Weather is Here, Wish You Were Nice!

Thank you Jimmy for those lovely words! I'm not a parrot head, and I think Jimmy Buffets voice is as bad as Bob Dylans' harmonica, but I gotta respect the guy for doing what he does and doing it so well!

Today was a party at the shoppe!  The whole gang was here including my buddy Mike Visman who helped me back in the day on "the Wormhole".  I started the day off making a painting room with my uncle upstairs in the shoppe.  We hung plastic sheeting all around my shaping area to try and keep the dust out while we tried spraying varnish onto the board instead of brushing it on.  We accomplished our mission and soon took to spraying on the varnish.  We heated up a quart of Epiphanes Clear Varnish and sprayed the "Rainstick".  Yes, the "Rainstick", the first board I shaped.  It is an unending process, this varnishing, of learning and making mistakes and learning and above all, waiting for varnish to dry before one can polish out the previous mistakes.  I have been varnishing this board for 4 years now!  Finally I have a way to get it done much faster and nicer looking!  It was a  long slow road, but still varnishing indoors proves to be dusty no matter what, but we cut the dust way down in our little spray booth by about 90%.

Both the "wormhole" and the "rainstick" are going to be on display for purchase at Greenlight Surf Supply (http://greenlightsurfsupply.com/) now residing in Manasquan, NJ.  I will tour the boat shows with them if they do not sell so I have examples of varnished and non-varnished boards.  I really want to keep the "wormhole" as my own because I'm really attracted to its shape, but alas, I need funding for my present projects.  So goes the world.

While we were spraying, my father was downstairs cleaning the Clausing 8520 and getting me set up for some milling to do in the afternoon.  He wasn't feeling hot, so we skipped our daily hike in Pennypack.  Drats!

If anyone is interested in brass leashplugs or airvents, let me know.  You can tell how awesome they are from this most excellent picture that I took with my 1megapixel Blackberry!

OK, have a great day, it's time I enjoyed that ESB that I have in my fridge.  My first Keg turned out pretty damn decent.  Slainte!

Homebrew Club March Meeting with Jeremy Meyers

As you may know, a group of us started a homebrewers club in NE Philly last fall as we felt there was a need for such a group in this area as it was lacking one. With the help of Scoats, the owner of The Grey Lodge (http://greylodge.com/), we got a small group of brewing minded individuals together and created the Lucky 13 Homebrew Club (http://lucky13homebrewclub.ning.com/) named as such because our first meeting was on September 13, 2011.

It's been an informal atmosphere where we get together and talk about the beer we brew, what methods we use, swap recipes and ideas so that we can brew beers that our friends and others will enjoy. Scoats lets us use the top floor of his "oasis" of a bar, that's what I call it, every second Tuesday of the month and we enjoy his full line of beers on tap as well as the excellent cuisine that he offers. I say this because it is not bar food that he serves there, sure you can get a cheesesteak or a flipping excellent pork sandwich, but it really is a diverse menu and the daily dinner specials will knock you off your feet. I had a plate of clams and mussels in white wine last Tuesday that is still making my mouth water. So I'd like to say thanks to Scoats!

So we've been having these gatherings in a really nice place in NE Philly and have also been lucky enough to be getting a multitude of support from the local beer community in the form of guest speakers!  I have been lacking in blogging about them! So this is really my first attempt in blogging about our guests and unfortunately it doesn't do our many past speakers much justice. I also missed a few key meetings so if any readers remember who I left out, please let me know! I know I left one guest Speaker out from the fall/winter crew, for the life of me I can't remember his name! He even made some excellent reference recommendations that I made notes of, but I never made a note of his name! I have tried mining all my emails and communications about meetings and no luck. Scoats, help me out here!

