New England Brew Session & yankee enginuity

[the_bird]

I also had the burner on way higher than I needed to.

Just sampled the porter - EXCELLENT (IMHO). The peat just comes through with the aroma, you can tell it's smoked, but really, it's just a good porter with a bit of extra aromatics. Very nice.

Doing my "Murder In The Red Barn" red IPA today... right now, in fact...

 

[Glibbidy]

Wow, what a bunch of slackers. I just racked my Porter as well on Sunday 12/17

 

[Kaiser]

So, are we still planning to meet up again in another six weeks or so for some sampling? Or, maybe if we get a nice weekend, have another brew session in early spring? I'm happy to host, I know VT is a bit of a haul for some people.

Though I didn't get a chance to meet all of you I was thinking about hosting the next event. Maerzen brewing in March would be nice. I'd also like to throw a pork shoulder in the smoker to make some nice pulled pork sandwiches

Kai

 

[chillHayze]

Sounds cool but that's a 4 hr drive for yours truly.

 

[the_bird]

Looks like it's about three hours for me, which is just about do-able. Long day, but do-able.

 

[Hippie]

Cool Kai,

I'll just make it a point to stay in MA...

 

[the_bird]

I was talking to the wife the other day. She would love for us to have another get-together that was family-friendly. We've got a pretty good number of kidlings right around the same age, so it could be fun. I'd be willing to host, it would actually make sure my ass stayed focused this winter on finishing some projects up. The brewers could take over the driveway, and we've got a modest-sized (but completely fenced-in) backyard for the kids and wives. Got a big deck for cooking out. There's a huge playground within walking distance for when the little ones need to stretch their legs. Cook up some burgers, etc.

Any interest in a get-together like that? My place is relatively central, just about an hour away from everybody! Some nice weekend in late April, early May? We may want to do another sampling get-together before then (at Kai's?).

 

[Kaiser]

I do like the idea with the kids. Wifey will certainly appreciate this.

 

[evanmars]

I'll be moving to the VT, MA area from MI next month.

Where do you guys get supplies?

Are there any clubs in the area?

So far I've done extracts and specialty steeped grains. I'm planning on getting into the all grain scene soon. I've got three 1/2 barrels and a turkey fryer.

Trying to decide if I want to finish my last batch of brews before I move or take them with me.

 

[the_bird]

I thought I heard about a Berkshires-based homebrew club, but could find no info. If you find your way over to Hennessy, you might ask the gent who runs the store. I heard it mentioned when he was on the local NPR station one afternoon.

Short of that, HBT pretty much IS my homebrew club (and there are rumblings that we may make this an official club). We're going to try and have get-togethers with some regularity, hopefully we'll have one going in Feburary or so.

 

[chillHayze]

Trying to decide if I want to finish my last batch of brews before I move or take them with me.

Moving beer can be troublesome (heavy, fragile, etc.). I moved a few cases last time we moved and the added difficulty wasn't really worth it. The only bummer is you have to re-build up your stock. Wait - brewing, a bummer? Nah!

Welcome to the forums and the Northeast!

 

[evanmars]

Moving beer can be troublesome (heavy, fragile, etc.). I moved a few cases last time we moved and the added difficulty wasn't really worth it. The only bummer is you have to re-build up your stock. Wait - brewing, a bummer? Nah!

Welcome to the forums and the Northeast!

Guess I'd better get busy drinking then. I've got about 30 Grolsch bottles of homebrew to drink before the middle of January. Shouldn't be too hard.......

P.S. I've got to start taking notes. I can't even remember what style it is supposed to be.

 

[evanmars]

I thought I heard about a Berkshires-based homebrew club, but could find no info. If you find your way over to Hennessy, you might ask the gent who runs the store. I heard it mentioned when he was on the local NPR station one afternoon.

Short of that, HBT pretty much IS my homebrew club (and there are rumblings that we may make this an official club). We're going to try and have get-togethers with some regularity, hopefully we'll have one going in Feburary or so.

Where/what is Hennessy?

 

[the_bird]

It's a homebrew shop (a really nice one) just outside of Troy, NY, about an hour or so from either Bennington or North Adams. The guys there are really helpful, and they stock pretty much everything you need for ingredients.

