bestswmbo

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Hey all,

I need to decide on the rest of my husband's birthday present. I just ordered a big box of all the extra goodies we'll need to bottle our first large extract batch which is fermenting right now. But for the rest of the present, I've got options. We're planning to go AG soon, and that's NBD since we've watched/heard about our AG brewing friends for sometime. But, I found a beerfest a local craft beer bar is having with a local brewer, food matchings, and tastings of rare or unique beers from a local and very good brewery (two days after his birthday). Apparently it's a small group and you get to interrogate the brewer. Also, if I went this way I'd add in a brewing book or two (suggestions welcome). Or, I'm going to get the two 10 gallon drinking coolers and the fittings for the spigot which will get us ready to go AG (we already have a mesh hose for filtration.

So, it's either gonna be:

Tickets to the beerfest/access to ask a local brewer his trade secrets/try some good beer the week of his birthday. I'll throw in a brewing book or two (suggestions? Joy of Home Brewing? Something newer?)

or

Two ten gallon drinking coolers, and the correct fittings/spigots. (This one seems sort of boring. I wouldn't be surprised if he buys these for himself next month, anyway. And if I get these it'll be hard to hide them from him until his birthday, meaning he wouldn't have any real present on his birthday, and we'd probably end up going out anyway.)

Thoughts? Thanks!

JHawKS

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Both sound spectacular. If he's just going to get the AG stuff himself, get him something he wouldn't normally get for himself. That's what I think makes the best gifts.

You're a kick-a wife either way you go!

Rivenin

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either i would approve of!

i wish my SWMBO would get into my hobby as much as you are lol

__________________
Bruised knee brewing, CO. - For the crazy non-normal brews.
12 Bridges Brewery - For the normal, every day ales.
Est 2010 - Clackamas, Oregon
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Westel

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The thought is amazing! I would go with the beerfest, half the fun of going all grain is building you equipment and if you buy him all the parts he won't be able to choose the design he wants. (there are alot of ways to put together a working AG system)


As for books I'm about half way through "Designing Great Beers" by Daniels and I wish I would have read this alot sooner.


Anyhow hope this helps and great job with the selections!

Homercidal

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If you think he's going to get the AG stuff anyway, take him out to the beer tasting! It will be fun for both of you.

Of course you should also treat him to some very personal attention afterwards, if he's up for it...

jholen

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+1 to Designing Great Beers!

sweetcell

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IMHO, it comes down to finances. if buying the coolers is inevitable, he'll do it anyways, and it won't be a financial burden, then i say go for the tasting tickets. but if the coolers are a spendy and something that would cause minor hardship, then funnel the money into that (and spare him/yourselves from ramen and inability to go out on the weekend).

the tickets are indeed the more special/memorable gift, so get those if you can swing them.

"bestswmbo" - yeah, i'll believe it mine is also very supportive and it really makes a huge difference. you ladies rock!

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What hops should I grow? Hop grower's comparison table

Drinking: You're in the Garden Grand Cru, Mini-Wheat
Conditioning: Farewell to Eurocrats (Belgian Strong Dark Chocolate Ale), ChickenGate Rye IPA
Upcoming: The Great Memorial Day Weekend Brew-a-Thon: Breakfast of Champions Stout, Gentleman's Preference (Belgian Blond), Yellow Vision (Amarillo/Optic SMaSH)

BrewDocND

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If it were me, I'd want to beerfest. Any my b-day is tomorrow so you can send a ticket my way as well

It sounds like a pretty awesome event: local, rare/unique, good food. Yes please.

__________________
Bottled- Belgian Pale Ale (BCS) Bottled Dec 23.
Belgian Pale with JP dregs Bottled Feb 3.
Fermenting- 5.5 gallons Belgian Dubbel (BCS) and 1.5 gallons Dubbel on orval/JP dregs.

biochemedic

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IF he doesn't already have a good basic brewing text, definitely get him Palmer's "How to Brew." Not that Papazian (New Complete Joy of Homebrewing) isn't a great book (I have both...), but Palmer is a little more up to date. If he is into brewing things that are more experimental, I'd get him Randy Mosher's "Radical Brewing."

In terms of getting him coolers for AG, unless you know exactly how he's planning to build his setup, you might be better off letting him buy those...

__________________
Bottled: Basic Spiced Cider, W. Coast of Belgium IPA, NJFB Stout v1 & v2
Mead List: Southern Pyment, Simple Cyser '08, '09,'10 & '11, PomPom Melomel, English hop metheglin, American hop metheglin, Chocolate Mead, Cherry Melomel, Belgeglin, Bochet
Primary: Caramel Quad, Cocobochet
Secondary: Why do I keep this line here...?
Bulk Aging: Mead Day Ginger Metheglin
Planned: Traditional Gesho T'ej

emdiar

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He's lucky to have someone as thoughtful as you, OP! That said, I vote for giving him the beerfest experience. Equipment is great, but it's just stuff. Experiences create memories that mean more over the long run.