First, I feel inclined to write a bit about our host at the Grey Lodge, Scoats. The man has been a mystery to me as I have lived in Portland, OR from the mid 90's to late 2000's. In fact, the Philly beer scene is not one that I know so that is why I am like a newbie.  I am finding out that Scoats is well known and respected in the Philly beer scene or more like the underground beer scene. Each meeting I learn more about the man behind what I call "Northeast Philly's Beer Oasis" and my respect for him grows. He is a cool character who is laid back but very attentive to his surroundings. Those are the makings of a perfect Publican and a supporter of the community, not only the beer community, but of everything in general. It is very generous of him to let us gather at his pub and we all, not only Lucky 13 I'm sure, appreciate what he does for us. I'm sure his honesty and generosity stems from a compassion for his fellow peeps and that is admirable in my book. Thanks Scoats!

Our first guest was Steve Hawk co-founder of Aleians Homebrew Club and 2010 Philly Beer Geek winner! He is a very personable guy with great beer knowledge and gave us some excellent advice on how to maintain our homebrew club! It was quite some time ago so specifics are a bit vague much to my chagrin but I would like to thank Steve for coming out! I think we may be seeing Steve again for this April 10th meeting as he, "The Beer Fox" Carolyn Smagalski, and Jason Harris the owner of Keystone Homebrew Suppy may be out to meet us and talk about this years Philly Beer Geek competition.

Nick Less, the man at Barry's Homebrew was also a guest last fall and he brought some of his posse with him as well! This was one of the meetings that I missed and I can't really comment on it, but I did manage to meet Nick soon afterward as I have found Barry's Homebrew to be the store for me! Sorry George, Barry's is just too darn convienent AND he gives you beer!  George and Nancy at Home Sweet Homebrew were my mentors. George and Nancy taught me everything and truly are great people. I will pick their brains to see if they would like to join us for a meeting. Nick came out to last Tuesdays' meeting with two growlers full of Nick's ESB ( I could session this beer easy) and he brought his partner in crime Jimmy who brought a truly fabulous English Ale if I remember correctly. By the time we got to the brews of the "two beards", I was already buzzing, I could still taste beer, but am fuzzy on what I actually drank of Jimmy's creation. I am fairly positive that it was and English Ale, but 100% positive that it was flawless!

In January Ben Potts now with Dogfish Head Brewery came to visit us. I believe he was transitioning from Nodding Head Brewery to Dogfish Head Brewery at the time and had nothing but great praise for both! It was really cool to meet Ben! I had read some local articles in the past in Philly Beer Scene and such and knew of Ben but never realized that he was so laid back and cool! This dude is like a 50 degree English Ale, cool and as he got warmed up got even better!  I don't know, I was just trying a metaphor. Forgive me! I really respect Ben. He was down to earth, completely knowledgeable as a practical homebrewer and as a commercial brewer, as well as exceptionally generous with his own cellar stored creations! We didn't get to all of them and when we departed he wanted to give me four huge bottles of what he had left over, I settled for one, and imperial stout that knocked me out! It was so smooth and rounded with no overpowering flavors. I'm not good at judging beer yet and don't know many of the terms involved but I when I think of that Imperial Stout a description of complex yet not overpowering comes to mind.  Maybe it wasn't overpowering because the bitterness was on the lower end of the scale. Just how I like it. Ben if you read this, thanks my man! I enjoyed that beer and I hope we get to see you again soon!

This leads me to Tuesdays meeting March 13th. Jeremy Meyers co-owner and head brewer of soon to open Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company joined us for some good timey revelry. Jeremy came to us full of knowledge and vigor. He's a down to earth guy with a full love of homebrewing and an energy that is unsurpassed! Jeremy is a BJCP beer judge and will be teaching a course in that this spring at the Hulmeville INN as well (contact him or I if you are interested in becoming a judge yourself). He brought to us true judging of our homebrews and even helped our members try to recreate some of those lost beloved beer recipes that they had been looking for. I found our meeting with Jeremy not only illuminating for me in so many different topics but helpful the whole group as well. The meeting went on longer than usual and personally, I thought it should have gone on longer as talking with someone so stoked about the project he is taking on and the style of the project that it is as well as what it means to him was like a Tesla Coil going off! He's that stoked about Neshaminy Creek! From his description of the direction that the brewery is taking is that of one of a true beer lover and I found that refreshing. NCBC will be up and running soon and I can't wait to be able to sample some of the beer that we had talked about! Jeremy, thanks for coming out! We look forward to seeing you!

