IOWA Brewers! Echo, Echo, Echo...

[EZCyclone]

I set up and operate finish grinders. The company I work for specializes in gears and gear shafts.

Fun fun! I just sold mine. I will have to tell you a fun story about it sometime.

 

[gwapogorilla]

So.....where does everyone buy their grains?

 

[andrewmaixner]

So.....where does everyone buy their grains?

LHBS in Marion.

 

[Braufessor]

LHBS in Decorah.

 

[EZCyclone]

Beer crazy in Urbandale for local stuff. I order direct for the bulk of my needs.

 

[EZCyclone]

Well I got my kegs! Made a trip up north by WL and got 5 gently used perfect kegs for $150! Makes for a pretty damn good day. Ordered my new stout faucet today, and disconnected for all the kegs. Now I'm going to build a device that lets me push nitro beers without the need for nitro. It's been a good week I'd say.

 

[gwapogorilla]

Being in Maquoketa, there isn't anyplace "right next door". So I have been to quite a few shops and done the "Mail order" thing as well.
Most of my grain(I have a bunch) was bought direct from Midwest supplies via mail. But I did make a trip up to the twin cities a while ago and stopped at Northern brewer and bought bulk bags there.
Since I work in Dubuque, I find myself going to the LHBS there called "Brewhaus". The owner knows me by name and is great guy. But, he only deals in Briess. I am actually pretty fond of imported malts, so I travel around.
Been to the LHBS shop in East Davenport a few times....4 to be exact. It's called "Camp McClellan". Each time I have walked into that shop, I have walked out disappointed and frustrated. I have sworn that store off for life.Grrrrr!
I recently found "BIY" in Marion. I haven't been there yet, but I have a few things on order. I have talked with Joe a few times on the phone, he has been very helpful and polite.
I also have been to "beer crazy" in Urbandale. I went there about a year ago when in the Des Moines area. I liked it also, but they were out of the rye I was after. Bummer.
Even went to C and S brew supply in Ankeny. He just get into the business when I was there, so his supply was limited. But he was a great guy. At the time he only stock Briess, not sure if he has expanded yet.

 

[Braufessor]

Yeah - it can be tough finding places where you can get good varieities of bulk grains. Before Decorah got a store, I had a good friend bring me grain from the Twin Cities whenever he visited. The Decorah store is relatively small, but he can get a great variety of grain - Crisp, Fawcett, Weyerman, Rahr, Briess, etc. I try to plan far enough ahead and let him know what I will be needing a month or so out that way it is ordered by the time I need it if it is not in stock already.

Shipping is killer though, so driving to find a reliable place of find someone who can pick up grain for you is a necessity.

 

[LoneTreeFarms]

atleast you guys have a store. I'm in FD and the wife is from NW Iowa, and there is absolutely nothing near me or the direction that I seem to travel in most. I have gone to Beer Crazy when in Dsm and even bent over for Chesters Coin in Ames a few times out of sheer convenience, but for the most part I have to order online even 15bucks shipping is cheaper than the travelling cost to a LHBS.

 

[30Bones]

Being in Maquoketa, there isn't anyplace "right next door". So I have been to quite a few shops and done the "Mail order" thing as well.
Most of my grain(I have a bunch) was bought direct from Midwest supplies via mail. But I did make a trip up to the twin cities a while ago and stopped at Northern brewer and bought bulk bags there.
Since I work in Dubuque, I find myself going to the LHBS there called "Brewhaus". The owner knows me by name and is great guy. But, he only deals in Briess. I am actually pretty fond of imported malts, so I travel around.
Been to the LHBS shop in East Davenport a few times....4 to be exact. It's called "Camp McClellan". Each time I have walked into that shop, I have walked out disappointed and frustrated. I have sworn that store off for life.Grrrrr!
I recently found "BIY" in Marion. I haven't been there yet, but I have a few things on order. I have talked with Joe a few times on the phone, he has been very helpful and polite.
I also have been to "beer crazy" in Urbandale. I went there about a year ago when in the Des Moines area. I liked it also, but they were out of the rye I was after. Bummer.
Even went to C and S brew supply in Ankeny. He just get into the business when I was there, so his supply was limited. But he was a great guy. At the time he only stock Briess, not sure if he has expanded yet.

BIY is awesome to have around. He is a genuine guy with real good knowledge, he even has a N Liberty store now.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

when we go down to Spirit Lake, sometimes I get stuff from OBC. I haven't been in for a long time though.

 

[EZCyclone]

So since I'm snowed in I'm prepping my rec room to start my bar build, which is below.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f252/its-time-my-bar-build-510158/

I've been playing with so many different projects this week, I'm going in circles. But am always moving forward I guess. Have been playing around with the laser, and trying to figure out the keezer set up, where I will have 5 kegs (maybe six) and 10 2 liter bottles or soda syrup for my bar gun. Also I'm going to have room for about 100 bottles of beer in easy access.

I'm going to be ball deep in the bar build for a week or two, so if anyone wants to jump in, lol.

What's everyone brewing this week?

 

[Braufessor]

The pics of the illustrations of the future bar look great - should be a great build when you are all done.

I am hoping to brew a couple batches in the evenings this week. Doing a Schwarzbier and an IPA. Still in search of a really good IPA I can brew consistently...... I figure if this one Won gold medals at the National Homebrew Competition 3 of the last 5 years..... it is definitely worth a shot - gonna scale it down to 6.5 gallons though: http://www.alternativecommutepueblo.com/2010/01/2014-nhc-category-14-india-pale-ale.html

 

[EZCyclone]

Brau, I just posted a bunch more of the info over on the build thread.

