I’ve finally been able to put my Christmas presents and knowledge I gained from them to use!
Yesterday February 7th 2008 I started my first home brew using the brewing and wort kits that I received for Christmas.
There wasn’t much to it really. The part that took the longest was sterilizing everything so that the beer wouldn’t develope a nasty taste. That took about an hour. Partially cause I kept forgetting things that needed to be sterilized so I had to keep waiting an extra 20min for the sani-brew to do it’s bit over and over. Live and learn though.
Here’s some pictures of me sanitizing in the bathtub (which is also now germ and bacteria free as well):
Click the pics for larger views
I didn’t get a lot of pictures (read: any) of actually combining the wort and the yeast in the primary fermenter because my photographer was acting as an assistant at the time. I’ve chosen a two step fermentation process as is recommended in How to Brew by John J. Palmer and by the instructions that came with the pre prepaired wort.
Click the pics for larger views
Over night the beer fermented like crazy. The head has risen to about 5 inches. During this time I’m keeping the bucket out on a counter and covered in a blackout sheet. I decided to do this because it will need to be racked in to the carboy for secondary fermentation in a few days and it will be much easier to do from that height instead of trying to lift it up at the time (the bucket is a little flimsy).
CTV News has an article today about Brad King author of Beer Belly Blues and his findings regarding men’s testosterone levels. Brad says that just like women, men too go through a type of menopause where levels of testosterone start to dwindle after their early 30’s.
Men’s testosterone is lost at about one per cent per year and by the time they reach 60 (if lucky) men produce about 50 to 60 per cent less testosterone than they were when they were in their 20’s. When this happens men experience loss of muscle mass which slows the body’s metabolism which results in the body storing more fat. Predominantly in the tummy area.
So guys next time someone pokes your belly and tells you it’s time to switch to light beer. You can shrug it off and tell them it’s just cause you’re menopausal.
If anyone has ever been to my place for some drinks they’ll know that it sometimes ends up like this. Although I would NEVER run out of beer. (I just might have some I don’t want to share! HAHA!)
With the holidays over looks like it’s all back to the grind. I’d like to thank my family for a great time and point out just how booze-infused my gifts and holiday season were.
Let’s start with the beer gifts.
I got so many beer related gifts for Christmas! It was great! I kept opening more and more beer and bar stuff. Here’s just a few things (I’m sure I’ll miss one or two of them).
First off I got a home brewing kit from Mrs.Thirstymates. it’s just a beginners kit but I’m really looking forward to brewing some of my own stuff.
On top of all this I got so many nice things for my bar at home. Including bottles of Crown Royal, Tanqueray, and Sheridan’s Liquor (I can’t seem to find a website for them).
I also received bar paraphernalia like six beautiful lead crystal glasses from my brother and his girlfriend along with some wine stoppers that match our decor beautifully. A silver platter and Scotch bottle hanger from my mother and father and an LCBO Canadian whiskey glass from Santa in my stocking.
All in all a good booze related haul for Christmas!
But my birthday is just around the corner (April’s not that far away is it?) Let’s see if the fam can top this Christmas booty.
I’ve seen this before but It’s just been pointed out to me again.
dapperstache.com has thrown together a “Periodic Table of Awesoments” basically listing of all the elements that make up the world of awesomeness.
Beer is on there at #6 and Liquor at #51. So are Boobs at #13 and Snipers and Assassins at #’s 10 and 18. I particularly like #19’s elemental symbol of BA for Mr.T. Bacon of course get’s the top spot where Hydrogen would normally sit at #1.
Here’s a little of what they have to say about it:
The Periodic table of Awesoments can be a very useful tool. It’s designed to show the relationships between awesoments, and often one can even predict how awesoments interact simply by their positions on the table.
Well it’s pretty easy for most to say that the Toronto Star isn’t the greatest newspaper around. But today they had a really great article on this new phenomenon the kids today are calling “Pre-Drinking”.
Wait a minute!
