More fresh meat from Fredericton!

TomFogarty · February 23, 2012, 04:42:07 PM

Didn't know there was a beer club around here, but the boys at Noble Grape mentioned it so I thought I'd look you guys up!

I've been brewing for less than a year but I caught the bug right away, I also just recently started to brew with all grain. I'm in my second year of chemical engineering at UNB so it's tough to find time to brew, but I do my best. I've been doing mostly Belgian style beers most would say I love to drink tar), but I'm playing around a bit with some scottish pale ales and rauchbiers as well.

I can't wait to get to know some of you and share some tips and tricks! I'm always game to try a new beers, or swap for a sample of some homebrew. Don't be shy, drop me a line sometime

Cheers,
Tom

Kyle · February 23, 2012, 04:49:35 PM

Welcome to the club!

We've got some guys here that have an interest in Belgain beers: Sdixon, Richard, and to some extent Duncan. They can probably give you some style specific advice.

We meet bi-weekly and you are welcome to attend, sample the brews.

What kind of system do you use?

I encourage you especially to come to the March 17 meeting, we will be having a bunch of guys brewing on different systems and maybe a BBQ.

Richard · February 23, 2012, 04:52:16 PM

So the business card I gave them didn't go to waste! Great to hear, and welcome Tom

TomFogarty · February 23, 2012, 04:57:33 PM

That would be awesome! I may or may not have a batch of imperial stout ready by then... Where and when will you guys be meeting?

As far as a "system" I'm not doing anything to fancy. My mashtun is a camping cooler and I just use a cotton cloth to filter the grist, I don't have a grain mill so I crush it in a blender since I always buy in bulk (probably not the greatest method). I'm fortunate enough to have found a bottle exchange back home that collects Grolsch bottles and sells them to me cheap, so I've got a few hundred of them that I just reuse. Just picked up another hundred and change of the vintage ones, so I'm looking forward to filling them up. Eventually I may get into kegging, but once again, finances put a crutch on equipment.

I've got a turbo 500 boiler that I use for my boils, but I'm not a huge fan of it... the element is much hotter than it has to be, and the fuse trips easily and doesn't last. I warrantied the last one and I'm having another shipped in, but after this goes I'd like to upgrade.

Richard · February 23, 2012, 05:00:11 PM

Dean will be interested to try your Imperial stout; I know he's gunning for a recipe at the moment.

TomFogarty · February 23, 2012, 05:05:29 PM

This was really a shot in the dark; I hadn't even seen an all grain recipe for stout when I threw this one together. I just wanted to see what kind of a handle I have on the ingredients and not copy off anyone else.
I imagine it's still going to be a touch young since I'm only bottling it this week but the flavour profile is acceptable. Bit on the sweeter side; I used a bit of dark crystal and honey malt... but that's just the Belgian influence pulling through!
It was originally intended to be a barley wine (16% ABV; re-pitch with a champagne yeast and some malt extract after primary) but unfortunately my boiler decided to konk out just as the boil was starting so I didn't want to risk wasting money on more ingredients if there's a chance of infection. Seems okay though

Kyle · February 23, 2012, 05:47:06 PM

I Forgot to mention: we don't post meeting locations in public, but we'll let you know ahead of time via PM where they are.

Roughly speaking though they are every second Saturday at 2pm, often at members' homes, in or near Fredericton

TomFogarty · February 23, 2012, 05:50:38 PM

Understandable, that sounds perfectly reasonable. I look forward to it!

WJShaw · February 23, 2012, 06:22:01 PM

Welcome Tom!

brew · February 23, 2012, 06:30:02 PM

Welcome!

Chris Craig · February 23, 2012, 07:06:11 PM

Welcome Tom!

DandyMason · February 23, 2012, 07:33:07 PM

Hey Tom,

I finished Civil Eng last year and am doing some grad school now at UNB

welcome to the group!

fakr · February 23, 2012, 08:06:46 PM

Welcome Tom!

sdixon · February 23, 2012, 09:57:42 PM

Welcome Tom. Yep there are a few of us interested in Belgian style beer as Kyle pointed out. I know Brew is also dabbling in the Belgian space as well and has a Trippel fermenting that I can't wait to try :-) I would love to share experiences with you. I'm currently very happy with Wyeasts Belgian Ardennes 3522 yeast BTW. There is a great deal of brewing knowledge amongst the member here and a great bunch of guys as well. Very eclectic bunch, but I think that is what makes it interesting ;-) I hope to see you at an upcoming meeting.

TomFogarty · February 23, 2012, 10:03:38 PM

I haven't had the chance to try out many of Wyeasts strains, but I did have a go with their trappist high gravity for the imperial stout I just brewed. It seems to have done a fantastic job; good flavours and next to no lag time. Very good attenuation
I look forward to getting some feedback on some of my brews if I can dig some up to bring by! Shame St patty's day can't come sooner, I look forward to meeting some fellow brewers