Let me find my brew bible and I'll share my fave IPA

 

[EZCyclone]

This is yet unnamed, but it will have one soon. The test batch was out of the world tasty.

This is a 7 gallon (5)finished batch.

12# 2 row
1# Munich Malt
1# Crystal 60
1# US Wheat

Rest at 146 for 90
PBV was 7 gallons
60 minute boil (Keep in mind I can boil off 2 gal an hour)

Hops
1oz Galena @ 60
0.5oz Columbus @ 20
1oz Mosaic @ 10
0.5oz Citra @ Flame out
1oz Citra & 1oz Falcners Flight - Dry @ 34 days

OG - 1.082
FG - 1.012

IBU's 67
1 vial of WLP001
ABV was 9.29

Pitched at 79f
Kegged at 45 days.

 

[EZCyclone]

Well I got a good start on the wood work for the bar yesterday, and found myself close to the LHBS today so I picked up a pile of stuff and a few hundred pounds of grain. I need to get the pipeline brimming if I'm going to keep all 7 kegs full!

What's everyone up too? Anyway have any crazy snow stories?

 

[Braufessor]

Just kegged an experimental IPA I brewed a couple weeks ago and just got done dry hopping. Gotta say - it really tasted like Sh**. I hope it comes around, but not optimistic to be honest. I was trying something different and hopped with some different varieties - Willamette, Glacier, EKG..... going for a bit of an "english IPA"..... got more of a..... I don't know what. On a bright note, my second batch of a new blonde ale came out great - tried my first glass tonight.

Looking ahead to the agenda - Schwarzbier, Session IPA, American IPA, Robust Porter.... not sure what else at this point. Probably get another blonde ale going - it does not last long.

I have a trip to the LHBS scheduled for Friday - need supplies.

 

[EZCyclone]

Just kegged an experimental IPA I brewed a couple weeks ago and just got done dry hopping. Gotta say - it really tasted like Sh**. I hope it comes around, but not optimistic to be honest. I was trying something different and hopped with some different varieties - Willamette, Glacier, EKG..... going for a bit of an "english IPA"..... got more of a..... I don't know what. On a bright note, my second batch of a new blonde ale came out great - tried my first glass tonight.

Looking ahead to the agenda - Schwarzbier, Session IPA, American IPA, Robust Porter.... not sure what else at this point. Probably get another blonde ale going - it does not last long.

I have a trip to the LHBS scheduled for Friday - need supplies.

Hell just stick it in a spare secondary and forget it for a year, the green hops will fall out of the flavor. Toss in some dry hops like Citra of Falconers Flight (or both) and let it sit to weeks. It will be plenty tasty.

 

[EZCyclone]

Friend pointed me to 11 kegs in Waterloo for a good price. I am not in need at this time.

http://waterloo.craigslist.org/for/4832062718.html

Bones, I don't think I ever thanked you properly. I got my kegs and at a great deal. So thank you my friend! Come to Ames and drink some on me.

 

[30Bones]

Bones, I don't think I ever thanked you properly. I got my kegs and at a great deal. So thank you my friend! Come to Ames and drink some on me.

Glad someone grabbed them. I didn't need them or want to spend the coin. If I ever find myself in clone-town I will look you up. Thanks

 

[EZCyclone]

You should definitely get down here!

 

[EZCyclone]

i got all of the frame pieces milled up for the bar today. To much damn work, but it's done. Maybe I can get it together tomorrow, or just sit in the hot tub and enjoy a stout. Hmmm....

 

[Braufessor]

It will be well worth it when it is all finished. Our basement was a disaster when we were building the bar, doing some renovations associated with the bar area.... sure was nice to have it all in place when it was finished though.

 

[EZCyclone]

What upgrades are you doing Brau?

 

[EZCyclone]

It will be well worth it when it is all finished. Our basement was a disaster when we were building the bar, doing some renovations associated with the bar area.... sure was nice to have it all in place when it was finished though.

What upgrades are you doing Brau?

 

[Braufessor]

What upgrades are you doing Brau?

They are all done now. Put in the additional drop ceiling area over the bar. Put in the beer engine. Also put in a gas fireplace. Did it all about a year ago. It was a mess for a month, and lots of clean up....(dust) - but nice to have it all in place now.

 

[signguy35]

EZ did i see you made a brew cart? or in the process of?

 

[EZCyclone]

EZ did i see you made a brew cart? or in the process of?

I'm not sure what you are talking about. What is a brew cart?

 

[signguy35]

I swore I saw you mention a brew cart on one of your posts. I guess I was mistaken. I have no idea what a brew cart is either that's why I was asking. I have a small table in my brew table on wheels that I have my ingredients on and was just seeing what others use.

 

[EZCyclone]

Well I have no idea. Lol. If you find the post, I can try to figure out what I was talking about at the time. The only thing I can think of, is somewhere, recently I talked about my mobile beer cooler I'm building, so maybe I said brew cart there. Anyway, what THAT is, is a used monster drink cooler like you see in the gas stations by the counter. It's just a tube that goes up maybe 4 feet. Best part is the one I got is actually a refrigerator, full freon. Not a electronic cooler.

And it fits two, maybe three kegs perfectly. I'm going to build a topper for it, so I can put a nice tower on it like on my keezer design, and light it up and put faucets on it. Then when I'm having a party on the patio I can just set that up upstairs and have a few kegs on tap outside, and nice and cold.

I guess I could keep it on standby in the bar too. Hmm, then I'd have 8 kegs on tap...