Canadian Roll Call!!

[MoreHops]

Thanks gbx. But I should've elaborated -- I meant that I was futzing with water chemistry by adding a bit of gypsum to make my yeast happier (Ca2+) and sulphate to make the hops "pop" a bit more. I'm going to experiment with CaCl2 to play with maltiness. And then ratios (Beersmith to the rescue!). I like experimenting (I have a PhD in a science field....so it's a little engrained). ;-).
Just an example of why i like to experiment/test: Van water SUPPOSEDLY has a pH in the range of ~6.7. However, when I test it straight out of my tap or after leaving water out overnight, I get readings of ~5.2 (good for mashing, but the fish in my aquarium aren't terribly excited about it...). Maybe it's just my neighbourhood or house. I've been contemplating a Ward Labs analysis...
That all being said, I had read AJ's water primer a while ago and thought it was an excellent resource. It actually got me started at looking into my water. But I'm not trying to change my water too much... just trying to get it "perfect" (for the style of beer)...
Cheers!

 

[Sock]

Yo Vancouver All Grainer....

 

[gbx]

Thanks gbx. But I should've elaborated -- I meant that I was futzing with water chemistry by adding a bit of gypsum to make my yeast happier (Ca2+) and sulphate to make the hops "pop" a bit more. I'm going to experiment with CaCl2 to play with maltiness. And then ratios (Beersmith to the rescue!). I like experimenting (I have a PhD in a science field....so it's a little engrained). ;-).
Just an example of why i like to experiment/test: Van water SUPPOSEDLY has a pH in the range of ~6.7. However, when I test it straight out of my tap or after leaving water out overnight, I get readings of ~5.2 (good for mashing, but the fish in my aquarium aren't terribly excited about it...). Maybe it's just my neighbourhood or house. I've been contemplating a Ward Labs analysis...
That all being said, I had read AJ's water primer a while ago and thought it was an excellent resource. It actually got me started at looking into my water. But I'm not trying to change my water too much... just trying to get it "perfect" (for the style of beer)...
Cheers!

I did a series of mash pH tests a earlier this year (I posted some of the results to the water primer thread). Every time I've checked the water out of the tap it was between 6.7 and 7.1 so there are clearly some daily variations. I never saw anything that low but with such pure water it probably wouldn't take much to drop the pH into the 5s. I never had was a mash that was so out of range that it was in dire need of any sort of adjustment (a 100% pilsner malt mash was at the high end, a 70+ srm IRS was at the low end but both were still in range). ...but my experiments were hardly scientific. If you've done any mash pH tests, I'd love to see the results.

 

[DigB]

For those of you in Manitoba...This is what you have to look forward to in the near future!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x9TuLJqQUJ0#!

 

[lpsumo]

I'm brand new to homebrewing, my main motivation being how stupidly expensive booze is in Canada.

I am in Burnaby BC and so far have only dabbled in mead making as it seems easier than GF beer or wine.

I would love to get into wine making but don't know where to start.

While I have the attention of all 10 canadians on this board... What's the deal with amazon.ca? Why is there no homebrew gear, like air locks or hydrometers? Amazon.com has a nice selection but say they can't send it to cananda, what gives?

 

[dutchcanuck]

St. Catharines, Ontario here. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only brewer in Niagara!

 

[CarnellSitka]

I'm brand new to homebrewing, my main motivation being how stupidly expensive booze is in Canada.

I am in Burnaby BC and so far have only dabbled in mead making as it seems easier than GF beer or wine.

I would love to get into wine making but don't know where to start.

While I have the attention of all 10 canadians on this board... What's the deal with amazon.ca? Why is there no homebrew gear, like air locks or hydrometers? Amazon.com has a nice selection but say they can't send it to cananda, what gives?

I Dont know, but give dan's home brewing a shot on hastings. I recently went to the states and assumed breing stuff would be cheaper there, its not!

dan has airlocks for less than a buck i think, and hes fairly close if you live in burnaby.

 

[Unusmundus]

St. Catharines, Ontario here. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only brewer in Niagara!

You realize you're home to the largest, and only (that I know of) brew school in the nation right?!:smack:

 

[gbx]

I Dont know, but give dan's home brewing a shot on hastings. I recently went to the states and assumed breing stuff would be cheaper there, its not!

dan has airlocks for less than a buck i think, and hes fairly close if you live in burnaby.

Dan's has the cheapest prices you will find anywhere and his stuff is always super fresh (its rare to find a wyeast smack pack in his fridge that is more than a week old) The only downside is his selection is limited and he only sells hops by the oz. If you are starting out, Dan's is definitely the place to go. If you are nerding out and looking for a specific brand named item or malt, Bosa Grape in Burnaby it awesome.

 

[Macdonald87]

Welcome to the Club, originally from Ontario, Livin in Victoria BC now. Just did my first batch turned out great planning my second batch either an IPA or Porter. Dont know which way I am going to go yet.

