Ok everybody, What's up for 2008???

Chad said:

I like this. Kind of like pre-New Year's resolutions. Mine include . . .

• Dial in my mash procedures to hit a consistent efficiency
• Work out a system to control fermentation temperatures better
• Do a split batch big beer/small beer in the old parti-gygle style
• Try my hand at ciders, perrys and maybe a braggot/mead
• Participate in beer swaps
• Enter a couple of competitions to get more systematic feedback
• Develop a "house beer" that I brew every couple of batches and really nail down
• Brew a lager or two (preferably Mexican cerveza style amber)
• Brew seasonally

That should keep me busy for a while.
Chad

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• Not quite dialed in on my mash and boil processes. My efficiency still fluctuates pretty wildly. Then again, I've changed equipment a couple of times so I still don't have a stable platform to dial in. I think I'm pretty settled at this point, though.
• I do have a spare fridge that I've been using for more precise fermentation control.
• I did, in fact, do a parti-gyle, split batch resulting in about 7gal of British Mild (very nice and long gone) and about 4gal of Old Ale/English Barleywine. Having brewed it in late December of 2007, I figure it'll be ready about Christmas of '08. I've tried one near the halfway point and it is still hot, alcoholy and raisiny. But it's getting better.
• I've done two ciders so far. One was killed, mixed with commercial cider/apple juice for sweetness, and used for Christmas mulled cider. The other is about 7 weeks old at this point and should end up a little less dry than the previous version.
• I have failed miserably to be more active in beer swaps.
• I have also failed to enter any competitions.
• I still do not have a "house beer" though I have a couple of candidates.
• I have indeed brewed two lagers, one a Dos Equis/Negra Modelo clone that ended up a little less hoppy than I might have liked, but still a damn fine beer. The second is a cross between a British Bitter and an American Standard Lager. It's a SMaSH brew -- Marris Otter malt and British Challenger hops fermented with lager yeast. Should be an interesting lawnmower beer.
• No progress on brewing seasonally. We'll have to see how it goes.

jzal8 said:

Well I have only been brewing for 6 months so my goals are simple:
1. Become a better brewer.
2. Let my fermenters sit for at least a month before touching.
3. Let my bottled brew sit for at least three weeks before touching.
4. Brew twice a month.
5. Brew new styles, especially ones I have never cared for in the past.
6. Create a recipe of my own, and brew it again and again until I get it right.
7. Enter in one competition.

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EdWort said:

Get the Brew Hut built
Start using my Blichmann Conical
Brew a Barleywine
Lose some weight
Win some homebrew competitions.

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PseudoChef said:

• Begin brewing outside and at club events.
• Understand and possibly utilize step and decoction mashing (when necessary).
• Spread the spectrum and develop an arsenal of both increasingly complex and increasinly simple beers.
• Brew a few "year-agers" (Barleywine, Belgian Strong Dark).
• Experiment with blending and aging (yeasts, batches & oak, etc.).
• Become more involved in my homebrew club.
• Convert a few extract brewers to AG without EAC-toned preaching.

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• I did my 888 at a brew day over at jdoiv's, and just two weeks ago our club brewed up 60+ gallons of dark strong to be aged in a used Jack Daniel's barrel.
• Understand? partially. I did it anyway with my Belgian Dubbel, but I do need to do it again.
• Not complete, haven't been crazy-happy with the beers I've put out so far. my IIPA was really good, but definitely needs some tweaks.
• I've brewed the 888, and two different Dark Strongs. A Birthday Barleywine is planned for July.
• I've oaked 2 beers and will oak the sour I have going to capture the bugs. No blending yet.
• I have been to every meeting since I joined.
• I converted my friend after I got him started doing extract.

Beerthoven said:

In 2008...

I plan on brewing somewhere between 12 and 24 batches, 5 gallon all grain.

I want at least half those batches to be repeats of brews I've done before. I'm trying to nail down two or three house ales - an IPA, a bitter of somekind, and either a porter or dry stout.

I doubt I will get into kegging this year. I will buy a pond pump for faster cooling, an O2 system for aeration, and a food-saver. This will be the extent of my brewery upgrades for the year.

I want to brew my first belgian beer and my first all grain wheat beer.

I want to brew a good pumpkin ale for Thanksgiving and good holiday ale for Christmas/New Years.

My first brew of 2008 will be the [thread=41782]08-08-08 Russian Imperial Stout.[/thread]

I plan on hanging out with fellow homebrewers more, and continuing to read as much as I can about beer and brewing.

I'd like to get my AG brew time down to about 4 hours so I can do it on weeknights.

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Chimone said:

I will hit 100 AG batches and keep on truckin

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