Brew Dudes Homebrewing Blog

Corona Grain Mill

On August 28, 2007

I just wanted to put a post up stating for the record that I own a Corona Grail mill. I know, I know. Many folks knock this mill for many reasons: shreds grain instead of crush, poor adjustability, hand crank is not motorized.

Well, let it be known here to all that this mill works just fine for the budget brewer. I have used the mill as is, without modification for years (at least the last 7 years) and it performs just fine. I have used it for upwards of 25 plus pounds of grain before. I have it dialed in just fine, and I don’t require much tweaking of the milling plate. However, I have it setup so that with just a couple turns of the wing nuts I can easily increase or decrease the crush on the fly if necessary (which I only find required when I am using wheat malt).

Would I like a roller style mill with a motor? Sure. But I own a Corona mill and I make great beer with it. My standard efficiency is close to 80%. Someday I’ll upgrade, but until then I’ll save my money for malt and more critical stuff.

MoreBeer Order Received

By Mike

On August 28, 2007

In Brew Log, Equipment, Ingredients

Well I got my order last night from MoreBeer. I received my replacement high pressure gauge for my busted regulator, a regulator cage (so I don’t knock it over and bust it again), I received a racking cane clip to hold the cane to the bucket (just a cheap fun gadget) and I received my coveted aeration/oxygenation setup to improve my yeast starters and wort fermentation. Lastly, I also received a weldless thermometer set up to install in my kettle (damn I have a lot of stuff to do if I want to be ready to brew soon).

So today is the 28th which means it took just under two weeks to get here. Not to bad from the west coast with regular ground shipping. It may have arrived sooner if they had actually picked the order the day or day after I placed it, but they still turned it around in time for this weekend…..

Which reminds me I am tentatively planning a double brew day this holiday weekend. Not sure when yet, but I am planning a batch of Scottish 60/- and Belgian Tripel. I’ll post up the recipes I am planning on using soon and I’ll hopefully get up some pictures and a Brewlog with it. Exciting Exciting!!!

Blues ‘N Brews Festival 2007

By John Krochune

On August 27, 2007

In Festivals

So, I wasn’t getting the name of the fest right. There is no word “and” in the name of the festival.

Anyway, it was an insanely hot day but we stuck it out and had a great time.

I took some pictures of the event and posted them on Flickr: Brew Dudes on Flickr. They tell a little more of the story.

To sum up: the music was good, the beers were great, and the people were outstanding.

Best taste of the fest? Well, my pick was Paper City Brewery’s Summer Time Pale Ale. It had a lot of lemon flavor. They must have zested a bushel of lemons to get that taste and on any other day it would have been overpowering. After being in the sun for 3 hours, I was happy I made it over to their booth. It was surprising but beyond refreshing.

Oktoberfest Beer Style

By John Krochune

On August 23, 2007

In Style Profiles

So – I am impatient and I have decided that, even though the poll isn’t officially closed, Oktoberfest style beer is the one most people who read this blogging are looking forward to drink this autumn. I voted for Porter, and the peeps who want a wine cooler can call up Bartles and/or Jaymes.

I like Oktoberfest. I really do. The only issue I have with it is as a homebrewer is that it is a hard style to brew correctly.

It is a lager. The definition of a lager means it’s a beer that to ferments at lower than room temperatures. We’re talking 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Unless you have a fridge with a thermostat hooked up to it, you can’t really make lagers…unless you have a sweet cave in your back yard.

Read what Beer Advocate says about Oktoberfest.

Here are the Beer Judge Certification Program’s guidelines for an Oktoberfest.

It is interesting to note that this style shares guidelines with another one called Marzen. I think the Oktoberfest moniker came later (probably after the original public celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Luitpold I and Princess Theressa of Bavaria on October 17, 1810…which was the birth of Oktoberfest – the festival). Marzens were brewed in March and then stored in caves all summer to keep cool. In the late summer/early fall, they were enjoyed….I guess that’s what they had on tap when the Prince got hitched.

In my opinion, Oktoberfests are good because:

They are malty
They are smooth
They have a little more alcohol content than the standard 4% by volume

They just aren’t beginner homebrewer beer. Maybe next year.

Hope to raise a pint with you soon.

Update – Latest Morebeer Order

By Mike

On August 22, 2007

In Brew Log, Equipment, General

So I ordered my latest beer oxygenation equipment and some other stuff from Morebeer on 8/15. I noticed last night that their site still listed it as “being picked”. Morebeer says it processes most orders with in 1-2 days. So I sent in an email to their info email address to ask if really was still sitting on the warehouse floor waiting to be picked.

I got a nice reply this morning apologizing for the delay, and I received confirmation that it had indeed been shipped out last night.

So the countdown continues to see how fast UPS can get that bad boy across country!