How is the star so out of touch? Pre-drinking has been around since the dawn of bars hasn’t it? Here’s a few choice excerpts from Susan Pigg’s article:
Young people are engaging in a “new culture of intoxication” that even has its own buzzwords – “pre-drinking” or “pre-gaming.”
If you’re a confused parent looking for a simple definition, just click on YouTube, or on urbandictionary.com, where it’s described as the “act of drinking alcohol before you go out to the club to maximize your fun at the club while spending the least amount on extremely overpriced alcoholic beverages.”
What is YouTube going to get you from this? Videos of kids drinking?
It’s an “intense, ritualized and unsupervised” drinkfest, in many cases perfectly timed so that the booze hits the bloodstream within minutes of stepping inside the bar,
This is a quote from Samantha Wells some researcher with the University of Toronto and University of Western Ontario who apparently never ACTUALLY went to college OR university because if she had she’d already know all about pre-drinking and have no need for a study.
Also what kind of kids are doing the predrinking? Is it only Bio-Chem. students? How do you “perfectly time” the “booze hitting the bloodstream”? That’s some complicated stuff. “Okay Johnny it’s been 32 minutes since you drank your beers you have to leave for the bar in 3… 2… 1… NOW! Okay Bill you’re up next. But you have to wait 2 minutes and 13 seconds before you can leave.”
But worst of all. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS?!?!?…… Of this of age club bound drinking crowd? Why would anyone imply that people pre-drinking need supervision?
Later on in the article Mrs.Pigg dashes it all on the rocks however with a quote from a bar manager. This quote sends the entire article AND Samantha’s study down to the depths or stupidity by making it all obsolete.
“I don’t think there’s a bar in the city where, on a Friday and Saturday night, people aren’t drinking at home before they go out,” said Jim McCardle, manager of The Madison Avenue Pub. “If it’s excessive drinking, it’s always caught at the door because you can smell it on people when they’re coming in. There’s the occasional one that might slip by, but I wouldn’t consider it a serious problem.”
There you have it. Someone who manages a bar said that pre drinking isn’t a problem.
Not only does this mean snow and winter sports (which I am fond of) it also means WINTER BEERS!
In the last few weeks I’ve seen some winter and Christmas themed beers popping up in the L.C.B.O. and this makes me very happy as I am a fan of seasonally themed beers.
The first of these special coveted (if only by me) brews that I got my hands on was a Winter Ale from Great Lakes brewery which is nice and definitely drinkable but not quite different enough for me to really get super excited over.
Then just a few days later while wandering through my local L.C.B.O. I came across my absolute favorite of the winter brews. BAH HUMBUG!
Oh just typing the name makes my mouth water! This blend of ale and warming winter spices is truly a masterpiece! Wychwood brewery sure did a good job on this one (I shouldn’t be too surprised though seeing as how these are the people who make Hobgoblin and Fiddlers Elbow).
Winter is definitely my time for what I think of as “warming” beers. Beers like deep flavored ales and heavy stouts. Beers that make me feel full and happy. Beers that can be served without being fully chilled and still be enjoyable.
I’ve even heard rumor of eggnog beers… I’ll be investigating further in to this.
Bishops finger Ale has released a set of ads that are quite cheeky. Drawing similarity between close ups of stained glass and naughty bits! Personally I like them. A cheeky 5.4% indeed!
I have to give kudos to Bishops Finger for bringing some sex in to their advertising. Not an easy thing to do with a name like theirs.
It’s that time again! Well… this blog hasn’t been around long enough to announce any previous but The Golden Tap Awards are upon us and internet voting has commenced!
In its second year now The Golden Tap Awards are a series of acknowledgements for Ontario brewers. The Categories this year are:
Best microbrewery in the GTA
Best microbrewery in Ontario (outside of the GTA)
Best beer brewed in the GTA
Best beer brewed in Ontario (outside of the GTA)
Best bar in the GTA in terms of draught beer selection
Best bar in the GTA in terms of bottled beer selection
