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  • #2181586

    I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

    Locked

    by jck ·

    Forget politics, weapons of mass destruction, religion, and sex…well…ok…not sex.

    What beer do you like best?

    Why do you like it?

    How did you come about discovering it?

    Did you find out it was/wasn’t what you thought it would be if you knew about it previous to your first experience?

    I’m tired of serious topics, dammit. Let’s all talk about something good and fun.

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    • #3192559

      Beer for the occasion

      by jdclyde ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I actually do not drink a single beer. I know many here will question my manlyhood for some of my choices but like the saying goes, “it takes a real man to wear pink”.

      Usually it is a Killians or a Labatt Blue.
      There are times depending on what I am doing and how many days I have been hammering the drinks in a row (like last weekend) I will switch to Coors Light.

      The Coors is a last ditch effort, believe me. When the Killians/blues aren’t going like they should I switch (esp in summer) to vodka and lemonaid, or bacardi and coke w/lemon/lime/short ordered two at a time because these go two sips and done.

      While golfing, the jager bombs are king!

      In the bar the tequilla shots are a must.

      If the mixed drinks start going too quickly, the only way I will make it to the end of the night without going home early or stopping drinking is to pick up that coors.

      Note: my drinking tolerance is WAY down. Been home with the boys for the last 13 1/3 years being the responsible father never having more than two drinks when I have my boys around.

      As I am single and only have the boys part time, I am back in training.

    • #3192541

      the only long-time love I’ve had….

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Guinness…if you didn’t guess it’s my favorite, you are blind, have short memory deficit, or try to forget whatever I say.

      Hmmm…I had my first Guinness sometime in college. I remember everyone telling me how bitter it was and nasty. Then, I think it was St. Patrick’s Day in Oklahoma and most everyone was doing the traditional Bud or Coors with green food coloring in it…and someone told me I should have some Guinness and that it was real Irish beer.

      Well lo and behold, the love affair began. I didn’t get to have much in Oklahoma because they didn’t stock it and you had to usually order it. However when I moved to Florida, I found out that modernized areas of the country actually carry more than brews from 2 major American beer companies.

      So now…if you meet me…chances are, I’ll probably be wearing a Guinness cap which I picked up in Dublin and I don often whether I’m travelling, doing housework, driving to the store, or drinking at a pub.

      I don’t do much hard drinking anymore myself…try and keep away from the heavy-duty…even stay away from shots at bars and parties…it can do nasty things to me.

      • #3192533

        Oh, Yes!!

        by dmambo ·

        In reply to the only long-time love I’ve had….

        For the past year and a half, it’s been Guinness for me. I was at a St. Pat’s Day parade in which my oldest was participating in the elementary school band. It was cold, so I popped into the Irish Bar with my two younger kids. Gave the kids root beers and, in honor of the day, had my first Guinness in about 10 years. I must have matured over the years because after that one, I could not understand why I ever left.

        Now, what the hell kind of parent am I to have little kids in a bar?? (They had a great time!!)

      • #3066761

        Reply To: I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

        by gatorboy ·

        In reply to the only long-time love I’ve had….

        Guiness it is alright! I used to drink anything and everything under the sun during my service days. I am the only american in my family so it’s typical that I started drinking Miller and Bud. But I thought they were nasty tasting when they get even a little bit warm. And being that my father Irish (from the outskirts of Galway) and my mother is English (from Alconbury, outside of Cambridge) I ended up liking Guiness early. Sure I tried going back to tasting micros here and there because I enjoyed the facination in the variety of brews. But in the end, it’s good ol’ Guiness. Nowadays that’s all I drink. But every once in a while I’ll have an ice cold Corona or two. I myself was raised in Miami so it’s kind of hard not to get to liking Mexican brews. As long as they’re ice cold. If not, they fall back in to the Miller/Bud pee-water category.

      • #3066760

        Guiness it is alright!

        by gatorboy ·

        In reply to the only long-time love I’ve had….

