Brew Day V2.0

[Gameface]

Im always down to meet up and party. I would like to go to whatever the **** this thing is that ya'll are talking about

It's just the announcing of the results of the Brew Off. There are a **** ton of categories, but they just read off the style, name of brewer and name of beer. It takes a few minutes and then they hand out score sheets (the notes the judges make while they're tasting your beer). It'd really just be about hanging out at The Bayou. They have one of the largest beer selections in Utah. But as far as I know they are a restaurant.

I don't know if I should say this, but I stewarded the table the judged English Bitters, and well, let's just say all good things have to come to an end. Or, at least they sometimes have to have interruptions.

 

[Gameface]

So here's the deal. I won't be able to check Jazzfanz tomorrow. I'll be there. Would love to see any/all of you there. I'd say showing up at 5:30 would be a fine time. I'll be there before that and I should have a table.

 

[fishonjazz]

So here's the deal. I won't be able to check Jazzfanz tomorrow. I'll be there. Would love to see any/all of you there. I'd say showing up at 5:30 would be a fine time. I'll be there before that and I should have a table.

I'm going to be in payson. Have fun.

Maybe next time

 

[Gameface]

Quick update...

Didn't get skunked but didn't kill it either.

No medals for English Bitter. The reign has not ended, but it is on hiatus this year. I will be back.

YES did get a medal, but not as a bitter. Got third as an English Strong Ale (new category this year).

Third Cousin pulled in a Second place in Scottish Ales.

UGLI Baby was my lowest scoring beer, but that's sort of to be expected for a Double IPA that is about four months old. They really expect an in your face hop aroma from a DIPA and time is the enemy.

Stifle Tower was a combo type beer (think part shooting guard part small forward). Just not good enough as either one to medal but got mega positive comments and a thanks from one judge for entering it because he enjoyed it so much, it just didn't nail the category guidelines.

I'm not disappointed, but I had hopped for more.

 

[LogGrad98]

Quick update...

Didn't get skunked but didn't kill it either.

No medals for English Bitter. The reign has not ended, but it is on hiatus this year. I will be back.

YES did get a medal, but not as a bitter. Got third as an English Strong Ale (new category this year).

Third Cousin pulled in a Second place in Scottish Ales.

UGLI Baby was my lowest scoring beer, but that's sort of to be expected for a Double IPA that is about four months old. They really expect an in your face hop aroma from a DIPA and time is the enemy.

Stifle Tower was a combo type beer (think part shooting guard part small forward). Just not good enough as either one to medal but got mega positive comments and a thanks from one judge for entering it because he enjoyed it so much, it just didn't nail the category guidelines.

I'm not disappointed, but I had hopped for more.

Now THAT'S a pun.

Congrats. Wish it had gone better for you, but the fun is in the creating. It is always good to see people enjoy what you have done. I feel the same way about barbecue. Love to hear and see the reactions when cooking. Makes the fun I had doing it go on that much longer.

 

[Gameface]

Now THAT'S a pun.

Congrats. Wish it had gone better for you, but the fun is in the creating. It is always good to see people enjoy what you have done. I feel the same way about barbecue. Love to hear and see the reactions when cooking. Makes the fun I had doing it go on that much longer.

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. Winning a medal at all is an accomplishment. Plus, as I have every time I've entered a competition, I learned a lot about my beers and absolutely have a direction to go in order to improve them based on the feedback.

 

[Gameface]

Stewarding was a great experience. I have a much better understanding of how the competition works and how the judges evaluate the beers.

There are a lot of good things about stewarding.

1 - You can taste tons of beers.

Generally, once the judges have judged the beer there is about 4oz left over and you are free to give it a try. Often if the judges really liked a beer they'll let you know that's one you should try.

It's like a free beer festival.

2 - You can eavesdrop on the judges discussing the beers and find out what they're looking for.

3 - Free food. Judging was at The Bayou and they provided a lunch buffet both days.

4 - When it was over they gave away all the left over beer. I took 36 beers but I easily could have taken hundreds if I felt like carrying that much and looking like a freeloading alcoholic.

5 - Making connections in the brewing community. There were several pro brewers there, key members of local brew clubs, homebrew supply shop owners, etc.

It was pretty awesome.

You don't have to be a home brewer or beer snob to volunteer to steward. They'll take anybody.

 

[Carbon13]

Hey Gameface, do you know how to make sours? I went to a brewery in Portland called 'Cascade Brewery' which specializes in sours. I had, I can honestly say, the best beer Ive ever tasted. It was called the Honey-lime sour. They dont bottle it because its made with natural honey which apparently changes during the bottling and shipping process.

What goes into making sours? Also, will you be at the Great American Beer Fest in Denver this year? Ill be around if you are!

 

[Gameface]

Hey Gameface, do you know how to make sours? I went to a brewery in Portland called 'Cascade Brewery' which specializes in sours. I had, I can honestly say, the best beer Ive ever tasted. It was called the Honey-lime sour. They dont bottle it because its made with natural honey which apparently changes during the bottling and shipping process.

What goes into making sours? Also, will you be at the Great American Beer Fest in Denver this year? Ill be around if you are!

I haven't been that big into sours, but my sister-in-law really loves them.

Sours are made by introducing a few different types of bacteria. They take a very long time to condition and are a significantly more difficult beer to make (or at least, to make well).

I didn't think I liked sours as the comercial examples I've had I haven't liked, but I did taste the winning sours from the brew off and it sort of changed my mind a little bit. The ones I tasted were pretty damn good.

 

[TroutBum]

How many people here are shocked that UGLI came in last?

 

[Gameface]

How many people here are shocked that UGLI came in last?

You know I think it's a pretty good beer but it was funny. It was the first DIPA they tasted and it was pretty clear they didn't like it too much. Then they tasted the second beer and told me I should try it. I asked "oh, this is a pretty good one?" They shrugged and said "Well, it's a lot better than that first one." Then I tasted it and was like, damn, that's pretty ****ing good.

 

[Gameface]

So after brewing like crazy leading up to the Beehive Brew Off I have slowed way down. One of the things that has slowed me down is that I want to brew back-to-back batches on brew days and using two pumps was annoying (caused me to have to stop recirculating the mash while I whirlpooled the boil) but today I ordered another pump so that I will finally have a true back-to-back system. That means that on a brew day I will be making 20 gallons of beer.

But I ran out of homebrew for the first time in many many months last week so today I'm doing a single batch. It will be YES but with a seasonal yeast. I typically use Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale yeast, but when I can get it I really like White Labs 006 Bedford Ale yeast. Unfortunately they only sell the Bedford Ale yeast in July/August. Maybe if it catches on it'll become one of their normal offerings.

I'm looking forward to getting some beer made.

I also have a cool project I'm planning out to upgrade my kegerator. I've been using the same one for over five years and I've had some ideas for upgrading for a while. For one I want a bigger chest freezer. The one I have now can hold four 5 gallon kegs, which is usually enough, but when it's not it sucks. I also have a new external temp controller I built and I want to install it on the front of the kegerator for easier use.