DC Area Group Buy #8

[CaptainAl]

Al,

If this is going to rub up against your timeline too close, I can just pick up for you and Jason, and you guys can grab from me later.

Up to you.

Let me call you after work.

I really want to go but don't want to mess you up leaving early. Plus I am on scale duty so I don't want to let the group down!! I was looking to maybe do a quick taste test and grab a growler for home.

Does the majority think we will be done by Noon?

 

[Petey44]

Yes, unless we hear different from him, I'm still picking up for Petey44

Sorry Ive been MIA. It'd be great if you could still grab it shoshin.

 

[Codemunki]

I'll be there to pick up my order and TaggTimm's order.

 

[CaptainAl]

With the later start it is not gonna work out for me being there tomorrow. Sorry gents, was looking forward to meeting everyone.

Redskinfan is going to grab Masonsjax and my (CaptainAl) grain's for us tomorrow.


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[reddskinnfan]

Guys,

My bad but I had to be out of the house early this morning due to unforeseen circumstances. Thinking I would be able to get back there before coming to the buy, I left my scales. Unfortunately, that isn't gonna happen....

Will still be there to help, though.

 

[IslandLizard]

Guys,

My bad but I had to be out of the house early this morning due to unforeseen circumstances. Thinking I would be able to get back there before coming to the buy, I left my scales. Unfortunately, that isn't gonna happen....

Will still be there to help, though.

Sorry to hear you had to dash out like that.

Don't worry we still have 4 scales lined up till 12 noon.
CYA later

 

[funnycreature]

Sorry to hear you had to dash out like that.

Don't worry we still have 4 scales lined up till 12 noon.
CYA later

I'll bring my scale! :rockin:

 

[reddskinnfan]

Great work, everyone! Another successful buy!

 

[PikevilleBrew]

And a great time too. Grabbed a couple growler's on my way out. Brewing a cilantro/chipotle what and imbibing as we speak!

 

[ewrzesinski]

Many thanks to Stonebrewer and IslandLizard for all the hard work in coordinating the buy - all went smooth as silk! Ed

 

[stonebrewer]

Great seeing all the familiar folks and nice meeting the new ones! Cheers all!

 

[AfroHopster]

Yes thanks and now I need to buy a mill

 

[reddskinnfan]

Yes thanks and now I need to buy a mill

If you need recommendations, let me know.

 

[emyers]

Thanks to everyone who helped organize and execute this. And thanks to three stars brewing company for hosting us. Id love to make another trip to enjoy all the brew on tap next visit. Jr had me a bit tied down but I'm glad I'm not the only nut to drag a toddler out to a brewery.

Yes thanks and now I need to buy a mill

Monster mill II does it for me with the accessory base plate and hopper.

 

[IslandLizard]

Thanks to everyone helping out and making this another very successful buy. Given the amount of splits (73!) and number of buyers involved, we finished in record time.

Special thanks to funnycreature who saved the day by bringing those lawn bags! Those rice hulls were quite a project, just wish we had video rolling, would have been hilarious in fast motion.

Good seeing all of you and wish we had more time to sample and shoot the breeze.

Hats off to 3 Stars for accommodating us in such a nice and friendly way. :rockin:

 

[stonebrewer]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f174/dc-area-group-buy-9-a-478195/

I put the next buy thread up, location is above. Frits and I are talking about making some changes to the buy rules and process. One idea we are mulling over is all split buyers pay Frits instead of each other. I'll let him explain his thoughts, but I like the idea as getting everyone on the same page here is like herding cats that drink beer Another thing we are talking about is a minimum order requirement of say 15-20 pounds or so. Splits are a real PITA so splitting things like DME and rice hulls may be reviewed. We would REALLY appreciate more people bringing containers, especially bags as it seems Frits is supplying them week in and week out and that isn't fair. Keith and a couple of others have contributed buckets which really help, but if EVERYONE would bring SOMETHING to the split party it would be much, much appreciated (like Sven did with the leaf bags this split...that was REALLY helpful!!). We are a community and Frits and I do this because we love brewing and hanging out with you guys talking about brewing. Don't be that guy who stops in, snags a sack, and runs. Bring a beer for Frits to say thanks, or help with the splits, or bring some bags, or bring a scale, or help the group split. There is a lot you can do to help and we all would benefit from it and appreciate it. New guy JodyLondon asked if he could help and carried sacks out to cars. That is the kind of thing that we all should be doing...