 

[evanmars]

Awesome. Maybe I'll stop on my way into town.


No, probably not. I'll be on the last leg of an 11 hour drive and it will probably be somewhere near midnight.

 

[Hippie]

Welcome to New England (soon)!! Where abouts in MI are you from? I have had a bunch of friends from the GR/Holland area and spent a month in east lansing once. Any idea where you will settle here? I'll look forward to meeting you at one of these events.

PS. if you get here soon, you can watch your home team become a Super Bowl Champ (again)

 

[evanmars]

I live in the Battle Creek area. About 1 hour south of Grand Rapids. About 45 minutes South-SouthWest of Lansing.

Thinking of settling in the North Adams, MA area.

I'll need some consoling with some homebrews for a while. I'll be leaving my wife and daughter behind for a few months until my wife finishes up her semester at school and (hopefully) get the house situation worked out (both in MI and in MA/VT/NY).

 

[the_bird]

I work in North Adams, I've lived in the area for a few years, so let me know if you need help getting settled in. North Adams is a decent little town, it's improved a ton just in the past five or ten years. Bennington's OK, too, that's where I grew up, but even smaller.

Not sure if you're looking to buy or rent a house, but the real estate market in North Adams is pretty reasonable - but you might look into Adams (where I live) if you have small kids (the school system is a lot better).

In any case, welcome again to the board, and soon welcome to the Northern Berkshires!

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

In any case,

Pun: intended or unintended? YOU decide!

:cross:

 

[the_bird]

Pun: intended or unintended? YOU decide!

:cross:

......




Help me out, brother, it was a long weekend... where's the pun?

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

Help me out, brother, it was a long weekend... where's the pun?

In any CASE, on a beer site, ya know? Maybe like a case of beer? Throw me a bone here people...


:cross:

Oh yeah, Merry Ho Ho, 'bird, hope you and yours had a good one!

 

[the_bird]

Oh, wow.






That was really, REALLY lame.

Like, REALLY bad. So bad that *I* wouldn't have gone there (and trust me, I am the KING of terrible puns).

 

[evanmars]

Hey Bird,
I am looking to rent some small shack for a few months until my wife and 5 year old daughter come out. Can you give me a line on some rental companies?

Looking to buy a house after they get here.

 

[chillHayze]

Just rent Bird's brewshed for a few months!

 

[the_bird]

I'll ask around in the morning; the only time I rented a place in the area, it was answering an ad in the newspaper. I'll shoot you a PM with some names and numbers.

 

[Hippie]

Finally got the brew that Vermicous gave me into bottles today... I'll give y'all a report in 2 weeks

Evan, good luck with your search...

 

[chillHayze]

So boys my pale ale is coming along nicely...
When are we gonna do another one of these?

 

[the_bird]

Well, just got the smoked porter bottled last night. Hoping to get my IPA bottled Wednesday night, as well. Anytime three weeks out and up is good for me.

Incididentally, BostonBrewin' mentioned in a PM that he'll be up sometime in the spring, and he'll be in the next town over from Kai. We'll have to do an invasion of Kai's place then. And, my offer to host either this winter or in the spring (as a family-friendly affair) holds.

 

[Kaiser]

Incididentally, BostonBrewin' mentioned in a PM that he'll be up sometime in the spring, and he'll be in the next town over from Kai.

We should definately try to coordinate this such that BOSTON can make it.

We'll have to do an invasion of Kai's place then. And, my offer to host either this winter or in the spring (as a family-friendly affair) holds.

I'm fine with the family friendly gathering. There would probably not much brewing or drinking for me since my little girl is still a hand-full with all the energy that she has. Maybe we have snow and can go sledding.

Kai

 

[the_bird]

I'm fine with the family friendly gathering. There would probably not much brewing or drinking for me since my little girl is still a hand-full with all the energy that she has. Maybe we have snow and can go sledding.

Kai

Dude, I *need* to see you brew. I have such a hard time understanding the idea of a decotion mash, I'd love to see how it actually works. Maybe I can understand half the stuff you talk about, someday...

I think we should try and arrange a get-together this winter, maybe middle part of February? Don't know when Boston will be up, he just said "spring," so by the time that comes our beers from the last session could be a bit past their prime.