Unfortunately I don't get out to the bigger gatherings where some of the new craft brews have been already sampled like that of Neshaminy Creeks line of craft beer, but I'd like that to be something that I can work on in my own life. Maybe Lucky 13 can open up some doors for me in that respect and for the other members! We have a good core group of eager members just itching at the beer scene and I feel lucky to be a part of what we have to offer the community. If you feel so inclined, come out to the Grey Lodge on the second Tuesday of the month around 7:30 and introduce yourself, it's way relaxed.

Have a great weekend!

Prost!

Custom Candle Holder for stained glass window

I thought it would be a neat idea to have soft candle light illuminate that Stained glass window so today I made a candle holder for the one side of it at the base so it can hold a decent sized candle in the middle and two votives.

I layed out the pattern on some sheet aluminum using rulers for making guide lines, a compass for the center curve and a french curve for the two end curves then cut out the tabs that I would be riveting to the face of the holder.  They go on the inside so it doesn't really matter what they look like as it will be above eye level.  I could have just cut straight tabs as they didn't overlap when bent over.  I cut the sharp edges off too.  Then riveted it all together and sealed with some caulk which is drying now.  I will put it on later tonight and take another picture!

I'll add another pic later!

Stained Glass Archway

Todays Project, other than fixing a broken stem on my sink faucet was to restore this stained glass window that originally went about the front door to my house.  When they put the porch and a new door on, they took this out.  It is in pretty bad condition as it is just about 100 years old.  I researched how to restore stained glass and being that I don't have the tools and such I would try some ideas that I had with a heat gun as it is really wavy and some of the panels are falling out of the lead caming.

First step was to vacuum it off, and then I lightly scrubbed it with very little soapy water.  Around the edges I removed the paint on the glass with lacquer thinner as best I could.  I tried to heat up the caming with the heat gun and push the panels back into place but at risk of cracking the glass, etc... I decided to just leave it the way it was and clean it best I can.

All cleaned, I drilled some holes and put in eye-bolts aided by wax so I didn't crack the wood.  Then I fashioned two S-hooks out of some nails that I found around. 

I drilled some holes in the middle of my track lighting.  Wrapped the other eye-bolts in a hefty amount of electrical tape and hung it up!  I am kind of wondering what it would look like hanging upside down.  Might be even cooler, but at the distance that I drilled the holes for the eye-bolts I might be at a weak part of the wood frame.  Looks pretty cool!

Most likely you have no interest in seeing this manifold again or even care that it doesn't leak or if the mash tun (cheap cooler) is tilted that it gets all but like 3 ounces of wort to drain, but I am stoked about it!

Next project, gluten free beer!  It won't be so easy learning starch conversions of exotic grains!  Or will it?

Find out in the next installment of Beer is Good Food!

 In the end, it's all worth it!  Slainte!

Water Crafts Involving Barley!

Hi Everyone.  Haven't heard from me in a while have ya?  I've been trying to come up with low cost ideas to keep me busy and have been turning to another water craft that I love, Homebrewing.  I had done a couple dozen batches of extract/grain beers which is fun and the beer is wonderful, but it's not really like brewing the real thing, I had the equipement laying around since the day I had originally gotten into it.  I bought it off someone named Al several years ago, but never used the mash or lauter tuns.  It's actually cheaper to do all grain beer than the extract beer so I decided to finally dive in!  I'd started a brew club (lucky13brewclub.ning.com) at the Grey Lodge Pub with the support of the owner Mike Scoats and have been learning lots from all the members and have been getting lots of support from them and decided it was time!  I don't have the money to build my next board and need ideas to plan that one out anyway since it is a new idea for a wood surfboard, so I deicided to devote some time into my love of beer.  Life has dealt me some ups and downs lately and what is best to do when you are down, relax, sit back and have a homebrew, then make some homebrew!  I used to go downtown to buy me beer supplies to Homesweet Homebrew, but haven't been able to make it there as I drive a very LARGE truck and it is a mega pain in the azz to park there.  So I have been to Barry's Homebrew just off Girard and Second.  Nick is a cool dude, but I am usually just in and out.  I miss sitting and chatting with George and Nancy at Homesweet.  It's just a product of my life. Even though I am out of work, I am too busy to sit and chat for very long.  I'm impatient as well.  But so here I am, blogging about something.  It needed to be done.  I miss my hobby.  Who knows, blogging can go on my CV!