        Guiness it is alright! I used to drink anything and everything under the sun during my service days. I am the only American in my family so it’s typical that I started drinking Miller and Bud. But I thought they were nasty tasting when they get even a little bit warm. And being that my father is Irish (from the outskirts of Galway) and my mother is English (from Alconbury, outside of Cambridge) I ended up liking Guiness early. Sure I tried going back to tasting micros here and there because I enjoyed the facination in the variety of brews. But in the end, it’s good ol’ Guiness. Nowadays that’s all I drink. But every once in a while I’ll have an ice cold Corona or two. I myself was raised in Miami so it’s kind of hard not to get to liking Mexican and islander brews. As long as they’re ice cold. If not, they fall back in to the Miller/Bud pee-water category.

    • #3192528

      Two

      by ippirate ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Guiness and Caffrey’s

      Why? Neither taste’s like warmed over cat urine and you can actually savor it verses the rice infested trash we call beer in America.

      How? The UK. Spent 2 years there and haven’t touched anything made here since. Besides at micro-brews that is.

      Guiness was the first and it took three pulls with black currant to break in. It was all down hill from there. Caffrey’s was a later contribution of special occassion.

    • #3192526

      Ohhhhhhhhhh

      by jessie ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Some liquor was spilled on the bar room floor
      as the bar was closed for the night
      and a little mouse crept from his whole in the wall in the shadow of the pale moon light

      He lapped up the liquor on the bar room floor
      and back on his haunches he sat
      and all night long you could hear him ROOOOOOAAAAARRR
      BRING ON THE GALL’ DERN CAT!

      Well the cat crept out from behind the bar
      and he gobbled up the little gray mouse
      and the moral of this story IIIIIISSSSSSSS….
      DON’T YA NEVER HAVE A DRINK ON THE HOUSE!

      For my money… the more German or Irish the beer… the better!! Lowenbrau and Guinness… but never mixed!

      • #3192521

        Killians is irish

        by jdclyde ·

        In reply to Ohhhhhhhhhh

        and has a decent taste.

        I am sure it isn’t QUITE the same as the original Irish recepie but what is?

        Now get over to my darn yuk so I can read some jokes before I leave for the weekend!

        • #3192479

          Sorry

          by jessie ·

          In reply to Killians is irish

          My joke resources have been blocked… I’ll have to do some research from home tonight, and I’ll get back to you on this one!!! And you can read them on Monday! :p

    • #3192494

      Wheat beers

      by jmgarvin ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I’m into the wheat beers. The love of them started when I was stationed in Germany and hasn’t stopped.

      I’ve also noticed most micro brews do a good job with them or have some kind of wheat (I love honey wheat, cherry wheat, and berry wheat)

      If you are ever in New Mexico, stop in a little town called Socorro and checkout the best microbrew in the southwest…It is called Socorro Spring.

    • #3192486

      Changes… like JD

      by eteller ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I’ll be drinking Corona by late july in this heat… then move up to stronger and thicker beer… Guiness. We have a place down the road, an Italian pub that has over 200 kinds. Had a good English cherry wheat. $8.30 for a 16 oz bottle.

      • #3192478

        I brew my own

        by mcdonjer ·

        In reply to Changes… like JD

        Sounds funny, but I use Mr Beer and make my own. It takes about 2 weeks to make a case. Best beer I’ve ever had.

        • #3191543

          Home-made

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to I brew my own

          I’ve heard that Mr. Beer is pretty good. Where do you get the kits?

          My brother made beer from scratch once. Very good, seemed very alcoholic and my eyesight hasn’t been the same since. 🙂

        • #3191392

          Home Made

          by mcdonjer ·

          In reply to Home-made

          I started years ago at a place called U Brew America. Some wild nights tast testing the batches. So I saw the Mr Beer kit in Target a year ago and decided to give it a try. I need to order more supplies. Go to MrBeer.com

        • #3191358

          I’ve pondered making my own

          by jck ·

          In reply to Home-made

          I’d love to figure out how to make fresh Guinness in my house…I’d bottle it by the gallon…and drink it that way too!!! 😀

        • #3191357

          My Wife’s Father…

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to I’ve pondered making my own

          …had a recipe for home made Bailey’s Irish Cream. Not as good as the original, but not too bad. Google homemade guinness and see what you get. I’ll bet nobody could get the head to roll up like the real stuff.

