Any homebrewers in Alabama ?

[KBentley57]

Hi all,

I'm surprised to see a section on HBT for a state with antiquated brewing laws.

If brewing were legal in Alabama, I would consider bottle conditioning Midwest's Ferocious IPA and Brooklyn Brew Shop's Cranberry Wheat.

It's also illegal to drive over the speed limit, send white children to black schools (how embarassing..), work for free (still considered slavery), and a whole host of other laws that are so wrong here that they aren't even worth observing. When a state has become this pitiful, I doublt there are any laws that are worth keeping (you all know what i mean.)

 

[Whattawort]

Don't worry...I'm a noob too. I've got sic or seven bombers of my first brew, a pale ale, left. I had a string of three 12 oz bottles that tasted a little sour, but the last two I had seemed alright. For a first beer I guess it was okay.

I've done three all grain Brooklyn Brew Shop recipes, but only one is bottled and should be ready in two weeks. I sampled one yesterday and I think it is going to come out pretty good. The others will be done in five our six weeks. I'm only getting eight to ten bottles out of each of these, but I might be able to part with one of each of I don't drink em to fast

I've got a little over a case of Midwest's Ferocious IPA in bottles, but if something doesn't change soon, I wouldn't force my worst enemy to drink it. It's pretty awful.

I'm planning to do a Pliny the Elder clone next weekend. Hopefully it will be successful.

What styles have you brewed?

Pretty much everything but sours. I never acquired a taste for them, and they look putrid while they're fermenting. Do a search for pellicles on here but only do it if you have a strong stomach.
Have to say that going AG was the best move I ever made for beer making. I've only had 1 batch that's disappointed me, but even that was still drinkable. I got my crush and mash/sparge volumes all wrong. Of course, that move took a slight investment in new equipment and considerably more time on brew days. After you get the hang of the brewing process, I highly recommend you move in that direction.
I tried my winter warmer the other day, and it's friggin fantastic already and it's only been in bottles for a week. Also have an Irish Red I did this past weekend for my wife's Christmas party. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a fresh keg of beer!

For what it's worth, I've found that the no-chill method really works for me. I don't really care if my beer is super clear, so chill haze doesn't bother me. Going that route saved me about $100 by not having to buy a wort chiller.

Ok, enough of my prattling on. I can talk about homebrewing all day.

 

[MTate37]

I definitely see myself going all-grain a little bit further down the road...maybe six months or so. My first step down that road is ordering my first burner and 11 gallon kettle this week. I want to go ahead and start doing full boils so that my hops are as efficient as they can be.

I've seen mention of the no-chill method before, but haven't read about it until you mentioned it. Sounds like a great idea, especially with the time reduction for chilling. SWMBO will be happier if I can gradually purchase equipment. I don't like to waste water, so if I do eventually get a wort chiller I will also use a pump and ice chest to recirculate cooled water.

Can these cubes be purchased locally? As a kid, I remember my dad having some kind of plastic, collapsable cube like container that we used for drinking water on our sailboat. Is this what they are talking about when they say a cube?

 

[mmcouch]

Don't worry...I'm a noob too. I've got sic or seven bombers of my first brew, a pale ale, left. I had a string of three 12 oz bottles that tasted a little sour, but the last two I had seemed alright. For a first beer I guess it was okay.

I've done three all grain Brooklyn Brew Shop recipes, but only one is bottled and should be ready in two weeks. I sampled one yesterday and I think it is going to come out pretty good. The others will be done in five our six weeks. I'm only getting eight to ten bottles out of each of these, but I might be able to part with one of each of I don't drink em to fast

I've got a little over a case of Midwest's Ferocious IPA in bottles, but if something doesn't change soon, I wouldn't force my worst enemy to drink it. It's pretty awful.

I'm planning to do a Pliny the Elder clone next weekend. Hopefully it will be successful.

What styles have you brewed?

