Blogs

Is the HWBC shop a drop-off point for entries in the NHC/AHA competition?  If so, what are the dates we can drop off for transport to San Diego?  I remember seeing something about it a while ago, but can't seem to find the info.

Great idea.  I do think that at least two BJCP judges on the board, preferably the grand hydro, should taste every entry before it is put into the barrel.  I'd hate to see a bad beer infect the whole barrel.  Also, put some clean beer in the barrel now.  Try it in a month or so before you add the Imperial Stouts.  One never knows if some unwanted critters are living in the wood.

John

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6_s4FfjDuz-ZDEzYjRlNWQtOWVkYi00NWI...

How does this make you feel? Jason Alstrom of the BeerAdvocate brothers has a good point - we're reaching the point where many first generation brewers are thinking of retiring. If you don't have a successor in mind or an heir to throne, what happens?

So where's the link ?  There's not going to be many entries if you have no way to enter! 

From Julian down in the LBC (aka SacodeToro)

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1598_bill_2...

This is from Jim T Beal, the same state rep who keeps trying to pass huge alcohol tax increases. Write your rep and say no to the bill. Why?

Congrats to Skipp and Hank for representing the club so well. (http://quaff.org/AFC2010/winners.html)

Skipp tore things up with medals in the following

• IPA - 2nd Place
• Wood-Aged & Smoked Beers - 3rd Place
• Melomel - 2nd Place
• Cider / Perry - 1st Place

Hank scored a 2nd Place Ribbon for his Smoked Porter

Nice going you two!

Not to alarm anyone, but you may in the coming week find that maltosefalcons.com doesn't respond to your requests for more beer knowledge.

Why? In an effort to improve performance our hosting partner (BecoTech) is setting us up a little differently. When the dust settles out, the anticipated side effect is greater control and better responsiveness on the part of the website.

I'll post again when the transition is going to begin. When you see that post, just wait for the all clear and everything will be dandy.

First, the NY Times discovered growlers yesterday - Growlers, the New Old Beer Conveyance.

Jeremy and Steve continue to garner more press for their efforts - http://www.latimes.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=8f3a0e2e-4b58-4488-a2a0-42...

Congrats guys

 IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

Because of a stupid little football game, the February meeting will be on Saturday February 6, but the Annual Chili Cook-off will go ahead as scheduled.  Please post here or e-mail theburgermeister [at] maltosefalcons [dot] com?subject=Chili%20Cook-off&body=I%20want%20to%20be%20in%20the%20chili%20Cookoff.%0A%0AName%3A%20%20%0A"> Burgermeister of your intention to enter a chili.  Please plan to arrive about noon to start heating the chilis.  

 On New Year's Eve I got the chance to share a 5 year old bottle of Victory Brewing's V-Twelve. The inspiration for this beer is a Belgian Dark Ale/Quad. The beer comes in a corked 750ml, and has a bottled date, with a recommendation of consuming within 5 years.

DUI Offenders Ignition Interlock Device Pilot Project

A non-member sent this to me.  Hope the rest of you find it amusing too.

So yesterday, the 12th, 30 of us gathered at the Home of the Stuffed Sandwich for our annual Xmas tasting. Sam and Marlene always generate a great list with a lot of oddities. In this case they managed to find 10 of 13 beers that I've never tried. See what you missed on a beautiful cold and rainy Los Angeles day?Good job by our new Activities Director Mike G for his work getting this event off the ground (and to our old AD - John Kaufman for getting things rolling)

Watch for this month's newsletter with Bruce Brode's tasting notes and official scores.

Jay Brooks of the Brookston Beer Bulletin is attempting to sort out what brands are controlled in the US by AB Inbev and MillerCoors.

Thanks to Pete Brown's blog for showing me this little slice of George Orwell's writing - The Moon Under Water.

If all you've ever read of Orwell is Animal Farm or 1984, then you've missed a fair amount of amazing political and literary writing.Even if you don't agree with Orwell's politics, I think most of us can agree with Orwell's sentiments on the pub. The question to you, my fellow Falcons, is what's your favorite pub experience?

I just finished rereading the great posts here by the Raines Man on Yeast propagation and maintenance.  SWEET.  Thanks Rainey.  It made my day.

First read the link:

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_0ff40f7a-d4d1-11de-afb...

Ok, done?

It's time for a Falcon's website blog on meadmaking recipes, techniques, experiences, and issues.  Let's kick this off with an interesting recent perspective from honey and beekeeping observer Kim Flottom on what he feels is the coming rise in honey prices.  Check out his Daily Green report here:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/blogs/bees/honey-beekeep...

Seriously folks, if I read one more person saying that running a few gallons of boiling water through their CFC is sufficient to both clean and sanitize their chillers, I'm going to cry.

Look at the bottom of your kettles over time. See all that stuff in there? That same stuff (to a lesser extent) is forming in your CFC as well.

So, the Drew method  of cleaning and preparing a CFC.

1) Recirculate hot PBW (~140F) solution through a pump and the CFC assembly.

2) Circulate/Push hot water through the system for 5 minutes

Just a reminder to all that the next shop brew is Sunday November the 15th at 8:00am. It will be held at the Home Beer Wine and Cheese Making Shop in Woodland Hills. The style is American pale ale, and the brew crew leader will be our president, Steve Cook.

It  seems like you can't just post something, you have to have a blog to spread beer related info? Let me know if I'm missing something.

Anyhoo- Verdugo Ryan gives a shout out to the Falcons in an interview with the latest Sunset. They ask  "Where can you learn to brew your own?" and he says Falcons. PG gets the silver.

Los Angeles just did the unthinkable - we had a Beer Week, actually a Beer 11 days. Sure there were glitches, but for a first year event it was amazingly smooth.

This is a reminder that the October shop brew is this Sunday at 8:00 a.m. The style for this month is "Falcon Noel" Christmas ale.

The brew crew is as follows:

Kent Fletcher (crew leader)

Nancy Gold

Scott Wyse

Kris Schmidt

Jim Mc Gowan

All brew crew members please be at the shop promptly at 8:00 am. Bring a clean, sanitized fermenter and airlock for you portion of the beer.

 Here is a story about Monster energy drink trying to move in on a small brewer in Vermont. He needs some help to get the word out.

http://consumerist.com/5381528/brewer-sued-by-monster-energy-drink-asks-...

Today will be the last day to drop off your entries for Stern Grove at the Shop. Please have them there by closing time, 7:00 p.m. I will be picking up all entries tomorrow and driving them up to San Fransisco to drop off.

So get those last minute entries in and make the Falcons proud! Remember, Anchor looks at Stern Grove entries for the home brew club of the year.

Diane

All right everyone!

If you're coming to the party (and you better be) - tell us in the comments what you're bringing! 

I spent another wonderful day brewing yesterday again with my brother Eric. We brewed up a batch of Belgian IPA. This recipe was modeled after the February club shop brew called Falcon - Belgique, which was led by Jim McGowan.

I was pleasantly surprised that my brother liked this style of beer, and suggested we brew it. It has a load of hops, which he is normally not too fond of, and was fermented with Wyeast 1214 yeast. Of course there was a good malt backbone to this beer too.

Host:

Library Alehouse

Type:

Party - Bar Night