I like this time at night on HBT

[BBL_Brewer]

Hey guys and gals. Merry Christmas and Happy Brewyear. New job sucks. Haven't brewed yet this winter. All kegs empty. Must turn grain into yummy goodness soon or I might actually lose my mind. So how are things around here?

 

[Dan]

Hi BBL, great to see you back. Sorry about the new job and I hope it gets better, you deserve that.

One of the best bits of brewing advice I've ever heard is quoted below.

Remember this?!

Wake up on brew day and mash up your grain.
Wait for the lauter and hope it will drain.
Fill up your kettle, but not to the top.
Boil and cool it but don't forget hops.
Smack it or crack it or rehydrate.
Swirl and pitch and then oxygenate.After it ferments and reaches FG.
Call up your buddies and drink two or three
-BBL_Brewer

 

[brewingmeister]

So how are things around here?

Like molasses in January. Slow and cold.

 

[Dan]

The first home brew I ever had, well aside from a kit my roomate and I made in Antarctica which if I remember correctly was a Nut Brown Ale he bought at a LHBS in Christchurch NZ. We heated water in a coffe pot, mixed in some DME, and a can of LME, I don't remember any hop additions. The LME was probably already hopped. We pitched the yeast, I have no idea at what temp, probably pretty warm. Stuck it under the bathroom sink for a few weeks, bottled, let it carbonate. From beginning to end probably 2-3 months. We brought some when I re-enlisted at Scott's Hut, down on the ice. Tasted great!

By the way, there is a frozen dead dog still on a leash in front of the hut. It's never less than freezing there. Everything is preserved. Read about Scott's Antarctic explorations. If I find the book I'll post.

The second time I had home brew was about 10 years later when I was stationed in Hawaii. A guy I worked with did all grain brewing. A few of us went to his house one Friday afternoon. We drank a few and drove home. Shouldn't have driven at that point but we did. I was listening to the radio on the ride back to my apartment and one of the guys that shouldn't have been driving either after that little taste test, was on a radio call in. I forget what the topic was, but I remember he said something like "back in the USA". Hell, we were in the USA, the guy had lived in Hawaii nearly 19years at the time. Guess he had a true feeling slip.

 

[Dan]

I took my car into the service station a few days ago to have the oil changed. The mechanic looked at the mileage and year of the car and mentioned its a lot of mileage. I don't think it is. I live in a large state and do much highway driving. The car is a 2010 and has just a few thousand miles over 100K on it. Still drives as well as did when new.

The last 5-6 weeks I've put around 3,000 miles on it. My son lives 300 miles south of me and my daughter 200 miles north. I've spent quite a bit of time on the CA roads visiting the kids during the holidays and my dauly drive to work and back with a little rubbing around is probably 50-60 miles a day. Not all that unreasonable here in CA.

Today I was driving back up to my youngest daughters apartment.

From where I live I go west on 198, then head north on 5, then west again on 152 which intersects with 156 in a westerly direction. Eventually I head south on 101 and then the 156 magically appears again and I head westerly again towards the Monterey peninsula.

Something occurred to me today for the first time ever, while listening to a CD of Tibetan meditation music on my car radio while driving through the peaks and valley of Hollister area.

If a freeway/interstate is an odd number it heads either north or south. By the same token if the freeway/interstate is an even number it is east-west bound. Only took me 34 years of driving to come to this revelation.

Another fun fact. On a car's gas gage there is an arrow pointing left or right. What're ever direction it points is the side the car's gas cap is on. Knowing this can avoid awkward situations at the gas pump in a car you're unfamiliar with a car, such as a rental.

 

[Melana]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System

Yup. They thought about it.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

My first batch of sauerkraut is in the fermenter. Can't wait to have the good stuff again.

 

[ChefRex]

My first batch of sauerkraut is in the fermenter. Can't wait to have the good stuff again.

What recipe did you use? I have been contemplating doing a batch myself.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

What recipe did you use? I have been contemplating doing a batch myself.

