Beer!

Discussion in 'Food and Drink' started by jexby, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. n3rdling

    n3rdling Friend

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    @schiit that Zymatic system looks pretty neat. What do you think about it?

    I made my first homebrew in Dec/Jan, a Pliny the Elder clone. General overview was campden tablet, all grain, BIAB, double dry hop, cold crash, gelatin, bottle condition. I used a single bottling bucket for all fermentation and bottling to keep things simple. Also used a mini fridge and heating blanket with temp regulator to control fermentation temps. It was a lot of fun and I was super happy with how the beer turned out. It 'beat out' a legit Pliny we had in a blind taste test and I got encouraging feedback from my IPA loving friends. Some people want me to make it again but I think I'd rather just keep experimenting.

    Next up will probably be some sort of Duvel/Westmalle hybrid clone and maybe a witbier for the upcoming hot months. I bought an outdoor burner to get the wort up to temp quicker, and built a ghetto DIY stir plate to increase yeast cell count going forward. Looking around for a kegerator since I don't think I ever want to go through the process of cleaning/washing/sterilizing/filling/capping bottles again. :p
     
  2. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    Are you a Kaminoan?
     
  3. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    FYI, PicoBrew does have more "counter top friendly" brewers. And they are far less expensive. They are just a little less hands on, think home brewing meets Keureg. They have a unit out that's $799, and they're Kickstarting an even less expensive unit.
     
  4. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    Haven't tried it, but just saw this at the market while getting some Dortmunder, and thought it was perfect for SBAF
     

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  5. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    Just had some Lagunitas The Waldo's Special Ale last weekend. A very good ale. You can't tell it's 11.5% until halfway through the second bottle! |\/|
    It's a one hitter beer so grab some now. I went back this weekend and the store was out.
     
  6. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Eventide Kolsch- handcrafted in the ATL. Enjoying it with some Neil Diamond by the pool.

    IMG_0714.JPG
     
  7. lac29

    lac29 Acquaintance

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    I haven't had much beer since I started working and got out of college, but I went to Portland this past weekend and had some really tasty stuff. Went to Fathead twice and had stuff at a few other places that I can't remember. I realize it's easier to appreciate stuff when you you experience it occasionally as a "special occasion" rather than every week. The same goes with good food imo. I just appreciate things more when it doesn't become the norm.
     
  8. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    @shotgunshane When I lived in Georgia, my two favorite breweries in the area were Creature Comforts in Athens and Orpheus in Atalanta. I still wish I could get my hands on Creature Comforr's berliner weisse these days.
     
  9. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    My friend from Belgium came to visit and left some presents

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  10. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    I've had a few of those. My new favorite is Laughing Skull White. I'm a Belgian style lover at heart.
     
  11. gefski

    gefski Facebook Friend

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    Belgians -- yep, I'm always on the lookout for great whites, and can usually count on finding Avery White Rascal at the very least.

    Saison and Biere de Garde hunting in Spring also. Enjoyed an excellent Saison in Schiit's neighborhood -- Ladyface Brewing in Agoura Hills. Haven't been back down there since 2015, assume they're still brewing it.
     
  12. jacq

    jacq Top 3 poster - friend

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    So I'm thinking of doing a 50 beers from 50 states project with sours, stouts, and IPAs... My list is quite lacking since I'm still kind of in the process of looking through which beers to include from which state without making it be a daunting task to obtain their beers. I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions on which beers to get for whatever state you guys are in!
     
  13. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    I nominate Pliny the Elder a double IPA from Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, California.
     
  14. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    @jacq

    Hmmm... I can give a solid list for the Northeast. If I were to pick one brewery as my favorite, Hill Farmstead would probably take the cake. Foam is pretty new and may be my favorite outside of the farmhouse style these days.

    Nevada: Brasserie St. James
    Indiana: Three Floyds
    Vermont: Hill Farmstead Brewery or Foam Brewers
    Massachusetts: Treehouse Breweing Company (not my thing, but people love it) or Trillium
    Rhode Island: Proclamation Ale Company
    New Hampshire: Schilling Beer Co.
    Maine: Oxbow Brewing Company
    New York: Suarez Family Brewery
    Connecticut: Kent Falls Brewing Company
    Georgia: Creature Comforts Brewery
    California: Russian River (a solid classic that was my intro into beer)
    Illinois: Off Color (maybe)


    From what I've experienced, as a West Coast native, Vermont has the best beer selection in the nation. I've been away from the West Coast for a few years now, so I'm not too sure what some of the best breweries are these days.

    May think of some more later.
     
  15. jacq

    jacq Top 3 poster - friend

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    @Vansen

    Well here's the list I've created so far. And we are in agreement with quite a few of them!
    50 states; stouts, sours, saisons

    • Alabama = Good People
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California = Bottle Logic or Russian River
    • Colorado = Crooked Stave
    • Connecticut = Kent Falls Brewing Company
    • Delaware = Dog Fish Head
    • Florida = J. Wakefield/Cigar City
    • Georgia = Creature Comforts
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana = 3 Floyds
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine = Allagash
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts = Trillium
    • Michigan = Jolly Pumpkin
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri = Side Project, Perennial
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire = Schilling Beer Co.
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York = Ommegang
    • North Carolina = Fonta Flora
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio = Jackie O’s
    • Oklahoma = Prairie
    • Oregon = DeGarde
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island = Proclamation Ales
    • South Carolina = Westbrook Special Goses
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee = Blackberry Farms
    • Texas = Jester King
    • Utah
    • Vermont = Hill Farmstead
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin = New Glarus
    • Wyoming

    For NYC, not Ommegang?

    Added the ones you recommended in bold. :)
     
  16. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    West Coast has come a long way in the last few years. My hometown, Sacramento is getting to be a real beer city. Happened fast.
     
  17. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    Sacramento was my weekend stomping ground from about 2010 to 2014. I've been there a few times since then and it's changed a lot since then in the beer area for sure. Even my hometown of Reno has come a long way. They've got incredible beer and food there these days.
     
  18. jacq

    jacq Top 3 poster - friend

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    Actually maybe I should just do a 50 states list of sours! Then if I wanna attempt it again I'll do stouts then do IPAs lol... someday.
     
  19. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I'd be interested in a sours list. IPAs are everywhere and I can't stand them.
     
  20. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    @jacq Ommegang is nice, but the saisons and sours from Suarez are incredible. I think they're newer though. Looks like we look for the same thing too, cause those three are usually my go tos. I just have to stay away from some of the whiskey or scotch aged stouts.

    Edit: I'd also choose Westbrook, Blackberry Farms, and DeGarde
     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2017

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