Blogspot has changed their format so please bear with me as I figure it out.  I wanna talk about this last batch of beer that I brewed.  I brewed to previous ones that are just starting to ripen in the bottles.  Those batches I just threw together not even researching yeasts or anything.  I went to Nick's and he was out of the yeast I wanted and didn't have the Demerara sugar I needed, so I supplemented with Sugar In the Raw which is very much like demerara and just used generic safeale 4 for my yeast.  I bottled them and remembered how much bottling sux.  Its not that bad, but in the cold shop, it sort of sux.  I do all my work out in the cold shop which was a pain getting water and all that so I started projects out there to make it more convenient.  While the beers are getting better in the bottles I took on my first project.  A sink. 

I went and got a cheap utility sink and supplies with the financial backing of my father.  Thanks DAD!!!  While pondering location, etc... I opened a "My Uncles Left Nut" nut brown one week old.  BLAH!  Tasted like priming sugar! I drank it anyway and found my spot!  I had to uproot the flooring because the subfloor is rotted from leaking roof.  I found an old sink drain and my uncle (left nut-less) soldered the metal drain to it and we built the sink!  I ran a length of hose to it and voila!  Utility Sink!  It's perfect!  It's only a pain in the azz when it freezes at night and I gotta get my cousin to shut the water off!  But thanks to climate change, there hasn't been many freezing nights!

In the top left corner of the first pic there is my second project.  Well, actually, it is the second half of my second project.  The first half of that project was seeing if a cornelius keg (tall slim 5 gallon soda keg that they no longer use in restaurants) would fit into that wee fridge.  With a little finagling of the upper freezer section, the kegs fit!  I just folded down the aluminum freezer in the top of it so it was flush with the back of the fridge.  I tested the fridge (It's my college fridge which just so happened to use to fit 3 cases of pounder cans in it) and it works fine (after 25 years)! The next step was to clean and tune up the corny kegs which came with the original purchase of all that equipement that I bought off of Al several years ago.  They had moldy beer in them for like 5 years so they needed a cleaning AND they needed new o-rings.  So I was off to visit Nick at Barry's Homebrew for supplies while I was there I checked out his CO2 regulators.  75 bucks!  I thought I had one in the shop, so icks-nae on the egulator-rae!  Turns out, all the ones in the shop were either broken or for other gases so when the time came I went off to Welco welding gas supply on Church Street at the bequest of my uncle who shall remain left nut-less.  Ha Ha Ha.  We had a bottle of CO2 for a welder and I took it with me and got a regulator and a new bottle from Jim at Welco for 60 bucks.  DEAL!  The right nutted wonder saved me some cash there!  After much cleaning and hole drilling in the fridge, I place some cool stickers on her and I now have a kegerator waiting for my current fermenting beer to enter it happily and leave it cold to enter my belly and those of some friends that I intend to invite over for one.

This here is my third beer project.  During some reorganization and cleaning of the shop I found some of my Uncle's refrigerator copper coil.  So at the financial backing of my father, Thanks DAD!!!, I got some more parts and made this immersion chiller.  I was using a huge ice bath to cool my keggle (keg/kettle that you see in the background) which proved to be expensive for the ice and and the splashing was too close to contaminating my sterilized beer.  There were a couple of designs to choose from to chill the boiling sterile beer (wort) and all would have been easy enough to build, but this one fit my needs better than the others and may even be easier to clean than the other designs.

