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BoomerHarley · 10-03-2012, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtejedor

Bees suck. I had to move to overnight mashing to boil early enough so they would not bother me. My exterminator told me most of the bees in our area are africanized and to try not to mess with them too bad. If I have a real vigorous boil going and its late enough in the day they freaking start swarming me. I usually have to start a smokey fire in my bbq to make them leave me alone. And there was always one or two dead bees in the wort. I understand they are vital creatures but back off my beer dammit.

In your case, I think they are by all accounts looking for water. I'd fill up something with water and put it away from the brewing area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdgeBrew

Hi.

I overheard someone saying bees drop around and say hello when they brewing. Is he off with the fairies, or are bees attracted by the sugar odours from brewing?

On the weekend I did my first all grain batch. Afterwards I put the grains into the compost heap. A few days after that found a bee hive in my back yard. Where they attracted by the grains?

This might not help the ever strained approval factor us married brewers struggle with.

Cheers

I'm a beekeeper. Yes they are a swarm as you found out. When swarming, they do not produce honey and are very mellow. I have collected swarms in shorts and t-shirt.

I have a beehive within ten feet of where I brew. I have never noticed an increase in activity while brewing. I would be willing to bet they are going for the water. Perhaps the sugars, but I have never noticed it.

**iaefebs** · 10-03-2012, 11:49 PM

To the beekeepers. When I saw a swarm all the bees were just clinging to each other. That to me meant that the top level of bees were supporting the entire colony on their backs. Are they a different or larger bee?

**HoppyDaze** · 10-03-2012, 11:53 PM

I had a dead bumble bee in my wort during my last batch...I removed it before I cooled and transfered to primary

BoomerHarley · 10-03-2012, 11:54 PM

No and it isn't really the weay you think about it. Think of a piece of honeycomb. Is all of the weight being born by the little square on the bottom or the top? No, it is spread out over the mass.

They are all hanging on to each other and moving around from the middle of the pile to the outside in order to maintain a certain temperature. It's like a big pyramid. That one rock at the base of the pyramid isn't supporting the whole thing is it?

**bottlebomber** · 10-03-2012, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtejedor

My exterminator told me most of the bees in our area are africanized and to try not to mess with them too bad.

Let me guess, don't mess with them too bad and call him immediately? Not messing with any flying stinging critter too bad is sage advice. The Africanized bee scare was seriously blown up to be a Hitchcock-like situation but actually they are only slightly more aggressive and slightly more likely to swarm than European honey bees. Exterminating honey bees of any kind is a serious affront on Mother Nature as far as I'm concerned. It's actually amazing how ignorant many people are of the importance of not just bees but basically any "bug". I'm not saying that you are, but it's definitely a subject worth educating oneself on.

**iaefebs** · 10-04-2012, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomerHarley

No and it isn't really the weay you think about it. Think of a piece of honeycomb. Is all of the weight being born by the little square on the bottom or the top? No, it is spread out over the mass.

They are all hanging on to each other and moving around from the middle of the pile to the outside in order to maintain a certain temperature. It's like a big pyramid. That one rock at the base of the pyramid isn't supporting the whole thing is it?

I think it's more like me holding on to a branch of a tree and 10 guys clinging to me.

EdgeBrew · 10-04-2012, 12:05 AM

Boomer,

Thanks for your reply. My wife will have ban me from brewing another day (nah she's good, even helps with it).

Beer,
Attached is the picture of last weekends amber ale that actually didn't start all of this commotion. I'm sorry for blaming you for the bees, beer.

BoomerHarley · 10-04-2012, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottlebomber

Let me guess, don't mess with them too bad and call him immediately? Not messing with any flying stinging critter too bad is sage advice. The Africanized bee scare was seriously blown up to be a Hitchcock-like situation but actually they are only slightly more aggressive and slightly more likely to swarm than European honey bees. Exterminating honey bees of any kind is a serious affront on Mother Nature as far as I'm concerned. It's actually amazing how ignorant many people are of the importance of not just bees but basically any "bug". I'm not saying that you are, but it's definitely a subject worth educating oneself on.

I've dealt with africanized bees and non-africanized bees. It is not overblown. One of my hives got africanized last year. The difference was amazing and I almost gave up beekeeping because of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iaefebs

I think it's more like me holding on to a branch of a tree and 10 guys clinging to me.

No, think of it more like you holding on to a branch while ten other guy are holding on to a branch. You each have people hanging from you, but they are spread out, hanging on to each other and everybody is linked. You are not directly supporting anyone. You and a bunch of guys are supporting those below you. Think of the stabilizers on a bridge. You know, the angular cross beams. They support thousand of tons and would not be able to without a whole bunch of them all working together. By working together (and you are talking about thousands of bees), the weight and energy is distributed.

Tantalus · 10-04-2012, 12:12 AM

Given the issues with bee colonies dying off I'm surprised people still talk about exterminating bees. A world without bees would probably be close to unlivable for many of us.

EdgeBrew · 10-04-2012, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tantalus

Given the issues with bee colonies dying off I'm surprised people still talk about exterminating bees. A world without bees would probably be close to unlivable for many of us.

Um... We didn't. I had mine relocated. I have a tolder ( and soon to be a second one) that runs around the back yard.