Thanks go out to all the guys who helped split (Frits, the man!, robfar, pikevillebrew, reddskinnfan, ewrzenski, ovenfreshbread, anyone else who I may have missed!!)!!!

Thanks to those who brought buckets, bags, etc.

Thanks to those who just hung out and pitched in when needed.

Thanks to the great guys at 3 Stars who make this happen for us!!!

We all understand that sometime you are in a time crunch and need to snag and bolt, but try to contribute a little something back like your spare grocery bags for splits and everyone benefits!!

Cheers all!!

 

[IslandLizard]

^ Well said Tony, Amen!

Yeah, someone's missing from that list. Special thanks to another new guy, peter78, for weighting out so many splits. He also brought some great samples in really nice big bottles!

Speaking of, Tony and I really appreciate receiving beer samples. The more the better. Not only because it's nice to receive a gift, but also to taste someone else's take on brewing. I've had some eye-openers that way. I know most of us only keg, so filling bottles is usually an afterthought, last minute decision. Especially to those who go through the extra trouble and remember the gift of beer, I'm raising my glass

For the love of brewing, let's keep this going and try to make it a little better each time.

 

[stonebrewer]

How could I forget Peter? Doh!! That's what happens kids when you start drinking beer in the morning.

 

[reddskinnfan]

As long as splits for PBW and DME stay around, I am cool with the changes. Rice Hulls are a different story... a bag is cheap enough that it doesn't need to be split.

P.S. I brought buckets and garden bags too...

 

[IslandLizard]

As long as splits for PBW and DME stay around, I am cool with the changes. Rice Hulls are a different story... a bag is cheap enough that it doesn't need to be split.

P.S. I brought buckets and garden bags too...

Mike, you're automatically acknowledged. You are the North-West lifeline of the group, and always schlepping more than just your own. Now with building your new rig you'll need more grain. What size are you looking at, 1 bbl?

Tony and I have some ideas that will benefit all of us, but nothing drastic. Of course we're open to suggestions and input. PBW is easy, DME is a pain, and you know all about rice hulls.

It's not the price of the hulls, it's the huge brick sitting in the corner getting stale. I paid $1.50 a pound last time at Annapolis HB, which by the way has a huge selection of grain in stock. Over a 100 varieties and almost complete lines of Briess and Weyermann.

PS: I think you left some lawn bags on the table at 3 Stars.

 

[stonebrewer]

peter78: Just opened your pils after a loooong day watching flag football out in the heat. Wow! You brewed a fine beer! Love the hint of sweetness in the middle. Nicely done sir!

 

[reddskinnfan]

Mike, you're automatically acknowledged. You are the North-West extension of the group, and always schlepping more than just your own. Now with building your new rig you'll need more grain. What size are you looking at, 1 bbl?

Tony and I have some ideas that will benefit all of us, but nothing drastic. Of course we're open to suggestions and input. PBW is easy, DME is a pain, and you know all about rice hulls.

It's not the price of the hulls, it's the huge brick sitting in the corner getting stale. I paid $1.50 a pound last time at Annapolis HB, which by the way has a huge selection of grain in stock. Over a 100 varieties and almost complete lines of Briess and Weyermann.

PS: I think you left some lawn bags on the table at 3 Stars.

I will still be doing 10-12 gallon batches. Just building the new system as a direct-fired HERMS. I got a 1/2" x 50' coil that is getting installed in my HLT for heating strike/spare water and for regulating mash temps while doing recirculation mashes. I should also be able to do step mashes without having to heat the MT directly.

Also, I upgraded other components of my system:

I got the B3-36A 30 plate chiller from DudaDiesel. I had the B3-23A 30 plate version before (12" long) The new one is 19" long. The longer the plate chiller the more efficient and greater temp drop without restricting flow too much.

I also changed from a Jaybird-style FB to a PICO-style FB. I have read that the PICO FBs set up grain beds better for recirculation and less channeling, since the slots/holes cover only about 35% of the FB instead of 50% like the Jaybird. The dip tube is also below the FB, so you don't have to worry about grain sucking down near it and getting sucked up and getting into the pump or causing a stuck mash.

Last, but not least I am insulating my MT with reflectix and a cotton-based (made of recycled denim) insulation. Since I won't be direct-firing the MT, the insulation will help keep mash temps optimal and will help keep me from having to keep the HLT heated all the time. More heat retained means lower propane requirements.