 

[HopHoarder]

There's also Fraser Valley Hop and Grain out of both Mission and Surrey. They're nice as you can buy 25kg bags of basemalt for 34.00. I use Connors Wine Cellar in Chilliwack as they have decent prices and great selection of brewing supplies. For U.S. stuff I just get it sent to pic-it-up in Sumas where I pay 2.50 to use their services.

 

[Unusmundus]

Anyone here know any brewing equipment website that SHIP to Canada?!?! Turns out that Midwest doesn't...

 

[MoreHops]

Anyone here know any brewing equipment website that SHIP to Canada?!?! Turns out that Midwest doesn't...

I Googled "home brewing supplies canada" and came up with this:

http://www.bulten.ca/homebrewing/suppliers-in-canada

Can't say I've ordered anything from any of them as my LHBS carries everything I currently need. But I have been contemplating some purchases from a couple places off this list...

There's also http://www.homebrewing.org that seems to ship to Canada.

I'm sure there are others too...

HTH!

 

[HopHoarder]

Connors wine Cellar has online shopping but I dont know if they ship. Great selection there for brewing equipment and ingredients.

 

[brewmastercontrols]

For those of you who have not seen it. The Canadian National Anthem uhhh... I mean Canthem... played all with beer bottles, beer cans, beer trash, and well beer parts.

See and Listen <<- click this....

 

[Lumpy16]

Anyone here know any brewing equipment website that SHIP to Canada?!?! Turns out that Midwest doesn't...

Ontario beer kegs. Just google them. 15 dollar flat rate shipping on orders over 50 bucks.

 

[HopHoarder]

I just get my stuff shipped to Sumas, WA and pick it up there, but then I live close to the border.

 

[SudsyPaul]

Bonjourno from Ottawa

Have my first batch of ale brewing away in the basement - but still so so far away from drinking/sampling it

 

[drewN]

Sault ste marie ontario!

 

[WesleyBrewViking]

Kamloops, BC. Extract and partial mash. Currently scrounging up the necessary equipment (and working through early stages of negotiations with my wife ) to take the all grain plunge.

 

[dr3wson]

Relatively new brewer here already moved to all-grain. South shore of Montreal, QC

In case anyone is interested, here's my log thus far:

Batch #1: Hefenweizen (original extract recipe) - Sept. 11, 2012
OG: 1.150 / FG: 1.010

Batch #2: "Pitbull" IPA (original extract recipe) - Oct 6, 2012
OG: 1.080 / FG: Carboy exploded

Batch #3: "Vizsla" Brown Ale (extract w/ specialty steeping) - Oct 27, 2012
OG: 1.041 / FG: 1.012

Batch #4: "Red Devil" Peppercorn Red Ale (original all grain recipe) - Nov 24, 2012
OG: 1.046 / FG: 1.012

Batch #5: "Hop Heads Unite" IPA (original all grain recipe) - Dec 30, 2012
OG: ??? / FG: ???

 

[spark_plug]

I am from New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada, the rest of Canada believe all we do here on the east coast is drink. Of course they would be right! They even let us have beer at work.

Been brewing for over a year now. Started with AG back in October and have had great luck. Turns out its way easier to make an AG batch, then it is to learn all the jargon that goes with it.

 

[Homercidal]

CANADA SUCKS!

USA! USA! USA!

Go US World Hockey Juniors!

WOOOOO!!!!!!!!

 

[SudsyPaul]

.............

 

[Tarks]

Cheers from Winnipeg. I can see there are a few Peggers here, great to see. Anyhow, I brew AG and love it. I'm sipping on a ESB from the keg as I type this. So good!

 

[Unusmundus]

I am from New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada, the rest of Canada believe all we do here on the east coast is drink. Of course they would be right! They even let us have beer at work.

Been brewing for over a year now. Started with AG back in October and have had great luck. Turns out its way easier to make an AG batch, then it is to learn all the jargon that goes with it.

What part of NB?? Haligonian here.

 

[philjohnwilliams]

Montreal here.

 

[SudsyPaul]

Anybody in Ottawa region (or anywhere, really) is welcome to join up on craftbrewed.ca
A more local, WAY more amateurish site that I just launched. Just something to help the local homebrew scene, in addition to the barleyment mailing lists.

 

[bibowski]

I'm in Burlington, Ontario and have only been doing kit homebrews so far, with mixed results (all drinkable though thankfully!).

I've just bought Coopers liquid malt extract cans (with yeast packets) from Better Bitters (the makers of Nickelbrook beer) and so far I've made 4 batches (just made my 4th last night).

I'd love to learn a bit more though, and to start making stuff from scratch instead of kits. It seems a bit like cheating

 

[brieuxster]

All grain fellow in St. Brieux Saskatchewan.