First was Midwest's Autumn Amber. That came out tasting great, but I over-carbed in the bottles, so they have to sit a few minutes after pouring. Second was MW's pumpkin ale. This came out really great. Pumpkin spices weren't too over the top even though I added more than the recipe called for. Also added more pumpkin and steeped with grains instead of boil, so less trub. Third batch, which I just kegged (first time ever) was MW's "happy holiday." Tasted great when racking; can't wait to have some bubbles in it. I'm moving to partial mash next.

Where do folks in bham area refill their co2? I went to Vulcan beverage. It cost ~$22 for a #5 tank. This seems a little pricey to me, but it was my first time filling a tank.

 

[Whattawort]

I found one one of the cube's on MW at some point. However, I just take my kettle off the burner and put it on the cold concrete and wait. You can do your entire clean up while it cools and then some. I know the plastic fermenters can handle 140F since that's what my water heater is set on and I only use hot water when I wash my equipment. Once my thermometer is showing 140, I transfer my wort into the fermenter and put that in my swamp cooler over night. I'll pitch the next morning. I've done this with dozens of batches without incident. It's also great for lazy people like me.

A refill of CO2 up here is around $22. But you can also lease a tank and exchange it for a new one for a little less. I wanted to own one out right, so I'll deal with the refill price. Remember, you get about 10-12 batches on a single tank depending on your carb rates. My buddy got to almost 20 batches on his last refill. Not sure how he managed that, but it still worked out that way. Also, check out some welding shops. Some have better refill prices.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

Anyone in the Birmingham area have a single tier b-stand? I'm about to build and would like some visual aides.

 

[Otterella]

My husband and I recently started brewing and we're in the Tuscaloosa area (Northport). I'd love to let him out of the house to meet with other home brewers! I have my knitting club, he needs his thing.

 

[Whattawort]

My husband and I recently started brewing and we're in the Tuscaloosa area (Northport). I'd love to let him out of the house to meet with other home brewers! I have my knitting club, he needs his thing.

I haven't been to T-town since I graduated (02). How sad is that?? Not sure if the Tuscaloosa/Northport area has a club or collection of brewers, but I know a LOT of people do brew there. I got into brewing when I was down there thanks to good ole Mr. Beer. I'm sure someone here knows of a few people you guys could hang with. If nothing else, B'ham isn't far and they have several clubs (shhhh....it's secret!). If you guys ever find your way up in the Huntsville area let me know and if nothing else we can meet and talk about brewing over a few pints.

 

[harmenbor]

Anybody got any word when we will have another shot at homebrewing becoming legal in Alabama?

What wrong wid da beer we got?

 

[ImperialLover]

Still have a shot on this year's session. It's not on the calendar the last I heard. Democrats in the legislature are reading every line of every bill and severely impacting the time it takes to get through a schedule. Everything's up in the air last I heard.

 

[mmcouch]

I read that it made it through the initial committee, but not sure if it'll ever be put up for a vote in the House. The Bill's sponsor is a republican. And like you said, Dems are holding everything up now in protest over the education law that was passed.

 

[harmenbor]

It's gonna happen and I think this year. I am just getting back into homebrewing after many years and still getting equipment together. Not in any real hurry because just don't want to be looking over my shoulder. Not sure what the sheriff's reaction would be and so not taking too many chances finding out.

What wrong wid da beer we got?

 

[ImperialLover]

Love your quote! I couldn't believe that actually stood up as a viable argument.

 

[passedpawn]

It's gonna happen and I think this year. I am just getting back into homebrewing after many years and still getting equipment together. Not in any real hurry because just don't want to be looking over my shoulder. Not sure what the sheriff's reaction would be and so not taking too many chances finding out.

Oh man, I love that. Just couldn't believe it. Very sad, you guys need to pick up some pitch forks for christ's sake. This is America and this is your representative.



And more. You've got to hear this.

 

[harmenbor]

When homebrewing is finally legal in Alabama, we gonna walk to the sea and make salt.