        • #3191354

          Go surf, my man! The truth is out there!

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to I’ve pondered making my own

          I’ve tasted some pretty good homebrew stout down the years. Home brewing is done a lot in the UK and I have to believe that the US has some equally good recipe and/or ingredient sites.

          Doesn’t take an enormous amount of effort (just clean kit) and homebrew is [b]the[/b] way to get beer in for a party especially as you can usually get 6/7% if you try!

          Neil :p

          Typing this has made me thirsty. I think I’ll have a San Miguel!

        • #3193085

          damn you to hell, NeilB!!!!

          by jck ·

          In reply to Go surf, my man! The truth is out there!

          For being timezones ahead of me and not sharing your beer!!!! 😀

          Oh well…2.5 more hours…and I can join in 🙂

          If I could learn to make Guinness at home…I wouldn’t have to go to Ireland for it…I could just focus on going there to meet the lovely ladies 🙂

        • #3193059

          I have no sympathy at all!

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to damn you to hell, NeilB!!!!

          I’ve been envying your location since you started posting. I spent a really nice two of weeks in Sarasota one October a couple of years ago. Summer is [b]still[/b] not here and the temperature outside hasn’t really hit 70F so a cold San Miguel isn’t what it is on a beach in Spain!

          Still nice, though.

          Seriously, check out the homebrew. You won’t get Guinness but – you never know – you might make something as good. I don’t know whether it might get a bit warm where you are, now, for brewing without aircon.

          One of my old Uni mates now has his own brewery and makes good beer and a good living! He started with homebrew kits and then started to work up his own recipes.

          Neil

        • #3193047

          hahahaha

          by jck ·

          In reply to damn you to hell, NeilB!!!!

          I not only have A/C in my house (yes…swill can own their own homes), but I also have a generator and plans to get a small window unit in case of hurricanes and power outages I can sleep on the couch and stay cool in the 90+F heat here.

          As for the homebrew: If I ever make something almost exactly like Guinness, I will become a hermit and stay drunk 10 hours a day…hahahahaa 😀

        • #3052937

          There are better stouts than Guinness

          by absolutely ·

          In reply to damn you to hell, NeilB!!!!

          Mind you, I’ve never been to Ireland, so I don’t mean the good stuff they keep for themselves. But I’ve tasted micro brews and home brews that are far more subtle and delicious than the Guinness that’s sold in US grocery stores. And it’s not that hard, jck. After the research, which Neil and others seem eager to do for you, it’s just half an afternoon on a couple of weekends for the various stages of fermentation and bottling.

        • #3193080

          Stout

          by mcdonjer ·

          In reply to I’ve pondered making my own

          http://store.mrbeer.com/stpatirstout3.html

          They have one! I am thinking it will be a nice Fall brew.

        • #3193078

          I can feel the Visa card coming out…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Stout

          Oh man…brew my own beer…hehehe…alcoholism…HERE I COME!!!

          St. Patricks Irish Stout…mmmm

        • #3193069

          Full Report Expected

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to I can feel the Visa card coming out…

          I want a full report of how this turns out.

        • #3193051

          JFDI

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to I can feel the Visa card coming out…

          Now!

        • #3193045

          I’m not one to rush

          by jck ·

          In reply to I can feel the Visa card coming out…

          I’m going home tonite to read about beer kits, home brewing, etc. I’ll make sure I understand the process and how to do it.

          But, that Premium Homebrew Kit looks enticing for $39.99.