The bare-bones basic recipe, cabbage and salt. I got a head of green cabbage that weighed 3 lbs. The convention is 3 tbsp sea salt (non-iodized) to 5 lbs of cabbage, so I used 2 tbsp salt. Shredded the cabbage finely using a mandolin, added the salt, mashed and bruised the cabbage with my clean hands until the water came out of the cabbage, then packed it all into a gallon plastic container with lid (freebie corn muffin batter container from Whole Foods). Put a clean ceramic plate on the cabbage to keep it submerged, put the lid on loosely and put it in the corner of the kitchen counter.

 

[Dan]

TC, pics?

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

TC, pics?

There honestly isn't much to photograph Dan. It's really easy and obvious once you do it and put it all together. The cabbage volume reduces by a lot when you shred it and pound it with the added salt, it releases a lot of water. I thought my container would only fit one head, but I probably could have put in 2 or 3.

Everywhere I've read they say try to ferment the kraut in a cool area (under 70F), so I am keeping it in my kitchen in the low 60s.

 

[Dan]

I might just might try to make this. I love sauerkraut, especially on a Reuben sandwich!

 

[lschiavo]

Hey all. We had a great holiday and hope you all did as well. Gonna make some pizzas with the boys tonight. Wifey is out with the girls for her birthday. Hers is Monday. Mine is tomorrow. I don't want another birthday. Why do they keep coming? I hope for a nice day with the family, a roasted chicken dinner and the packers to win...I don't know about the last.

 

[Stauffbier]

Hey all. We had a great holiday and hope you all did as well. Gonna make some pizzas with the boys tonight. Wifey is out with the girls for her birthday. Hers is Monday. Mine is tomorrow. I don't want another birthday. Why do they keep coming? I hope for a nice day with the family, a roasted chicken dinner and the packers to win...I don't know about the last.

Happy birthday to you and the wifey! I know what you mean about how they keep coming. I don't care for it much either. Mine was Dec. 22nd..

 

[Stauffbier]

TC, thanks for sharing your sour kraut exploits. I hope to make my first batch soon as well.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

I might just might try to make this. I love sauerkraut, especially on a Reuben sandwich!

Good sauerkraut with roast pork loin and apples and onions, brings tears to my eyes thinking of it. Also good with grilled wurst and a little sharp mustard.

Is it done yet? <pokes fermenter>

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

TC, thanks for sharing your sour kraut exploits. I hope to make my first batch soon as well.

I'll throw out updates and maybe some pictures as it progresses. I suppose this is just like brewing; seems hard and mysterious until you actually do it and learn about the process, then it is a piece of cake (more or less).

The worst thing that could happen would be I made some rotten cabbage. Not the end of the world.

 

[Yooper]

Hey all. We had a great holiday and hope you all did as well. Gonna make some pizzas with the boys tonight. Wifey is out with the girls for her birthday. Hers is Monday. Mine is tomorrow. I don't want another birthday. Why do they keep coming? I hope for a nice day with the family, a roasted chicken dinner and the packers to win...I don't know about the last.

The Packers will win. I have my T-shirt ready (the one you gave me) and they never lose when I wear that shirt.

It's so bloody cold out that I'll have to wear both sets of longjohns underneath, though- the summerweight AND the winterweight ones.

I already knew tomorrow was your birthday- I was going to call you and wish you happy birthday. Now I'll just tell you and save the aggravation of mumbling into your voicemail.

 

[Stauffbier]

I'll throw out updates and maybe some pictures as it progresses. I suppose this is just like brewing; seems hard and mysterious until you actually do it and learn about the process, then it is a piece of cake (more or less).

The worst thing that could happen would be I made some rotten cabbage. Not the end of the world.

I'll look forward to your updates.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

Anybody happen to know where the AHA conference will be this year? I am bouncing around on business travel and am wondering if I'll be within shouting difference of it. I wished I went to Philly last year.

 

[Stauffbier]

I feel for all of you up north experiencing all the cold weather. We had a cold front the other day, which yielded a high temp of 55F! Today it was a very nice 67 degrees. I was brewing out back in my shorts today..

