I like this time at night on HBT

[Leadgolem]

I'm just weird enough to like that. I like chocolate covered espresso beans. Have you ever had those?

I've had those, they are pretty good. I think the crunch of the coffee bean is really what keeps them from being fantastic though. Usually the bean is so hard it's a little difficult to eat.

The flavor is really good though. The chocolate was good too, I just didn't care for the texture.

 

[Dan]

Not much Dan. Work has been slow for a couple weeks, so I've been bumming around.

The weather is nice here right now too, but it's starting to get hot. Once it hits 100 degrees around here people don't come out of their homes. We're at the mid 90's now. I imagine by next week we'll start hitting 100. I need to get the second evap cooler on my roof running before that happens.

How have you been my friend? Have you brewed lately?

I hear ya Mike. The last two weeks have been very nice here. May, is in this part of the country is our nicest month. By the weekend it is suppose to get up to 102 on Saturday, and 104 Sunday.

I haven't brewed lately but do have some grains and hops so need to soon. I have had a few people inquire about brewing here lately so maybe I'll give them a lesson soon.

Trying to find a job in Hawaii, no luck yet.

Here's a song I was going to post on the country thread, but instead, think I'll post it here. This is a beer forum!

 

[Dan]

I've had those, they are pretty good. I think the crunch of the coffee bean is really what keeps them from being fantastic though. Usually the bean is so hard it's a little difficult to eat.

The flavor is really good though. The chocolate was good too, I just didn't care for the texture.

If first you don't succeed, try, try, again. They are good. Maybe give them another chance.

 

[Stauffbier]

I've had those, they are pretty good. I think the crunch of the coffee bean is really what keeps them from being fantastic though. Usually the bean is so hard it's a little difficult to eat.

The flavor is really good though. The chocolate was good too, I just didn't care for the texture.

I was a bit put off by the texture at first, too. I think it's kind of an acquired texture. You have to accept that coffee grounds in your mouth isn't weird. Once I did that I got past the texture. I've also found that some are more of a light crunch while other brands are harder on the teeth. I think the trick is roasting the snot out of the beans first!

I hear ya Mike. The last two weeks have been very nice here. May, is in this part of the country is our nicest month. By the weekend it is suppose to get up to 102 on Saturday, and 104 Sunday.

I haven't brewed lately but do have some grains and hops so need to soon. I have had a few people inquire about brewing here lately so maybe I'll give them a lesson soon.

Trying to find a job in Hawaii, no luck yet.

I've been cutting back on brewing for the last couple of months. I was making way too much beer there for a while. I do fight the itch, though.

It sounds like a cool idea to teach friends to brew. I've actually never brewed with another person before. In the beginning I was to pre-occupied to do that. Now I tend to feel like it's my zen time, so I like doing it alone. I wouldn't mind sharing with someone now, though. I'm comfortable with the entire process these days, so I'm no longer pre-occupied to the point of not being able to teach someone to brew.

I'm sure something will come up in Hawaii eventually.

 

[Leadgolem]

If first you don't succeed, try, try, again. They are good. Maybe give them another chance.

Oh, I've got a bag of them in my drawer at work. They are good if I pick me up.

I really should try the chocolate again. Though I think I'd like to try adding a liquid flavoring instead of powdered coffee. Expresso powder had sort of the same problem as ground coffee. It stayed in little pieces in the chocolate until the water of your tongue hit it. Then you have instant uber strength coffee on your tongue. Not unpleasant exactly, just not up to my personal standard.

I also found that I can order powdered pure caffeine. I would need a scale that is accurate in fractions of a gram to use that stuff though. It's ridiculously powerful.

 

[Leadgolem]

Hmm, I believe I managed to get tipsy off of a bottle of baileys. Huh, I don't usually have any problem with liquors...

 

[snaps10]

Try the Starbucks instant coffee. It's miles ahead of the old freeze dried stuff.

 

[Stauffbier]

Oh, I've got a bag of them in my drawer at work. They are good if I pick me up.

I really should try the chocolate again. Though I think I'd like to try adding a liquid flavoring instead of powdered coffee. Expresso powder had sort of the same problem as ground coffee. It stayed in little pieces in the chocolate until the water of your tongue hit it. Then you have instant uber strength coffee on your tongue. Not unpleasant exactly, just not up to my personal standard.

I also found that I can order powdered pure caffeine. I would need a scale that is accurate in fractions of a gram to use that stuff though. It's ridiculously powerful.