          Man…I remember when the last homebrew kit I looked at 8 years ago was about $80 or something…prices have come down 🙂

      • #3191513

        places to drink

        by jck ·

        In reply to Changes… like JD

        there’s a place in Palm Bay, FL called “Tapps”.

        They had over 40 beers on tap last I was there, and over 300 in the can or bottle.

        you can get Coors or Bud there, but people look at you funny if you do.

    • #3192468

      I don’t like beer

      by john.a.wills ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I did enjoy sips from my father’s mug when I was small, but I seem to have grown up, or something. I have tried many varieties of beer, and no longer bother trying new ones. The nearest to palatable was a Belgian beer, Grolsch.

    • #3192465

      Busch Gardens about ten years ago.

      by neilb@uk ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Free Budweiser fountain! Wow!

      No. Not really. Bit of fun, though.

      Quite a few years ago, now – 12? Our Dad, me, my big brother, his son and son-in-law tried to drink the bloody thing dry. Would have done it, too if the women hadn’t complained. I think my Dad got through about fifteen (UK) pints and the rest of us a bit less and we were all still sober!

      Bloody hell, my stomach was cold by the time we gave up.

      American beer is like making love in a canoe – f*cking close to water.

      😀

      Belgians make pretty good beer and San Miguel says sun and Spain, Italian beer with pasta is just so good.

    • #3192339

      wonderful topic, jck!

      by gadgetgirl ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      – considering you know where I’m from! I’m lucky enough to live in an area that has lots of micro breweries, the most well known being the Mordue. Their ale of note is called “Sheep Dip” (tastes nothing like it, it’s very refreshing actually!) Staunch Real Ale Supporter, which is good cos the main city nearest me has a Real Ale festival (due in about 11 weeks…and counting!)

      But, obviously, I have to say something about NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE seeing as how that’s where I live. Newcy Brown is mothers milk to most Geordies. Well known for leaving the most horrendous of hangovers – only cured by having a hair of the dog (hence the request at the bar for a Bottle of Dog, not Newcastle Brown Ale)

      Production has just transferred to the other side of the river, and it’s now produced at Gateshead. So now we have to go through all the EU rigmarole to prevent it being called Gateshead Brown Ale. . . . just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

      Trivia: this was the first ale where the British Police force actually requested a brewery to reduce the alcohol content. On the first week of introduction, the jail cells of the whole of Newcastle were full of drunk and disorderly men, and caused the first actual overcrowding in jails in the north east of England!

      I know it’s available all over the world, but it’s definitely a different recipe in the US – no where near as strong as the real version – tried one in Las Vegas, purely in the interests of science, you understand?!

      Now, if I only had one of those telepathic transporter devices from the Planet Zaarg, I could instantly send all the TR peeps a complimentary bottla Dog….

      Ho hum. Well, I tried!

      • #3192334

        What’s the correct way to drink it?

        by neilb@uk ·

        In reply to wonderful topic, jck!

        My old flatmate – a Gateshead boy – used to reckon that the only way was a half-pint (thin) glass that you topped up from the bottle.

        • #3192308

          spot on!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to What’s the correct way to drink it?

          it’s the only way to keep the “head” on it properly. These people who drink it straight from the bottle don’t get the full flavour! Ideally, it should leave a trail of light coloured fluffy bubbles on the inside of the glass after every slurp ……!

          (Make of that what you will!!!!!)

        • #3192168

          Spelling errors

          by jmgarvin ·

          In reply to spot on!

          You spelled flavor and color incorrectly. 😉

          /fans the flames…

        • #3191667

          Peeing on the flames

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Spelling errors

          As cosmopolitan Citizens of the World, we, when discussing an excellent English beer such as Newcastle Brown, are perfectly within our rights to comment on the appropriateness of its colour (brown), the neighbourhood in which it is brewed (Newcastle upon Tyne) and then to wax lyrical about its flavour.

          When discussing an Americal near-beer such as Budweiser, we would, of course, use the relevant spelling to define its pisslike color and to describe its absolute lack of any discernable beer flavor.