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

We have a heat wave coming tomorrow - 40F and rain.

The ice on the reservoir has been really good; the kids have cleared off rinks and have been skating out there for several days. After the rain we're supposed to get deep cold again, so the rinks should be perfect.

 

[Dan]

Ischiavo and Mrs Ischiavo and my good friend Mike. Happy Birthday!!

TC, I'm really looking forward to hearing how your kraut turns out

Yooper. Electric socks and those little hand warmers help a lot. A well insulated cap as well. Warm head warm feet and warm hands That's all you need, your body will be happy

 

[Stauffbier]

Thanks Dan!

Being a desert dweller my entire life I honestly had no idea they make electric socks! I learn something new everyday!

 

[lschiavo]

Happy birthday to you and the wifey! I know what you mean about how they keep coming. I don't care for it much either. Mine was Dec. 22nd..

Thank you and Happy belated! You start lighting that many candles and the fire department should be on standby.

The Packers will win. I have my T-shirt ready (the one you gave me) and they never lose when I wear that shirt.

It's so bloody cold out that I'll have to wear both sets of longjohns underneath, though- the summerweight AND the winterweight ones.

I already knew tomorrow was your birthday- I was going to call you and wish you happy birthday. Now I'll just tell you and save the aggravation of mumbling into your voicemail.

I feel better that you're wearing the shirt. One of the boys broke a packer glass the other day. If they win, we will be breaking one before every game

Sounds like potential -50 wind chill coming? This winter sucks!

Thank you. I still hope you will call. I only don't answer when the kids are playing games on my phone. Which is usually...

I feel for all of you up north experiencing all the cold weather. We had a cold front the other day, which yielded a high temp of 55F! Today it was a very nice 67 degrees. I was brewing out back in my shorts today..

FU!

Ischiavo and Mrs Ischiavo and my good friend Mike. Happy Birthday!!

TC, I'm really looking forward to hearing how your kraut turns out

Yooper. Electric socks and those little hand warmers help a lot. A well insulated cap as well. Warm head warm feet and warm hands That's all you need, your body will be happy

Thanks Dan! It's Leon and Niki to you friend

Thanks Dan!

Being a desert dweller my entire life I honestly had no idea they make electric socks! I learn something new everyday!

Mine are 480V industrial. The cord is really heavy and you can't get far from the transformer so I rarely wear them.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

Happy birthday to you and the wifey! I know what you mean about how they keep coming. I don't care for it much either. Mine was Dec. 22nd..

Another Christmas season baby here, I just rolled to 40 on Dec. 20th.

 

[Stauffbier]

Another Christmas season baby here, I just rolled to 40 on Dec. 20th.

Happy belated bro! It's all downhill from 40! haha..

 

[lschiavo]

Another Christmas season baby here, I just rolled to 40 on Dec. 20th.

Happy birthday! Not far behind me in years. I have never done kraut yet but usually do a spring batch of kimchi. I just eat kraut straight from the can. I get to nose around in old basements sometimes in my line of work and am looking to score an old crock. That sounds kinda dirty

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

I'd love to get a hold of a pickling crock, but a few hundred bucks for something that really just needs a food-grade container and a towel to ferment a few bucks of cabbage and pickles, well, I'm not seeing it. I should start hitting the flea markets to see what I can find, but I don't need that much junk and don't know if it would be worth the effort. If one fell into my hands, that would be another story.

Reminds me of a story when SWMBO and I moved into our current home. My mother-in-law gave us a very nice folding plant stand. We set it up and wished that we had a larger one to accompany it across the room. After a day of unpacking, we went for a walk in town and, to our surprise, there was a larger version of this very stand (perfect match, same company, color, everything, completely intact) just leaning against a dumpster behind an apartment complex. I never felt elated and spooked at the same time before, but I did then.

It was a Festivus miracle I tell you!

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

Stauffbier - what is your line of work that lets you nose around in other people's basements? Are you digging the Panama canal down there?