Since I brew extract, I am in the kitchen. I will have a game on in the other room. Just won't brew when the Eagles are on. Frustration makes me forget about hop additions and boil times.
I generally brew beer I can't buy. For example, I love Nut Browns as well as Altbiers. I am an extract brewer and don't have lagering tools either. So, yes, I do buy beer. A pick-sixer about every month or two.
Also, don't just limit yourself to local brews. Think about other breweries you have read about, such as Dogfish Head or Cigar City. Both located on the east coast but get distribution in Colorado and Illinois.
Dock Street Brewing in Philly did something similar. They brewed a saison, aged it in a barrel playing Wu-Tang Clan. They called it Dock Street Ain't Nothing To Funk With. They said it tasted funky...
I remember the guys at Basic Brewing Radio made a video about using Frankenberry. As I recall, it turned out OK without a real sense of strawberry and maybe the slightest of pink hue.
Walked into beer distributor in Pennsylvania and bought a six pack!
PA recently lifted its tight laws on selling beer where you could only buy it by the case. Today is the first day you can buy six packs and fill growlers at distributors.
Brewed from 2010 till 2013. Then I moved three times in four years, living in apartments. New job kept me busy also. Now bought a house with lots of room. Looking to go all grain. Gotta fill up this space.
I usually keep an ESB on tap as well. It's a style that is not as common as an IPA or Pale Ale and my craft beer friends find this a nice change of pace.
I taped off a front portion of a bottle. I then use a can of chalkboard spray paint in the taped off portion. I use chalkboard markers to label what beer is in them. Totally re-usable and everything wipes off when I clean the bottle.
I made the same ESB twice: Once with early extract and once with late extract. It was based on 3lbs Amber DME and 3lbs Light LME. The DME was added at 60 while the LME was added at 15 mins.
First, there was a noticeable color difference. The late addition was much lighter and was very...