Why not put instant coffee or the like in the ice cream mix, but make a hot custard type of mix that has to be chilled before churning. I know a lot of chocolate ice cream recipes are cooked first. If I remember correct a lot of them have egg in the recipe just like a true custard. Then the instant coffee would blend nicely.

 

[BobbiLynn]

Drinking my first beer/alcoholic beverage in 4 or 5 days, back in the city tonight. Now I can relax, have a couple brews. I have to get a lot of computer work done, take back my website, and figured I'd get more done here than being on the farm with all the distractions. Hubby is okay, one of my best friends have taken over checking on him every day, at least a phone call, but most days stopping by. Family is giving him a wide girth. He is weak, tired, frustrated. But, anger seems to be under control since his doctor and nurses had a talk with him.

One of the roommates is away for a couple weeks, so my son is using his room, and I am using my son's room. I left beer here, and found almost $60.00 waiting for me in the penny bank made from an empty oatmeal container. Anyone besides my son and immediate roommates were asked to leave a dollar a beer they take(a tip). The batch my son and his friends brewed up is looking good. Not sure if the tip jar is legal, but I did tell my son "no minors".

Before leaving the farm, I got everything fermentable in the house fermenting. 5 or 6 containers of opened juices in the bottom of the fridge, poured them all into a fermenter, along with some grape, orange, and strawberry flavored soda, almost 4 gallons. The sodas do contain a preservative but I think I got it diluted enough to make it work. Was still actively fermenting when I left. Tasted it prior to adding the wine yeast and it was very good. Everything from prune juice to OJ to tropical blend to flavored sugary soda, Fanta. Should be interesting.

That's all going on here. So glad to hear everyone else seems to be doing very well also.

 

[Leadgolem]

I was going to buy some stuff on amazon, but managed to close the tab by mistake. I think I'll go to bed and place the order while entirely sober later, or not...

 

[Dan]

Stauffbier, seems to me to be quite a humble fellow but is very creative and master brewer. I'm thinking his beer brewing and ability to make good things.. food, beer, furniture. Gonna pay off for him in the end.

Remember. I predicted that first.

Goodnight, bedtime for me.

Gotta go offlne for awhile now.

Dan

 

[Leadgolem]

Why not put instant coffee or the like in the ice cream mix, but make a hot custard type of mix that has to be chilled before churning. I know a lot of chocolate ice cream recipes are cooked first. If I remember correct a lot of them have egg in the recipe just like a true custard. Then the instant coffee would blend nicely.

I've made a few custard type ice creams. I like them a lot actually. The only real difference is that when you make custard ice cream the proportion of egg yolks to milk is lower. That, and sometimes custard have other thickeners added.

Peace brothers, and good night.

 

[Stauffbier]

Stauffbier, seems to me to be quite a humble fellow but is very creative and master brewer. I'm thinking his beer brewing and ability to make good things.. food, beer, furniture. Gonna pay off for him in the end.

Remember. I predicted that first.

Goodnight, bedtime for me.

Gotta go offlne for awhile now.

Dan

Thanks brother! You're too kind my friend!

Have a good night Dan!

 

[Dan]

I was going to go to bed. I didn't. I don't sleep well these days for many reasons. Proabably mostly cause my wife is not here. she is not dead, we just have a weird relationship. Geographical bachelor in my military days. I'm no longer in the service... now it's just weird to live apart.

My youngest daughter (19) is tonight at Moro Bay Beach with some friends. That's a nice place, took my family there a good number of times.

Honestly, my daughter is more mature than me, and only chooses good friends. Still, I worry about her. I know she won't make bad decisions but guys will. I personally wish every guy she met was gay. At least for a few years more.

I'm sure she'll be just fine. I worry to much. Is that a father's curse? Who is good enough for my daughter?

I get to know her friends and they seem to be pretty good folks. For whatever reason about half of them are afraid of me. I don't like that, it's deceptive.

I said I was going offline earlier.

Anybody out there have some good advice? How do you get through watching your young one grow up and moving into this great big world?

Believe it or not, I have tthree children older than my youngest. All three are good people and off on their own now and living life on their own. Doing well. The youngest, I have no idea how to make sure she has a good life. What I mean is, she does have a very good life. I just don't want her to ever be hurt.

 

[BobbiLynn]

You can't control all that stuff, Dan. And normal for your kids' friends to have a healthy respect/fear of you. Well, that's normal in my life anyway. We're the parents, they should be scared if they cross our kids.

I feel so relaxed tonight, I know I'll sleep good when I go lie down. But just 32 more pages to check. I'm just chilling, drinking a little, working on my site, checking links.