 

[IslandLizard]

Yes thanks and now I need to buy a mill

[...] Monster mill II does it for me with the accessory base plate and hopper.

When I looked for a mill I did the research including reading bitching threads. I decided the Monster Mill MM2 (1.5" rollers) was the best performer for the price. I bought it with baseboard and standard hopper (no extension, I really can pour grains twice). The MDF baseboard works, but is a bit flimsy, so if you're handy, you probably want to replace it eventually with a homemade plywood one. The hopper is great, and I doubt a homemade version is worth the trouble, unless you're very good at it.

Buy it with the 1/2" shaft upgrade from the get go, since you'll want/need a <$50 Harbor Freight Low Speed drill to drive it. The one with the yellow speed control wheel!

Spare money to burn? Get the 2" roller version of the same. I think that's pretty ultimate for 2-roller models.

 

[reddskinnfan]

I have a MM-3 with the 1.5" rollers. Mine has the 3/8" drive and never had a single issue with it. I use an old corded Black & Decker drill for it. I run it at the lowest possible speed it will turn at.

Love the thing!

 

[peter78]

peter78: Just opened your pils after a loooong day watching flag football out in the heat. Wow! You brewed a fine beer! Love the hint of sweetness in the middle. Nicely done sir!

Happy to hear that. Always appreciate feedback on my beers. Thanks for running the group buy.


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[Mark_tries_brewing]

Thanks to everyone involved. This was my first buy and was sad not to be able to hang out since I was in a rush to make it out to Winchester for Hop Blossom. Sorry for being that guy. So it is okay to bring beers? I will try to remember and at least bring some bags. Later in the day on Saturday I took 1st place for my English Mild (hop blossom comp, Orfy's recipe and only my 4th brew) so hopefully I can bring the next batch or something else enjoyable.

 

[IslandLizard]

Thanks to everyone involved. This was my first buy and was sad not to be able to hang out since I was in a rush to make it out to Winchester for Hop Blossom. Sorry for being that guy. So it is okay to bring beers? I will try to remember and at least bring some bags. Later in the day on Saturday I took 1st place for my English Mild (hop blossom comp, Orfy's recipe and only my 4th brew) so hopefully I can bring the next batch or something else enjoyable.

Mark, I don't think that message was meant for you or anyone else in particular. It was more of a generalization of what is expected from participants. We all will have times we can't stay or come early to help out. That's life.

I actually stayed till the end and longer than originally intended, and although we missed the first hour and a half of the Guild's picnic, there was no shortage of beer or food, and I was still in time to enter my Belgian Wit. And glad I did, like yours, it also took first place!

Congrats on winning! Maybe we can have some beer tastings or swaps during our next pick up event. I don't think we stand alone in being interested in tasting each others' beer creations. I always look forward to our next brew club meeting (CRABS).

We had some excellent samples (Heady Topper clone and a nice Cider!) and it definitely added a club meeting flair to our split party. Besides, the rice hull wranglers really needed it.

 

[funnycreature]

It was fun hanging out on Saturday. My wife also enjoyed it and thought everybody was very nice. The kids had a great time! We got to buy some swag but wished we could have sampled some more beers...

Anyway, during my helping split the rice hulls I might have dropped my shades into one of the bags. So if anyone finds them please let me know! They're a pair of Ray Ban's. Thanks and see y'all next time!

 

[IslandLizard]

It was fun hanging out on Saturday. My wife also enjoyed it and thought everybody was very nice. The kids had a great time! We got to buy some swag but wished we could have sampled some more beers...

Anyway, during my helping split the rice hulls I might have dropped my shades into one of the bags. So if anyone finds them please let me know! They're a pair of Ray Ban's. Thanks and see y'all next time!

Yeah it was fun, wishing we had more time to hang out. Enjoyed seeing you, your wife and the kids.

Damn, I hoped you'd found them already. Good point on the rice hull sacks.
I just emptied out my rice hulls into another bag, your shades aren't in mine.

Someday I'll tell you what I did to my wedding ring... and where I found it after walking behind a metal detector for 3 days.

Everyone who got rice hulls, please, please, check for Sven's shades!
You got to pour or scoop it into another container or they'll stay hidden.
.

 

[shoshin]

Thanks again to IslandLizard and stonebrewer for organizing an excellent group buy. I'm all in for tastings and swaps during our next group buy.