Maryland Big Brew Day 2007!

[98EXL]

Things to keep in mind:
weather: cold or rain Does the place/garage/car port (whatever) have heat or a covering. If it is unheated then we need warmer weather(March or April). If it is out in the open then we need a rain date. OR... I have an old detached garage that can be used in the event of rain. I'll have to move canoes, kayaks and bikes but can be done easily if it rains. I'll even sweep it for you guys. Who offered a place? 98EXl or jetzer? I have no AG gear with the exception of propane tanks(2). Depending on the date I may have more gear if I score a good deal. I'm on the hunt!
Dates: February might be too cold?? Easter & spring break will be problematic for me. I think they are both in mid-March. Other than that I am pretty open.
Charlie
PS Duclaws release is coming up. I just got an email from them.

Things covered:

3 car garage is where I brew...3/4 of a bay has my junk in it, so plenty of space for a few batches to take place inside if we get rain. Warmer weather, it's my brewery and I've been brewing year round without freezing my nuts off....ok, I have a Kerosene heater that is awesome to keep things toasty in addition to the burners. I also will even sweep for you guys!

Weather isn't an issue, nor water, power or music, all on lockdown. Propane is always welcome as any equipment

It's January and 68 degrees today... This is just insane. I grew up with Michigan winters and my body reacts violently to it being hot in mid-winter.

Anyway, I'm still very much open to "anything". My in-laws are coming out from California on the 15th and leaving the 18th of Feb. I'm not sure if this is good or bad, honestly. I don't mind seeing them, but my wife might also want me out of the house so we'll see.

Again, really, I'm down for ANY weekend. I have no life, so as long as I have about a week in advance to prepare (and save cash!) I'm there.

EDIT: Just asked the wife and she says that the in-laws might actually WANT to show up for a brew day if it fell that weekend, and being on that side of the state would also give them easy-reach to do other cool stuff if they got bored.

Nothing like driving with the windows/sunroof open! And of course anyone is welcome to come! The more the merrier, I'm trying to convince SWMBO this will be fun, like when we do it byourselves

 

[jezter6]

Well, why don't you set a date, 3-4 weeks from now (Not SuperBowl), and whover can make it, makes it. Whoever doesn't can meet up next time.

 

[balto charlie]

Things covered:

3 car garage is where I brew...3/4 of a bay has my junk in it, so plenty of space for a few batches to take place inside if we get rain. Warmer weather, it's my brewery and I've been brewing year round without freezing my nuts off....ok, I have a Kerosene heater that is awesome to keep things toasty in addition to the burners. I also will even sweep for you guys!

Weather isn't an issue, nor water, power or music, all on lockdown. Propane is always welcome as any equipment

Excellent I agree w/ jezter. You pick the dates. Then we'll fill in the gaps. Never been to one of these but exactly how do they work. One person buys the ingredients(we split cost) and everyone brings down an empty carboy? Yeats? should someone(I can) make a yeast starter? I'm getting pumped. Charlie

 

[claphamsa]

I agreee! Ill come whenever! unless its the frozen four, hopefully ill be in Denver then

 

[adx]

Feb 9th would be perfect. SWMBO is going out of town that weekend I'm pretty much open except for 1 weekend in March.

 

[jezter6]

Feb 9th sounds like it will work for me as well.
I am unavailable any day that the Giants are still in the playoffs, and of course Super Bowl sunday.


Edit: Added dates unavailable

 

[balto charlie]

Feb 9 is no good for me, sorry. Feb 16/17 is also no good. What is good:
1-19, 1-26, 2-2, 2-23
If 2/9 is good for most then please go for it. I don't want to stop this event. The brew must go on:rockin: Charlie

 

[98EXL]

Real life got in the way the past week or so....

Feb 23rd?

 

[jezter6]

I think I can handle 23rd.

 

[DraconianHand]

Two three works for me.

 

[98EXL]

going once, going twice......

 

[claphamsa]

going once, going twice......

i said it works for me right?

 

[adx]

I can't do the 23rd, but if it works for everyone else I'll just show up the next time. I have to go to a concert at Strathmore that night.

 

[balto charlie]

going once, going twice......

I'm in. Sorry for the late reply but my boiler and I had to do battle this week. Once a date is chosen I think we should make a new thread, that is if you want more folks. Charlie

jezter6: I emailed the thirsty brewer to join in on their large brewings but haven't heard back. Maybe he's slow on emails. They have some serious gear.

 

[Kevin Dean]

23rd works for me as far as I know.

 

[98EXL]

ok, Feb 23rd is the date. I just did some mad cleaning in the garage so in case we have to move in there, there will be plenty of room!

Anyone been to the Dogfish Head Ale House in Gaithersburg? I'm here right now on the free wi-fi......bitchin!

Also SWMBO will be in attendance, so if anyone wants to bring their SWMBO, and she's worried there won't be chicks there, there will be mine

 

[claphamsa]

ok, Feb 23rd is the date. I just did some mad cleaning in the garage so in case we have to move in there, there will be plenty of room!

Anyone been to the Dogfish Head Ale House in Gaithersburg? I'm here right now on the free wi-fi......bitchin!