        • #3191509

          Neil

          by jck ·

          In reply to Peeing on the flames

          ever notice sometimes when typinig to someone like you, I remember to spell them colour, flavour, and theatre?

          I also pronounce words like “garage” and “schedule” properly when in the respective country.

          It’s just the courtesy we well-mannered, respectable beer drinkers have above others 🙂

          Besides…if you say them like an American, you stick out like a sore thumb. 😀

        • #3191417

          So! Is the “swill” persona just a mask?

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Neil

          Are you really mild-mannered, cultured Clark Kent who, when he whips off the glasses, posts as SuperSwill?

          Which is the real you? Your public wants to know… :p

        • #3191415

          for fear of being harassed

          by jck ·

          In reply to Neil

          I won’t tell…

          either way…people think if I come out of my swill role, I’m out for me…when I’m just being honest.

          So…I’ll stick to swill…let the ignorant stay that way…and those who aren’t be pleasantly surprised 🙂

          btw…pints were grand on Friday…doing it again tonite!! 🙂

        • #3191510

          drinking beers

          by jck ·

          In reply to spot on!

          I was in the airport last Monday on my way back from the niece’s wedding, talking to Ed the bartender.

          He was telling me…he actually has people come in and order Guinness in the bottle…and…when he puts up a frosted pint glass to pour it in, they just take the bottle and drink it straight out of the bottle.

          I was like “Oh God, have mercy.”

          I suppose Diageo needs to give Guinness pouring classes in the states. Guinness is the beer that gives you a show before you drink it 🙂

        • #3191487

          “Oh God, have mercy.”

          by peon ·

          In reply to drinking beers

          That’s exactly what I thought, when someone offered me a ‘Weizen’ (wheat) beer FROM THE BOTTLE !

          What a shame !

          Almost as bad as in the “Paulaner’ in Lyon, France years ago. At first the joy of finding a franchise outlet of real Bavarian beer in this country, where the average beer is worse than Coors light. But the waiter just did not understand what I wanted. I pointed to a Weizen glass on another table and then also to the menu entry. He just didn’t grasp it. Eventually he brought me the wheat beer from the menu.

          In a PILS glass ! I then asked my neighbours what they were drinking ! They had PILS in Weizen glasses ! Oh those Frenchies ! Of course he didn’t understand. I don’t think they would drink a Cognac from a coffee cup !

          But I had a good laugh after all.
          And a Weizen !

        • #3191467

          Read The Bottle

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to drinking beers

          A BOTTLE of Guinness (Why anyone would choose a bottle when draught is available, I don’t know) recommends that you drink straight from the bottle. It has to do with the little charge thingy in there. The bottle also recommends drinking it ice cold, which is not the way I’d drink a Guinness draught.

        • #3191413

          when ya have no choice

          by jck ·

          In reply to Read The Bottle

          You take it from the can or bottle.

          If I could have my way, I’d never drink another one here in the states…I’d move my arse to Ireland and drink it fresh, meet all the lovely lasses there, and enjoy the craic at the local pub.

          Man…I loved that place.

          oh well…back to MS programming, stale American beers and politically correct bullsheeat

        • #3191405

          Then be a REAL man

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to when ya have no choice

          and skip that sissy beer and go straight for the Jack Daniels straight up.

          Beer is for sissies! :^)

          When I worked second shift, I would get to the bar a few hours after my buds and they would already have a good one going. To catch up I would order my “kick start” Three shots of Southern Comfort and a glass of sprite. Slam the three shots and then the sprite and I was caught right up with the rest of them. woo woo!

          and then a night without Taquilla shots just isn’t a night! Usually I skip the lemon and salt. Good stuff!

        • #3191399

          sissies

          by jck ·

          In reply to when ya have no choice

          hmm…call me sissy…that’s fine.

          I can tell you, though…I’ve had more of every kind of alcohol than most people (save alcoholics) have had in their lives…including tequila.

