I'm not sure why, but my annual go-to competition has been moved again. It used to be held in February, but a couple of snowy incidents probably made them change their minds, and last year it was held mid-April. This year's competition will be the first weekend in May. Again, I'm not sure why, but I...

Nice! I'd like a rig like that, but I don't think SWMBO would care for the cost. I'm pretty sure she tolerates my brewing expenses and activities as it is because she knows it makes me happy.

I brewed my Ottertoberfest this morning. I love having this lager all summer long, and then tapping it when Oktoberfest opens. But today, it came with a price. As I was washing up afterwards, the cutting board that we keep leaning up against the wall next to the sink crashed over, right on my hydrom...

As long as you keep moving. Consider yourself just starting out instead of starting over. The mindset has a lot to do with it, as I'm sure you're aware.

Good for you! It's important to get back into movement after a setback. Especially after a major one. I had a procedure to fix atrial fibrilation in September of 2023, and I still have to watch my heart rate, but I've worked up to 70 minutes on the treadmill, logging around 3.25 miles five days a we...

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2025 brings you all happiness, prosperity, and good beer. Last year, I brewed 72 gallons. Let's see what this year brings. Edit your post each time you brew, and keep a tally of what's going on in your carboys, kegs, and bottles. 1/5/25 - Ladybug Lager - 3 gallons 2/...

Wow, that's a really rough patch to go through.

I'm glad you're able to go home, though. And I wish you a full recovery.

Very useful feedback. I can agree pretty much with their comments throughout. I did think the IPA was a little too sweet, not dry enough on the finish, and not as aggressively hopped as it could have been. And the kölsch could have benefitted from more contribution from the yeast, as befits the styl...

The results are in. I entered my Kölsch and my Double IPA. DIdn't win anything, and the Kölsch scored in the mid-30s while the Double IPA scored in the low 30s. Some mild tweaks to both might improve them, though. A different choice of yeast and slightly more hop presence in the Kölsch, and a more a...

Yesterday (Saturday, 3/23), I drove down to Brooklyn in a teeming rain to drop my entries off for this competition. I'm starting to distrust shippers, and even though it was a 3-hour round trip, I didn't have anything better to do on a Saturday. In related news, I think something might be wrong with...

I keg and sometimes bottle, depending on the beer. I can't see any benefit to canning, personally.

I use Brewer's Friend to formulate new recipes and store all my recipes. It's very comprehensive, and lets you know if your recipe fits the parameters of the style you're making. I understand it's even supposed to help with water volume calculations, but I've never tried that feature; I've pretty mu...

My condolences on your loss. Small extract batches are a very good option. I continue to brew both fivers and 3 gallon batches, some of which are extract recipes with steeping grains. I understand the difficulty of horsing five gallons of liquid around, as I have to carry my batches from the kitchen...

I always look for this competition. It's kind of local (Brooklyn isn't all that far from my location), it's the first competition I ever entered, and I've scored three of my four ribbons there (two second place, one third place). In the past, they've held it the first weekend in February. But I coul...

Glad to have you aboard! If you have any questions about process or pretty much anything related to brewing, bring it on! We love to help out, and we're not judgmental or anything. We were all newbies at one point.