What wrong wid da beer we got?

 

[Accidic]

Near Montgomery here.

Haven't really been brewing lately. The LHBS closed down (the one near Russell, the older of the two). Supposedly it was only temporary but as it's been months now I think maybe my idea of temporary and theirs is a bit different. There is a second one open in Fairview and the guy who owns it seems like a nice guy but my motivation has been lacking since.

 

[jsledd]

HB9 is on the SOC (Special Order Calendar) for April 2nd. It's third on the list, so baring any nasty political fights on the first two bills, we should see a vote in the Alabama House on April 2nd.

 

[Accidic]

That's great unless it ends up dying in the Senate like it did last year.

 

[jsledd]

That's great unless it ends up dying in the Senate like it did last year.

That was part of the reason why they introduced identical bills in both houses this year. Last year's bill passed the house, and then had to work its way through committee in the Senate. Both bills are our of committee this year. Once one of them passes either house, the passing bill will be substituted in the opposite house.

Plus, last year the Senate got bogged down on budget issues. They've already passed the budget this year in the Senate, so that's one less obstacle.

I'm cautiously optimistic. I went to Montgomery and spoke to the House Committee that voted on HB9 and had a chance to talk to the bill sponsors from both houses. They are both good guys.

 

[Accidic]

I understand that and while I don't disagree with the premise, the cynic in me suspects they sit on them so they don't have the assumed negative backlash from pushing it through. After all, we're just a bunch of drunks in the propaganda some groups push...

 

[wailingguitar]

Oh man, I love that. Just couldn't believe it. Very sad, you guys need to pick up some pitch forks for christ's sake. This is America and this is your representative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZoTJzh13n8

And more. You've got to hear this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVqnUf8NH6g&playnext=1&list=PLD65D5D017DF55F7D&feature=results_main

The amazing thing, and you could have knocked me over with a feather, is that in the end Holmes said he would support the bill and it seems he was true to his word!

 

[ImperialLover]

I was amazed too. The one that spearheaded the bill's destruction two years ago openly said that he was voting for it. I think he heard some of the sound bites of himself and figured it was the smart thing to do. Regardless, it's through the house!

 

[mmcouch]

http://www.alahomebrewing.org/news

HB 9 approved in senate committee but needs to be placed on the calendar to go up for full vote in Senate. Time is running out in this legislative session. Please contact the senators on the rules committed to urge them to place the bill on the calendar.

 

[mmcouch]

HB 9 is rumored to be on the Senate special order calendar for 5/7/13. The Senate convenes at noon. Contact your senators in the morning!

 

[mmcouch]

For those of you keeping up with this thread, HB 9 was unexpectedly brought up in the Senate last night and passed! Now it goes to Dr. Bob for signature. Check out the posts on righttobrew.org and give them some love for keeping up support for the cause

 

[mmcouch]

For those of you keeping up with this thread, HB 9 was unexpectedly brought up in the Senate last night and passed! Now it goes to Dr. Bob for signature. Check out the posts on righttobrew.org and give them some love for keeping up support for the cause

Meant to say alabamahomebrewing.org

 

[CGVT]

Contact the Governor and ask him to sign the bill. This is important! It takes about a minute...

So, please go to http://governor.alabama.gov/contact/contact_form.aspx, and fill out the form with your information. Choose "Legislative Session 2013" from the "Email Concerning which Issue" choices. And in the "Comments", in your own words, politely ask the governor to sign HB9, the Homebrew Bill.

 

[ImperialLover]

And now it is law! Congratulations Alabama homebrewers!

 

[zigsta]

I live in Huntsville and i cant find anyone here that brews beer! Id join.


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[jsledd]

I live in Huntsville and i cant find anyone here that brews beer! Id join.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

There are a lot of home brewers in the Huntsville area. Look up Rocket City Brewers. Our next meeting is on March 11.