          There were nights when it would start out just a few beers or mixed drinks, but end up with me and my buddy Bobby drinkin straight from the 1.5 bottle. And, I remember seeing times when Bobby was on the floor and I thought he was gonna die.

          Sissy? Yeah…I don’t wanna die…so I’m a sissy.

          As for beer being for sissies…remember…you’re the self-professed Killians lover and announcer of “beer by the pool”…so…you’re a pool-frequenting, beer-loving sissy!!! So there!! 😛

        • #3191395

          Well DUH

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to when ya have no choice

          That is what is suppose to show you I was just jerking your chain, because I was putting myself in the exact same boat.

          I am not one of those losers who think your [b]manhood is defined by what or how much you drink.[/b] That is for stupid teenagers ONLY that haven’t grown up yet.

        • #3191391

          sorry man

          by jck ·

          In reply to when ya have no choice

          got a short chain…couldn’t take off work today…and tomorrow I have 2 meetings.

          I gotta become a park ranger…this friggin office shite is killin me.

    • #3192317

      Depends on the situation

      by timbstoke ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I have a wide variety of alcoholic tastes, depending on mood.

      Weekend night out: Stella Artois, moving to spirit mixers later on.

      Weeknight night out: Carling – lower alcohol content=lower hangover. Alternatively, see:

      Working Lunch: Vodka mixers – it’s the no-tell spirit and leaves no hangover as long as you avoid the cheap stuff.

      Entertaining at home: combination of spirit mixers and cocktails. Favourites are Jack&Coke, Amaretto&Coke, SoCo&Lemonade, and VodkaRedBull.

    • #3192300

      I’m not a big consumer of Alcohol but..

      by tomsal ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      For health reasons and just sheer never had that much interest in alcohol that most people have with it I’m not a huge consumer. Therefore you know it doesn’t take much for me to get tipsy — even though I’m pushing 230 lbs.

      Anyway…I do admit when I do want a good beer with a meal I look for a place that serves Sam Adams. I just like how that beer tastes and how it goes down.

      Killian’s is pretty good too, though I only tried it twice.

      Either way its just sad when your 130 pound girl friend who is 5 inches shorter than you to boot…can out drink you 5:1…lol.

      Yeah she has fun with that fact.

      lol

    • #3193024

      Decisions, decisions…

      by cortech ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      How do you choose ONE to like best??? It depends on my mood and what I’m doing. Guiness is always good, as is Bodingtons, but I prefer it if I’m just hanging out with friends in a pub.
      Sometimes something lighter like Corona, or Dos Equis reminds me of being on the beach in Mexico and is perfect when sitting on my boat. The authentic mexican versions do taste better than the locally bottled ones.

      • #3193011

        Boddington’s

        by jck ·

        In reply to Decisions, decisions…

        It’s good from a tap, but in the can it tasted crappy to me.

        Anyone else have that experience?

        Of course, I can’t stand beer from a can anyway. Makes it all taste funny to me 🙁

        • #3174542

          In this area…

          by cortech ·

          In reply to Boddington’s

          a can is about the only way to get it. I generally don’t like any beer out of a can either. Bottles are usually much better.

      • #3173772

        Guinness Abroad

        by fonken monken uk ·

        In reply to Decisions, decisions…

        I was in Key West once and the wife and I went to an Irish bar. Being really fed up with pissy beer surrogate (you know, fizzy water with marmite stirred into it) we opted for Guinness.

        The guy pouring it thought I was paying him a compliment when I explained that I’d never seen 2 pints of Guinness poured in under 10 seconds.
        I took a sip and said he could keep it – was absolutely vile.

        Moral – Key West Irish bars dont do Guinness, despite what they say. Stick to the Frozen Margharitas that give you the ice-cream headaches.