Also, I may have figured out how to make a beer like Coors light or Bud light. 2-row and table sugar, in the right balance, light on the hops. Tastes awful in the beginning, and actually tastes pretty bad even in the end, but it's drinkable by most people.

 

[Dan]

You can't control all that stuff, Dan. And normal for your kids' friends to have a healthy respect/fear of you. Well, that's normal in my life anyway. We're the parents, they should be scared if they cross our kids.

I feel so relaxed tonight, I know I'll sleep good when I go lie down. But just 32 more pages to check. I'm just chilling, drinking a little, working on my site, checking links.

Also, I may have figured out how to make a beer like Coors light or Bud light. 2-row and table sugar, in the right balance, light on the hops. Tastes awful in the beginning, and actually tastes pretty bad even in the end, but it's drinkable by most people.

I know you're right about raising kids stuff.

Your beer.. ewh. Not really. I love BuD and Coors. We might both get banned for saying that. Oh well.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

, I may have figured out how to make a beer like Coors light or Bud light. 2-row and table sugar, in the right balance, light on the hops. Tastes awful in the beginning, and actually tastes pretty bad even in the end, but it's drinkable by most people.

Here ya go...https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f62/miller-lite-really-triple-hopped-123937/index17.html

 

[Stauffbier]

Dan, I'm just like you when it comes to my daughter (20). I worry about her constantly. Like your daughter, she is very responsible, but I still worry. I don't worry about her getting in to trouble. I just worry about unwanted trouble finding her instead. She has a fiancé, and I have to admit I like the kid. He dotes over her, and he treats her very well. He's very hard working and responsible. He lives in another town 3 hours away, so he comes in every other weekend and stays with us so they can see each other. This past weekend he showed up and handed me a nice, fairly expensive cigar and said "here ya go sir. I got this for you.".. I was impressed by that. The other boyfriends my daughter had when she was younger were never that generous or social with me. I think I'll let this one stick around without shooting him!

 

[BobbiLynn]

Here ya go...https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f62/miller-lite-really-triple-hopped-123937/index17.html

I'm not sure why I brewed the crappy beer, it has almost no color, well, about the color of a bud light. Probably would have been closer had I used a combination of 6-row and 2-row. The sugar I added was raw sugar, the stuff that is large brown granules. I guess because I had the huge bag of 2-row and wondered what would happen if I just mashed that with a couple pounds of raw sugar. Also had some extra hops in the freezer, northern brewer and cluster, an ounce of each. Just something I threw together. It's not that bad, but it's not that good either.

So there are these 2 guys that I met here in the city, both about my age, met them separately and both have been calling me ever since. Kelvin is the really nice, intellectual guy and Jonathan, the hot guy. But a couple days ago, while still on the farm, I told them both to back off, I wasn't interested in a date. Kelvin was really nice about it, told me to keep his number and call anytime. Said just being friends and hanging out as friends was fine with him, he respects my wishes. Jonathan, on the other hand, got a little pissy about it, said "Don't worry, I'll never call you again". Said I led him on and wasted his time. What an *******. I didn't intend to lead either one of them on, it was just nice to have new people to talk to. People that only knew me for who I am today, no past baggage. At the time I met them both, I was really pissed at hubby, but I am not pissed anymore. Glad I never actually agreed to a date with either of them, though I had many opportunities. The attention was nice but the thought of "crossing the line" was not.

 

[Stauffbier]

When I was married I found myself in a similar situation a couple times. Like you, I stayed faithful to my wife at the time. We later divorced after 6 years of very difficult marriage. I stayed faithful the entire time, in spite of the fact I really was very unhappy. Good on you for doing the right thing Bobbi.

 

[BobbiLynn]

Yeah, no sense in complicating things that are already complicated. I want to see things through, "'til death do us part", if possible. I know I am defending his actions, but hubby really is a good guy. He just got angry, angry about so many things. If someone told me I only had a 4% chance of living more than a year or 2, and that my last days would be spent feeling ill all the time, I'd probably be pretty angry too. He just needs time to gather his thoughts. He didn't get to the doctor soon enough after he started having problems. But, not because I didn't beg him to go in for the tests. He thought he was so strong and bullet-proof. Symptoms started with pain in his lower back, then problems going to the bathroom, having to take laxatives all the time. Turned out to be a grapefruit sized tumor. After radiation and chemo, they shrunk it down to the size of a "small apple", which was removed via surgery. But, by then, it had spread. Taking over his body. They are now trying to treat him with more aggressive chemo, but it's taking it's toll on him. Hubby says that he isn't sure whether the chemo or the cancer will kill him first.

