Hops:
The Hops are in! So, it is important that you get out to Monday's meeting! Why?
Because, the vultures will be there, and any hops not picked up, will be auctioned to the highest bidder!
This includes the English hops that we have all been waiting for! They will all be packaged and waiting for us – be there! By the way, cost is $1.25 per package for the English!
Scotch Ale
Our noble Brewmaster, Mr. Herbst, has asked that I advise that he is brewing a scotch ale at the brewery, on Monday the 5th, starting at 5:30 (he used the 24 hour clock! and has invited all to attend who might be interested! I highly recommend, mainly because I am Scotch!!!
Help!!!
By the way, if you haven't noticed, our esteemed leader has done most of the newsletter!! Not good, we will soon be the subjects of the "Rant"!! Not fun!! Contribute, recipes, ideas, mistakes, tricks, -- please!
Ramblings...
I just returned from the east – Saskatchewan that is! I was there on personal business. Surprise! While there, I was approached to invest in a malt plant!! A local entrepreneur has raised $4.3 million, of the required $5.5 million, to open and operate a specialty malt plant. He is for real!! He has a great business plan, and, he has purchasers in –place. His product is to be specialty malts, for brewing and baking! His long range plan is to then develop a brewery next to the malt plant – there is a great supply of excellent water, and, of course barley!!! There may be hope for this old farmer, yet!
On another note, tonight, after returning, I racked about 5 carbouys from primary to secondary – two wines, and four beers! One of the mistakes was the Stout I brewed about 10 days ago – read a recipe for 10 gallons, and went to work on it! Alas and alack, I forgot to half the hops!! Wow, are they strong when they are fresh, and double what they should be!! So, a day or two later, I brewed the same recipe, and added no hops!! Tonight, I racked them to secondary, and split them half and half! Quite wonderful, indeed, as I type, I note many mistakes – thank god for spell check! Anyway, I find it beneficial to keep notes, and to try to build on each brewing experience, for me, it has worked! I would really enjoy sharing some of your brewing experiences in the Worthouse News.
By the way, have you shared your brewing experiences with a buddy, family member, and friend? I recently had the son of a friend of mine, visit at my office. Michael gave me a great hand, by grinding about 5 pounds of two row – I will be ready to brew again!!
And, the great part, he is only 11, and therefore, didn't drink a beer!! The moral, he loved it, and learned a lot, so he will be the next generation!
Finally, we need to energize the membership! I propose a couple of things – tastings every meeting – bring your beers, let the experts rank them, and let us taste them!!! And, the second part of that is, can we fool the experts? Can we ask them what the ingredients of our beers might be? Oops, I forgot, I also propose that we do some “kit” challenges!! Any takers?