        • #3173763

          Not Always Skunky

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to Guinness Abroad

          I’ve had some nasty Guinness here in the states. It’s more of how the keg was handled from the time it left the brewery until the time your pint was poured. Now, I’ve never had one in Ireland, so maybe my frame of reference is skewed, but I’ve had many deeeelicious Guinness draughts here in the USA. Give it another try sometime.

        • #3173751

          Real Guinness = not outside of Ireland

          by jck ·

          In reply to Guinness Abroad

          I’ve heard these tales about why Guinness outside of Ireland is not like what you get in Ireland:

          “Guinness doesn’t travel well…even to the UK.” – Been told that by folks on here as well as by my friends in Newcastle, Manchester, Aberdeen and London.

          “Guinness that’s made for export is brewed at Diageo’s new facility in Nigeria.” – was told this in Dublin. That after Diageo bought Guinness from the family (who are lords and ladies in the UK now), they built a huge brewing facility in Nigeria and that the differences are because of different water, grains are shipped there, the temperature affects the process, etc.

          “When Guinness is exported, they dehydrate it to ship more, and the concentrate is reconstituted at the destination country in a facility.” – I don’t know how true this one is, but I do know that the Guinness for America is bottled from Stamford, CT. So, I’m not sure if they’re brewing it there or doing what I was told in this tale.

          All I know is this…the Guinness in Ireland is *far* tastier than what you get anywhere in the USA. I don’t know why, but it is noticably less bitter and has a smoother, creamier texture.

          Hence, I am spoiled. Drinking Guinness here is still okay, but I long with all my heart for the day I can sit daily in a pub in Ireland, have some craic with my mates, sing songs about pretty Irish girls, and maybe make a bunch of half-yank pups there.

          hahaha…till then…I must suffer with the beer here…WAH!

        • #3173116

          must…..go…..now

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to Real Guinness = not outside of Ireland

          I hope I get there soon to taste the real thing!

        • #3173040

          I should be there

          by jck ·

          In reply to must…..go…..now

          Feb 16-21 of 2006.

          Flying into Dublin, railing direct to Belfast…one night there…riding with my friend to Donegal…night there…riding to Galway…night there…rail to meet up with another good friend in Co. Clare…back to his place for a few days with he and his wife…then to Shannon and catch a flight to Portsmouth, England.

          Then I have 8 days in England and Scotland planned 🙂

          Good luck getting there. It’s beautiful. I’m still hoping for a permanent offer there and I will move.

    • #3174553

      Need brew kit input

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I was on the http://www.mrbeer.com site, and I was reviewing their kits.

      Now…if you experienced guys will fill me in…I need the beer keg brew thing, the mix, the booster (no sissy beers, thanks…need strong stuff).

      Do I need to brew it with bottled water? Tap water?

      I looked at Mr. Beer’s big kit (for $149), but there’s stuff in there I don’t think I need (like the funnel and what not).

      Someone let me know what I need. I think for less, I can get an extra brew keg and extra mix so I can make two batches at once.

      And, is the St. Patricks Stout good if anyone has tried it?

      Should I get their brew book so I can learn? Is it any good?

      I really need input on this…I’ve only ever opened beers…never brewed them.

      • #3173855

        My Kit

        by mcdonjer ·

        In reply to Need brew kit input

        Came with the keg, and a 3 pack of assorted mixes. I guess it was the Deluxe Kit. The mix pack had 3 booster packs, 3 sanitizer packs and 3 cans of beer mix. I got a 20 case of Grosch and have been using those bottles. As for the water, I have been using filtered water from the fridge.

        So far I’ve made the Pale Ale, the OctoberFest, The Canadian Draft and the Nut Brown Ale

        • #3173853

          So you like the Mr Beer Kit then?

          by jck ·

          In reply to My Kit

          I’m seriously thinking about ordering it today, so that I might be brewing by the weekend following this one.

          My ultimate goal is to determine how to make the most Guinness-like flavoured beer I can.

          Hopefully, I’ll be able to brew it cheaper than I can buy it…then savour it more often 🙂

          Thanks for your input…I really do appreciate it…I’ve also thought about the Grolsch thing. Do you know if they still make them with ceramic plugs, or did they go entirely plastic now?

