I like this time at night on HBT

[Leadgolem]

Here's the avatar sized images. My favorite for an avatar would have to be the black and white with the hat. It's up to you though.

 

[Leadgolem]

LG, You'e a very creative person no doubt about that. I cant wait till you lsy your hand at beer!

Why thank you Dan. I do think I should find something I really enjoy in the beer world first. Though I've got a good list of suggestions.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

Did I see you mention that you were considering doing an extract wild beer?

Yep. I'm getting the Brett in this Tuesday probably.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

I've heard the Cuvee Geuze has gone down hill. Not that it's bad, but not as good as when they were releasing vintage dated bottles from 90s in the early 2000s.

Yeah, as demand increases they are putting some pretty young stuff on the shelves. It would probably be best to buy up a bunch and cellar it for a while. I still like it as it is a pretty aggressive sour. I kinda like a good mouth-puckering sourness.

 

[TNGabe]

Yep. I'm getting the Brett in this Tuesday probably.

Bust out the mash tun instead. I wouldn't make blue cheese from dried milk and I won't make wild beers from extract. I don't even like to use it for starters for brett. I've borrowed a friends ginormous pressure canner and am canning a 5 gallon batch of wort this week so I'll be set on wort for starters for at least a couple weeks.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

LG, I was just trying to be funny by changing my avatar to black and white. Didn't mean for you to go to trouble, however those are awesome! Thank you.

 

[opus345]

LG, I was just trying to be funny by changing my avatar to black and white. Didn't mean for you to go to trouble, however those are awesome! Thank you.

Definitely Rat Pack.

 

[bottlebomber]

LG, I was just trying to be funny by changing my avatar to black and white. Didn't mean for you to go to trouble, however those are awesome! Thank you.

It's obviously something he enjoys, so I doubt there was much trouble involved

 

[Stauffbier]

For 5 gallons it was
4.5 lbs cane sugar mixed with 1/2 cup of lemon juice and quart of water, boiled to 225 degrees to invert
1 lb lactose
1/2 cup vanilla extract
1/2 almond extract

I'm not sure if you need to invert the sugar, but the lemon juice definitely needs to be there.

I want to make some fierce ginger beer next.

This sounds really good. I've never made soda. Forgive me if my question is silly, but I'm assuming you add this mixture to 5 gallons of water and then force carb in a keg?

Also is that 1/2 cup of almond extract? Is it a store bought extract, or do you make your own like the vanilla?

 

[bottlebomber]

This sounds really good. I've never made soda. Forgive me if my question is silly, but I'm assuming you add this mixture to 5 gallons of water and then force carb in a keg?

Also is that 1/2 cup of almond extract? Is it a store bought extract, or do you make your own like the vanilla?

The sugar syrup and other ingredients add volume, I just stuck it in a keg and filled it until it was at ~5 gallons. Oh, and the lactose needs to be added in to the sugar syrup at the end until it becomes clear. Lactose is harder to dissolve so it really needs the heat. It was a half OUNCE of almond extract, store bought, McCormick brand. A half cup would knock your socks off, this amount just kind of plays on the vanilla flavor. Nobody noticed it until I pointed it out.

 

[Stauffbier]

The sugar syrup and other ingredients add volume, I just stuck it in a keg and filled it until it was at ~5 gallons. Oh, and the lactose needs to be added in to the sugar syrup at the end until it becomes clear. Lactose is harder to dissolve so it really needs the heat. It was a half OUNCE of almond extract, store bought, McCormick brand. A half cup would knock your socks off, this amount just kind of plays on the vanilla flavor. Nobody noticed it until I pointed it out.

Thanks! I'm going to make this as soon as I have an empty keg. My daughter will love it!

One last question... When you make vanilla extract are you making a tincture with alcohol like vodka or something, or is it a water based extract?

 

[bottlebomber]

Thanks! I'm going to make this as soon as I have an empty keg. My daughter will love it!

One last question... When you make vanilla extract are you making a tincture with alcohol like vodka or something, or is it a water based extract?

I used 8 or 10 Tahitian vanilla beans, halved and cut into pieces and put with a 1/5th of Myers dark rum for some months, shook weekly. Stuff is amazing, I'll never buy extract again. The beans can be had from a well known seller on eBay for a fraction of the cost of anything you'd buy retail. I don't think water would be safe for making extract, I think it could easily mold or not extract properly.

 

[emjay]

Thanks bb you jerk, your advice caused me to just spend over $2000 on stuff for a ferm chamber and a brewery control panel.

My eHERMS brewery is going to be bling as hell, but I may be in a bit over my head on the electronics stuff.

 

[emjay]

With all the Blichmann and commercial stuff I'm probably into it around 7 grand. Wouldn't be surprised if I ended up near 10, though most of the expensive stuff is out of the way.

I should probably start a build thread soon...

 

[Stauffbier]

I used 8 or 10 Tahitian vanilla beans, halved and cut into pieces and put with a 1/5th of Myers dark rum for some months, shook weekly. Stuff is amazing, I'll never buy extract again. The beans can be had from a well known seller on eBay for a fraction of the cost of anything you'd buy retail. I don't think water would be safe for making extract, I think it could easily mold or not extract properly.

That sounds great! Thanks again!

 

[bottlebomber]

Thanks bb you jerk, your advice caused me to just spend over $2000 on stuff for a ferm chamber and a brewery control panel.

My eHERMS brewery is going to be bling as hell, but I may be in a bit over my head on the electronics stuff.