 Hey Blogspot!  You suck Now!  I cannot for the life of me figure out this mess!  It took me seven years to figure out your last format and now you are messing with me again!  How dare you mess with my technical ignorance!  For those of you who don't want to read the small print in the caption, a repost: 
This here is my third beer project.  During some reorganization and cleaning of the shop I found some of my Uncle's refrigerator copper coil.  So at the financial backing of my father, Thanks DAD!!!, I got some more parts and made this immersion chiller.  I was using a huge ice bath to cool my keggle (keg/kettle that you see in the background) which proved to be expensive for the ice and and the splashing was too close to contaminating my sterilized beer.  There were a couple of designs to choose from to chill the boiling sterile beer (wort) and all would have been easy enough to build, but this one fit my needs better than the others and may even be easier to clean than the other designs.

Fourth Project.  Mash tun manifold.

This is called Sparging the grain.

I, for the life of me, do not know why they made this so difficult to post on here.  Do they not want people to use this blog arena?  Need it be so challenging?  I feel like a gladiator in a duel to the death with the digital underworld of ones and twos!  So anyway, above you are seeing what I did today.  If you look up to the top picture you will see a red cooler.  That is my mash tun.  Hey, it is also pictured beside me here with warm sparge water and steam rising from it.  The mash tun is used to convert the starches in the grain (in this case, barley) by way of activating the enzymes on the cracked (milled at the store) barley husks themselves by steeping the grain in 160 degree water for an hour.  This activates the many enzymes on the barley husks to change the starch into sugar.  In nature the starches and proteins are broken down for food for the germinating seeds.  In our case, they will be broken down for food for the yeasts later on to ferment and create the alcohol in which is so beloved to all.  Well, the old mash tun had a stainless steel braided hose in the bottom for a drain.  I found it cumbersome as it always got caught around my mixing paddle.  It also seemed to collapse.  But it really worked fine to tell you the truth, and it was really easy to clean.  The manifold that I made out of copper to replace it is supposed to work better, but I can forsee some issues with cleaning, etc... that may indeed prove to be a step sideways.  But, alas, I had fun making it.  It only cost my father, Thanks DAD!!!, a couple bucks for a few copper elbows and tees.  The rest of the copper I had laying around.  Next time I will use new copper though as cleaning up old copper tubing that has rust laying in it is a huge pain in the arse!

So pictured in the mashtun there is Wiss Brau ESB.  It is actually Nick's recipe from Barry's Homebrew.  He gave it to me out of the kindness of his heart!  Of course I modified the brewing times for the hops he had in it a little here and there.  It has more hops than I ever used in a beer so I tended to shorten brewing times and amounts here and there just to mix it up and try and keep it a little more mild.  It's his take on an old English styled bitter, which are, to me, more mild and enjoyable than a lot of the IPA's out there.  Don't shoot me, but I'm not a fan of the cascade hops in so many American style IPA's.  And I like malty too.  Hey, dare to be different, right?

Alright, well, these are some things that I have been doing while I get my head together.  Diversions of sorts.  I need to build something for this next Mystic Boat Show though.  I was hoping to develope a Stand Up Paddleboard for the show.  It's proving difficult as I deal with the excessive weight issues the board will have to it's cheap lightweight Chinese counterparts.  Not many of these puppies that you see are made in the USA.  Most all are from China and they weigh like 15 pounds.  It's good that they are light so one person can carry them,  they are cumbersome.  When you have them made of wood, the weight skyrockets and so does the cost to the buyer.  Two major issues if I want to ever sell them.  I gotta put on my thinking took!  If you have ideas, shoot me an email!! 

Thanks for reading and have an excellent day!

SO!!!!

Tonight I'm gonna play catch-up (I like that better than ketchup, which one is Heinze?).

Follow ups will be on the folk fest, the Point Pleasant Boat show, the Independence Seaport Museums wooden boat festival AND the Homebrew Club's visitor Ben Potts!

I hope to see you tonight!

-Sean