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Becoming a beer judge
I have begun a course of study to prepare to take a test and become a certified beer judge.
I belong to a local fermentation club called the Valley Fermenters. Every year they host a homebrew competition, and I've participated a couple of times as a non-certified judge. Contrary to what you might imagine, judging is actually hard work, requiring ( Read more... ) -
The Portable Shakespeare
When you see this on your friends list, quote some Shakespeare.
For a quart of Ale is a dish for a King.
-- A Winter's Tale. -
Taking inventory on the "fully stocked cellar"
Leaving the brewery (two days left!) will cut off my endless supply of beer, so I've been fretting a bit. According to the learned zootnarf, drinking every day is a necessity to unwind and cope. So I've done the following calculation: 1 beer per day for each weekday, and then three for each weekend day = 11 beers per week. The semester is 15 weeks long ( Read more... ) -
So much to say....
I've had a lot to say for a while, and that's why I haven't posted. You see, I've got so much news I don't really know where to start, so eventually I just give up trying and play Duke Nukem instead ( Read more... ) -
It must have been a party
By all accounts, I should be very hung over right now. Some very good friends of mine have a summer party every year, and last night was it. I donated a quarter-keg of the very yummy wheat beer, and I was happily drinking that. To be honest, I was probably enjoying too much of it ( Read more... ) -
An unlimited amount of beer...
I gave blood this morning, which makes me a real cheap date tonight. I just opened my third beer. So now it's a contest to see if I can finish this entry before I fall asleep ( Read more... ) -
Kegs, kegs, kegs, kegs, kegs!
It seems like work has been nothing but kegs lately. Cleaning kegs. Filling kegs. Lifting kegs. Stacking kegs. Splitting larger kegs into smaller kegs. And then cleaning more kegs ( Read more... ) -
Filtering beer
Most beer that you find in the stores these days is filtered, but most people who buy filtered beer don't really stop to think what this means. Filtered beer is simply beer that has had the yeast and large particulate matter removed from it, resulting in a clearer, prettier, "brighter" beer. In the olden days, before Pilsener-style lagers became ( Read more... ) -
While the cat's away...
So the Head Brewer is off on vacation. He's going to be gone for the next week-and-a-half or so, which means I'm now driving the brewery. Oh sure, the brewery owner is around as well, but he doesn't spend much time in the brewhouse, so for all intents and purposes I've got the brewery to myself ( Read more... ) -
My reputation preceeds me
I belong to a local CSA (community supported agriculture) farm. As part of my ongoing quest to be a nice guy and accumulate karma points, I volunteer there one or twice a week, helping to pick produce and such. If you want to think of me as a simple farm boy, you now have justification.
Anyway, I've been a member of this farm for a few years, ( Read more... )