Hey, don't blame me Charlie.. I am the last person who is going to advocate a ferm chamber as an essential. As far as the rest of it, if you are going to go bling you may as well go bling bling. Don't forget the stainless steel range hood and ventilation fan while you have the credit card out

 

[bottlebomber]

That sounds great! Thanks again!

No problem bro. This is the seller
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=290678146987

And I can vouch that these beans are fat and juicy, superior to anything you can normally buy at a store. 30 beans for $10 is a steal. Also, if you buy enough, they throw in some packs of beans for free. Pretty cool.

 

[TNGabe]

Hey, don't blame me Charlie.. I am the last person who is going to advocate a ferm chamber as an essential. As far as the rest of it, if you are going to go bling you may as well go bling bling. Don't forget the stainless steel range hood and ventilation fan while you have the credit card out

Not that it needs to cost more than a temp controller and an old fridge, but I can't think of much that is more important than controlling fermentation temperature.

 

[Stauffbier]

No problem bro. This is the seller
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=290678146987

And I can vouch that these beans are fat and juicy, superior to anything you can normally buy at a store. 30 beans for $10 is a steal. Also, if you buy enough, they throw in some packs of beans for free. Pretty cool.

Awesome! I just ordered some. Can I freeze the remainder of the beans that don't go in to the extract?

 

[Dan]

LG, I was just trying to be funny by changing my avatar to black and white. Didn't mean for you to go to trouble, however those are awesome! Thank you.

And then there were four
Likely there are more
I'd put it at five or six
Maybe more In the mix
TxBrew, I truly believe was the first one
Of future classic avatars to come

More bad, Dan rhyme. ; )

 

[Leadgolem]

LG, I was just trying to be funny by changing my avatar to black and white. Didn't mean for you to go to trouble, however those are awesome! Thank you.

I know, that's why I did it.

It's obviously something he enjoys, so I doubt there was much trouble involved

I enjoy dorking around with graphics once in a while. It's one of my many hobbies. I almost made the mistake of trying to do it professionally. When I actually have to do it, I don't enjoy it

Ha, the guy selling the vanilla beans should pay you for advertising for him. I'm going to get some here in a minute too.

 

[Dan]

Hi everybody

Today. Is my day to relax. Last thing I can do because im not equipped for at this moment, is brew.

I read with great Interest your brewing experiments and accomplishments; you guys share so many good Ideas and give me hope for future days. Forgive me please for not adding something useful to this thread, all I seem to be able to do is write bad poetry. Im okay with that. ; )

Today is my day to chill. Dont know why but having a Star Wars movie marathon! Not to sure what order to watch them. I have so far watched and In this order: VI, V, IV, III , II

Cheers!

 

[Leadgolem]

I picked up 5 22x20" round pots, and 15 yards of potting soil today. I also got a 100" roll of commercial landscaping fabric. That's really for something else though. My mother has been having trouble bending over to week the garden beds. These should be tall enough that won't be an issue. The original plan was to put styrofoam in the bottom, cover that with landscaping fabric, and fill the top with soil.

Instead, I'm going to drill holes in the bottom of the pots. Put landscaping fabric in the bottom, and fill them with potting soil. My Mom started talking about putting root crops in them. That's fine, but there is a 2" decorative collar on the top and root crops really need 18" of soil. I'll probably need some more potting soil, but that's better then having to setup the pots again.

 

[bottlebomber]

Not that it needs to cost more than a temp controller and an old fridge, but I can't think of much that is more important than controlling fermentation temperature.

I can't either. That's why I bought a deep ice chest and a couple of water bottles for all of my temperature control needs I can ferment lagers in the summertime and it holds it easily to within 2 degrees.

Awesome! I just ordered some. Can I freeze the remainder of the beans that don't go in to the extract?

I think you probably could, but you may want to reseal them again even if its just holding the edge of the bag between two flat things and running a lighter across the seam. They seem to dry out really quickly, I think it's alcohol that keeps them moist.

Ha, the guy selling the vanilla beans should pay you for advertising for him. I'm going to get some here in a minute too.

Look at all that he carries, I think he sells some variety packs of different grades and origins.

Hi everybody

Today. Is my day to relax. Last thing I can do because im not equipped for at this moment, is brew.

Good to hear it brother, you can't have all work and no play.

 

[emjay]

Don't forget the stainless steel range hood and ventilation fan while you have the credit card out

Noob that's the first thing I did, ages ago. With a stainless commercial 2-compartment pot-washing sink w/ pre-rinse arm and add on nozzle.

All that was another 2 Gs

 

[bottlebomber]

Noob that's the first thing I did, ages ago. With a stainless commercial 2-compartment pot-washing sink w/ pre-rinse arm and add on nozzle.

All that was another 2 Gs

Damn, and all that in a 600 sq ft cottage.. At least when you need to keep the house warm in the winter you can just brew.

 

[emjay]

Damn, and all that in a 600 sq ft cottage.. At least when you need to keep the house warm in the winter you can just brew.

600 Sq ft? You're thinking of Juan. My place is fairly large, though I do have a roommate. All of this is going in a single room in the basement though, along with my PC and home theater.

 

[beaksnbeer]

Awesome! I just ordered some. Can I freeze the remainder of the beans that don't go in to the extract?

Before you buy check out Vanilla Products USA

 

[bottlebomber]

600 Sq ft? You're thinking of Juan. My place is fairly large, though I do have a roommate. All of this is going in a single room in the basement though, along with my PC and home theater.

Frikkin childless day trader tycoon...

 

[Stauffbier]

Before you buy check out Vanilla Products USA

Thanks, but it's too late. I already ordered it. If BB loves it, then I'm sure I will too.