Also SWMBO will be in attendance, so if anyone wants to bring their SWMBO, and she's worried there won't be chicks there, there will be mine

I went as was very disappointed that I was unable to buy a growler full of beer

 

[jezter6]

I'm in. Sorry for the late reply but my boiler and I had to do battle this week. Once a date is chosen I think we should make a new thread, that is if you want more folks. Charlie

jezter6: I emailed the thirsty brewer to join in on their large brewings but haven't heard back. Maybe he's slow on emails. They have some serious gear.

Charlie - check out www.wootown.org, that's the homebrew club that Tom (owner of the Thirsty Brewer) is president of. It's the club that does brews, not really the store. The store just happens to be the summer location. I always seem to pop in on brew day, in spite of forgetting to sign up for the club. I think I'm a member by proxy just by hanging out at the store and bringing brew to the shop just to taste.

 

[DraconianHand]

98,

Do you want us to pack out the used grain or do you have a method of disposing of it?

 

[claphamsa]

how do these things work? should we bring something?

 

[Kevin Dean]

how do these things work? should we bring something?

Bring whatever brewing stuff you can. If you have them, bring your propane burner, kettle, mash tun and spoons and stuff. Also, bring ingredients for your batch!

If you DON'T have equipment (when I was extract brewing I was stuck on my stove, so...) bring beer. Homebrew is preferred, sharing your own is excellent. If you don't have your own for whatever reason, bring whatever you feel comfortable bringing - a 6er of Bud or a keg of some exotic import - whatever. We've all had cash flow problems, so even if you can't bring beer for a group, don't worry! These thigns are about beer, beer and learning. The important thing is that you come willing to have fun and learn. You'll watch people who are brewing all-grain who might do things differently than you - learning why they do it (and determining if you want too) is the point. Perhaps you're not an all-grain brewer because you think it's too hard, you'll see guys do batches and learn it's easy.

Perhaps you don't have enough space to do all-grain? Cool! There's extract guys who pop in too, who can go over the benefits of doing this or that, or using this or that ingredient. The point, really, is don't be an ass and everything else will be all right. RDWHAHB

[quote='DraconianHand'}Do you want us to pack out the used grain or do you have a method of disposing of it?[/quote]

Great question! I'm used to chucking mine behind my apartment in the 2 foot strip of land the arsehole who owns the car wash claims he owns. Standing up for property rights AND feeding local wildlife - score! That said, I'll be happy to dump my grains over the fence if you've got annoying neighbors but I'm just as happy to lug it home if that's what's gotta happen.

What time is this going down? Do you want to PM people with your address or do you want us to PM you with an "RSVP"? I'm almost positive I'll be there (and I told my phone to remind me!) barring something unexpected.

Also, we REALLY should put this in our signatures! Maryland has a STRONG homebrew following so letting people know about this who might not look for local events could be good. I know on average, for every 5 people who agree to some IRL meeting, 1 person shows and I'd like to have the biggest meeting possible.

***Warning - Poster may have been druck ***

 

[jezter6]

I think we need to get a confirmation of who's coming. Then a confirmation of what we want to brew.

Like I said, if someone else can bring the fryer, I've got big pots to do 11 gallon batches, so that's 2 full carboys per boil. I have a keggle if needed that we can do 2 batches at the same time.

Depending on how many people show up, if we do 2 rounds of brews in those, we'd have 8 take homes. Not including anyone who brings any other burners and pots.

We can certainly discuss recipes. I have an good irish red that everyone seems to enjoy. Alt's are a quite bit malty, but enjoyable.

I'm up for anything though.

 

[claphamsa]

I have a 20QT pot, but thats my biggest piece of equipment.... im still on the stovetop, and hoping to buy a house in the next 2-3 months....

 

[98EXL]

I can chuck grain....it's called the trashcan I can always put it in the woods if I want to as well

As far as what I have:

Up to 3 propane tanks, 1 burner, small ass pot
snazzy snazz 10 gallon MLT cooler
plenty of sanitizer, etc, spoons, paddles, more ****

 

[98EXL]

addition...send me a PM for RSVP.....I think we should start brewing around 11am?

 

[DraconianHand]

I have:

a couple of 5 gallon pots (a bit difficult to do full boils in)
5 gallon cooler MLT
homebrew
can bring ingredients (let me know what is needed)

PM sent.

 

[jezter6]

98 and I just talked, but I have:

2 - 15 gallon brewpots (enough to make 10 batches in each)
1 - 10 gallon Mash Tun
2 - Burners
1 - CFC

Misc other spoons and such.

98 - How big is your brewpot? Would it make a decent HLT for the sparge waters? Maybe we need 2 pots of at least 7 gal for sparge waters....I only have my big kettles for that.

 

[flytact]

Wow, I found this website looking for some stir plate tips, now I've found a brew day right around the corner.

I'm Dave from Severna Park. Don't know if the date works or if there is room. Been brewing for about 15 years and can contribute a burner, tank, 50qt mash tun (cooler) and a keggle. Basically I max out at 10 gallon batches.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[jezter6]

Welcome Dave! I don't think there's an issue with room as of yet. I think we need to get an official Signup thread going.

Good to see you found our little heaven and get to participate in a brewday right out the gate. And we can always use more experienced guys at the events, as I know a lot of the people seem interested in watching and learning, so we need someone to keep an eye on the mashes.

 

[CallMeZoot]

Long-time extract brewer looking to move on to All-Grain, might come to the Maryland Big Brew Day... Just built my Rubbermaid MLT and I'm looking to break it in.

Can I use the big-brew-day for some on-the-job AG training, or would I just be getting in the way?

chris.