a certain temp.
Those that want to just learn can still participate, but we will be taking preorders to bulk buy the necessary equipment for those of you that would like to build one that evening.
Please let me know the interest on this forum post. The date would most likely be Sept 21st or 28th.
