While we're at it... Go Wisconsin!! WOOO!!

[MrSpiffy]

I've noticed a LOT of Wisconsin posts in the introductions forum! So, I figured I shouldn't be shy and go introduce myself.

I just got into brewing a couple months ago. My first batch was bottled a couple weeks ago; a dark ale extract kit. My second brew is in secondary right now; Cheesehead's recipe for Caramel Cream Ale. It sounded delicious, so I had to try it. Both had some specialty grains to steep. But all-in-all, it seemed pretty straightforward. The hardest part was keeping everything sanitized. My funnel strainer kept clogging, so I had to keep rinsing it out and then dunking it in the One-Step they gave me with my kit. The second go-around, I used a larger strainer over the funnel strainer. It was a LOT easier to keep things flowing, but still not awesome.

Anyway, I'm from the Madison area. I hit up the Wine and Hop Shop on Monroe Street for my supplies, as I'm sure most Madisonites do. So far everyone's been really helpful, and I love hanging out on HBT!

Hey, since we have so many of us on the forums, we should have a homebrew party!

 

[chezteth]

Welcome to the hobby! It is a slippery slope with learning brewing topics. The caramel cream ale sounds very interesting! Let us know how it turns out. I'm assuming you are using the strainer to keep out the trub from the boil. As nice as it is to have really clear wort in the fermentor I don't worry too much about keeping the trub out of mine. If it makes it difficult to transfer the wort from the boil kettle to the fermentor then it doesn't seem worth it to me.

cheers,
Brandon

 

[MrSpiffy]

Yep, I'm trying to keep the trub (a.k.a. crud) out of my fermenter.

I hear you on the slippery slope thing. As an engineer, it's in my nature to tinker with stuff. So I can see myself eventually doing AG brewing and trying out recipes, if I can find the money to do it. I figure I'll start with extract recipes to get my process down, first. Then, once I have some spare change (which could be a while, as we just recently got a house), I might dip my toe into the AG waters. I got a kit from the LHBS, and it came with Papazian's book, which was a lot of fun to read. I've learned a TON since I first got my kit, and I can't wait to keep on brewing. It's almost like it's more fun to tinker with recipes and brew than it is to consume the finished product! (Almost...! )

 

[BeerDoctor5]

Welcome from another Madisonian (well technically Middleton but I was born in Mad town)! I just recently started brewing myself. I have my first brew in my primary (extract porter kit from NB) and I'm planning my first AG brew for Saturday:rockin:

It does seem that there have been a lot of Wisconsinites joining recently (me included). It's probably because we're all a bunch of :rockin:

 

[glenn514]

Welcome from an ex-Wisconsinite! And there certainly does seem to be a bunch of Wisconsin brewers on the board lately! But that's just fine! My goal is to get out of this state of insanity called "Illinois" and return to my home state within two years. Again, welcome!

glenn514

 

[MrSpiffy]

Welcome from another Madisonian (well technically Middleton but I was born in Mad town)! I just recently started brewing myself. I have my first brew in my primary (extract porter kit from NB) and I'm planning my first AG brew for Saturday:rockin:

Sounds tasty! I'm a fan of porters and stouts, so I'm sure I'll have my share of those in my list of future brews. I'm probably going to try something a bit lighter, like a Blue Moon clone or something similar, for the summer. Then, once summer rolls around, I'll start making stuff for fall/winter. Gotta plan ahead!