 

[Stauffbier]

I have a lot of compassion for your husband and what he is going through. I also have compassion for you. It's not an easy situation, and there's no textbook way to deal with it. I imagine if I was in your husbands shoes I'd be quite angry, as well. My best wishes go out to him and to you as well Bobbi.

 

[Dan]

+1 to what Stauffbier said. I can't even begin to imagine the mental anguish the two of you are dealing with, not to mention the physical pain. I'd say you have dealt with an extremely tough situation very well.

 

[Dan]

I was just out in the garage and opened up the chest freezer which I have set at 30 degrees. I have a bucket of beer in there, been there a few months, sorta forgot about it. I lifted the lid and was surprised to see a thin layer of krausen that hadn't fallen. Usually after a few weeks at that temp the beer is clear and all krausen gone. Not this one. I tasted a sample... Yeck!! It was acidic, quite putrid actually. I think this is going to be my first dumper. I'll probably wait another month just for the heck of it but I don't think this one is going to get better.

EDIT I just looked over my notes and this one fermented at room temps, no room in ferm chamber. I think the room got pretty warm a few times, over 83 so I believe what I'm tasting is fusel alcohols. A spicy, sharp, overpowering alcohol flavor. It's nasty.

 

[SharonaZamboni]

+1 to what Stauffbier said. I can't even begin to imagine the mental anguish the two of you are dealing with, not to mention the physical pain. I'd say you have dealt with an extremely tough situation very well.

Agreed. I hope your hubby can let go of the anger and find peace.

Too bad about the beer, Dan.

 

[BobbiLynn]

I have a lot of compassion for your husband and what he is going through.

It does make me a little mad when people unfamiliar with the situation say, "There is no excuse for his behavior, you need to leave him and don't feel guilty about it." Well, things are more complicated than that. Sometimes, maybe people do have an excuse for their actions. He is coming to a realization. A transition period for him, trying to grasp what is happening to him. The range of feelings he is going through include anger and that is okay. I am closest to him and if he feels anger, I am the most likely target, and the person most likely to understand. I am not playing into it or making him think it's okay to treat me badly. When he gets mad, I walk away. When he calms down, I'm back. Dealing with his own internal turmoil is going to take time. I just have to be patient.

 

[Stauffbier]

That's understandable Bobbi. You're a very wise person my friend. Hang in there! We're all rooting for your husband and you.

 

[emjay]

I was just out in the garage and opened up the chest freezer which I have set at 30 degrees. I have a bucket of beer in there, been there a few months, sorta forgot about it. I lifted the lid and was surprised to see a thin layer of krausen that hadn't fallen. Usually after a few weeks at that temp the beer is clear and all krausen gone. Not this one. I tasted a sample... Yeck!! It was acidic, quite putrid actually. I think this is going to be my first dumper. I'll probably wait another month just for the heck of it but I don't think this one is going to get better.

EDIT I just looked over my notes and this one fermented at room temps, no room in ferm chamber. I think the room got pretty warm a few times, over 83 so I believe what I'm tasting is fusel alcohols. A spicy, sharp, overpowering alcohol flavor. It's nasty.

When I read that a thin layer of krausen still hadn't fallen, I immediately thought, "it's probably a pellicle". Your description seems to confirm it. Fusels don't taste acidic and putrid - infections do.

 

[snaps10]

Emjay,
I agree.

Sounds like lacto to me.

 

[BobbiLynn]

Yeah, something doesn't seem right about that beer, Dan.

Tonight I had the apartment to myself, got bored of working so I walked across the hallway to visit with the neighbors. I knocked and they yelled "Come in". So I did and they were surprised to see me, I have met them before in passing. An actual family, not college kids. 3 generations living in a 3 bedroom apartment. I guess many people are raised to live in an apartment and live in apartments all their lives. I find that to be odd, and interesting. Everyone came out to the living room to see who was visiting and engaged me in conversation. The girls are probably 8 and 11 y/o, then there are the parents and grandmother. Really enjoyed myself, they tried to feed me even, and when I left the lady of the house walked me out and to my door, then we chatted in the hallway a while longer. She's big into women being empowered and stuff like that. She thinks I'm a little lost right now. And said come back any time.

Getting to know the neighbors. I wonder what percentage of the neighbors, if I knocked on their door, would yell "come in", or if they would just crack the door open to see what I wanted. The neighbors I visited today, I met the mother at the mailboxes and realized we were across the hallway from each other. If I meet any more neighbors at the mailboxes and get them to give me their apt. #, I might knock on their door one day. I didn't, and don't plan to tell my son I visited with the neighbors. He would probably think it's weird and I'm trying to stay low key while here in the city.