Brewing-deployed to the Middle East

[Lefou]

I've also worked in parts of the world where General Orders pertaining to alcohol production or consumption were issued, but some activities were tolerated in off-post functions during formal occasions or holidays in countries allowing wine, beer, etc.
The issue is keeping the activity inconspicuous and controllable for places where it's tolerated and legal. Personally, I'd consider the climate and environment, the access to good storage and cleanliness, and a good spot to brew uninterrupted as important. Reliable power and refrigeration would be good ideas, too.
Clean, potable water? That's a major need right there. Extract, packaged hops, and a unitank would be my approach as cooking and disposal of grains in a constrained spot might garner some attention.

 

[ChaosB]

Darn, if our military can not drink on base while being hosted by "those" countries, then we should not be there, or make all their embassy staff have a beer regularly, and possibly a ham sandwich(oh, they probably already are, having a beer that is) (& I wrote the ham sandwich part in jest).

Anyway, to the OP, I hope you can find a way to make good beer. But even if you make OK beer, it will be better than none. Thank you for your service.

It's not just host Nation rules. It's a matter of good order and discipline plus readiness. That's why deployments are hard and the military isn't for everyone. It requires many sacrifices.

 

[Loud Brewing]

Thanks for what you guys do! My family and I proudly support our Military.
There have been many good suggestions above, but in regards to fermentation do yourself a favor and go with some Kveik strains if you are in a warm climate. Great flavors even when fermenting up to 100F ! Keep us posted!

 

[yeahfairly]

General Order #1 is a PITA..... I used Mr. Beer while in Iraq and Kuwait... I had too many limitations that prevented doing an actual brew.... Mr. Beer isn't the best, but it's better than Bud Light.... They appear to have a 5 gallon kit, which I don't think was available when I was in Iraq.... I believe "Pat's Back Country" concentrate is still available.... It's a pricey Pint but if money isn't an option you could consider that as well....

 

[Lefou]

It's not just host Nation rules. It's a matter of good order and discipline plus readiness. That's why deployments are hard and the military isn't for everyone. It requires many sacrifices.

General Order 1 was drafted for knuckleheads just like me. When I was younger and less responsible, I sometimes didn't have a limit or "off switch". Once I forgot I had 24 hour Charge of Quarters duty for my small battalion the next morning and went out drinking with my friends. The next morning was hell and the outgoing watch had to drag my ass out of the rack and watch me tie my boots - literally. Luckily for me we worked together and got along, otherwise it might've been trouble.
I recall the Turks working the messhall locked a wheel on a cart full of trays while I was doing breakfast headcount. They dropped the whole cart full of trays, glasses, and metal silverware right next to me and it damned well rang my head for while, but was survivable. In garrison you can get away with some stuff, but in the field, pulling guard duty ... it can get you in some trouble, especially if you're given arms and ammo.

 

[Dland]

It's not just host Nation rules. It's a matter of good order and discipline plus readiness. That's why deployments are hard and the military isn't for everyone. It requires many sacrifices.

Interesting, just read General order 1,(section C) at least the version I read applies specifically to personnel in task force Marne. Seems like the intent was to placate or at least spare trouble in those islamic host nations.

Thanks you for your service, by the way.

 

[Lefou]

Different commands will issue varied wording to General Orders depending on the environment. I was with 1CAV in Bosnia doing an IFOR/SFOR deployment years ago and the intent was the same as when I was in Iraq for several years after the second Guf War. Not only does the Order cover the military, it supposedly covers civilians and contractors assigned to unit support, as well.
The order itself didn't necessarily stop the purchase of products from the duty free store in Baghdad International Airport when I was there, but the host country's Islamic authorities eventually shut things down. The bulk of alcohol sales was tolerated by the non-Islamic factions but they tended to be suppressed by the majority. The US command goes along to get along, for the most part, and it was slightly different in the north when I was doing some stuff in Iraqi Kurdistan.

 

[Yooper]

I drank plenty of beer when stationed in Germany, and I'm sure we could have had a beer set up in barracks (this was WAY before homebrewing was much of thing, besides my dad having a nasty crock of some crap in the pantry). But when I was actually deployed, there is no way I could have been getting 50 pound shipments of grain. Of course, we were busy getting shot at (and it was a fairly quick in-and-out) and that is a totally different thing.

Anyway, sorry for the tangent....

But that is why I was thinking wine/cider. More temperature tolerant, no boiling, no heavy grain or extract to have shipped from Germany, and the yeast is dry yeast and should hold up to transport and be easy to mail.

 

[Lefou]

"...besides my dad having a nasty crock of some crap in the pantry..."

That makes me laugh.
One of the locals I knew and worked with regularly during a deployment in Bosnia invited us to her house for dinner.
Her Pops was a brewer of sorts and was more than happy to show off his large stash of "slivo" (plum brandy) in the closet. I got quite a kick out of that. His brew was potent and strong and it wasn't smart to drink more than one or two two-finger shots on an empty stomach.

 

[Bubbles2]

Yeah, I'd get a Still and mash those taters...

 

[Saunassa]

From reading the replies it sounds like your best choice might be kveik yeast, a couple different types of malt extract, hops and fermonsters plus a pot to heat the water in. I think the yeast can even be dried like chips to make transport easier.

That or the grainfather and you could say it is an old fashioned coffee maker if anyone asked.

 

[Saunassa]

Yeah, I'd get a Still and mash those taters...

My dad had a still in his bunker in Korea. Kept his Sargent and lieutenant supplied and everyone was happy. He said if it was a fruit then in it went. Of course this was in 51-53

 

[Bubbles2]

Who has time to bottle or Keg and all that, just easier to distill and make wine for the _______.

 

[jrgtr42]

My dad had a still in his bunker in Korea. Kept his Sargent and lieutenant supplied and everyone was happy. He said if it was a fruit then in it went. Of course this was in 51-53

Hawkeye and HunnicutT?