          Thanks again.

        • #3173845

          You can buy caps and a capper

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to So you like the Mr Beer Kit then?

          Most beer making stores sell caps and a die for tapping the caps onto the bottles. They’ll work on almost any non-twist-off bottle.

          jck, it ain’t about the price, it’s about the feeling of accomplishment when downing your own refreshing brew.

          Well, for me, it’s about the feeling of lazy relaxation when downing a bottle of store-bought ale.

        • #3173834

          hahaha

          by jck ·

          In reply to You can buy caps and a capper

          well, I just enjoy a good beer, whether it’s a stout, pilsner, bitter, etc. Good beer is good beer.

          I just have no experience making it and I’m hesitant. But, I want the satisfaction of being able to blend my own stuff to my liking. And, I really love Guinness and would like to find a mixture as palettable as well as save me a few dollars on a case.

          Nonetheless, yeah…I’m gonna get into it. I just want feedback from others about how they like it. I’ve read reviews saying not to even bother with Mr. Beer and get a better quality starter kit, and I’ve read others that say Mr. Beer is good for an single guy who wants to experiment (that’s me!).

          As for buying bottles with a capper…The Grolsch glass bottles have a plug with a seal and a fastener that can be reclosed. so, I’ll just go buy a few 4-packs of Grolsch, drink them, then clean the bottles well and use them since they re-seal.

        • #3173813

          For me its the….

          by fonken monken uk ·

          In reply to You can buy caps and a capper

          way that brewing makes your boiler cupboard smell like a pub!!!

        • #3173790

          Tell me, Fonken

          by jck ·

          In reply to For me its the….

          Is it better to brew the beer in a totally dark room? or does the sunlight help with the yeast/fermentation?

          I got a room I can make pitch black with pre-cut boards for hurricane season.

          The only bad news is so far…they say it takes 2 weeks for a batch…WAH!!!!!

          hehehe…oh well…glad I have the liquor store til it finishes 🙂

        • #3173778

          I’ve been told…..

          by fonken monken uk ·

          In reply to Tell me, Fonken

          That a dark rooms better. Why? Well, not sure, but I know that if you are brewing cider or fruit wine with dark fruits, you’re advised to cover your brewing vessel so the colour does not degrade because of the sunlight.

          Likely the same with beer, not that I think the taste would change that much.

          So long as the yeast is warm and has a plentiful supply of food (sugar, maltose) then it’ll work its magic with or without the light!

          Be aware as well that there is an optimum amount of sugar to add – yeast has a tolerance for alcohol which varies by strain, ie even if there’s sugar to process, there may be so much alcohol already made that it kills the yeast off. Most brewers yeast will be tolerant up to 7-8% alcohol by volume.

        • #3173775

          yeah…alcohol is bad in high doses

          by jck ·

          In reply to Tell me, Fonken

          to anyone…including us.

          However…I will keep that in mind. Perhaps I’ll brew one batch in the living room, then brew one in my garage where it’s very dim.

          Don’t know if I want the house smelling like a brewery though. My parents might visit and wonder if I stole stuff from Ireland. hahaha 🙂

        • #3173840

          Yup

          by mcdonjer ·

          In reply to So you like the Mr Beer Kit then?

          Some friends have made fun of the kit, but when they taste the beer, I don’t hear anymore jokes. The manual actually recommends you use plastic bottles on the first few batches. That way you can squeeze the bottle to see if the carbonation process is done. I did this on my first batch with a few 24oz Pepsi bottles. Now is use 1 plastic test bottle. The Grolsch bottles I have still have ceramic plugs.

        • #3173831

          sweet…thanks

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yup

          I’ll get some Grolsch then this weekend and enjoy it, and order up a Mr. Beer kit so that I can (hopefully) have some brew getting started.

          I’ll also get a plastic bottle. Very good idea. Your deluxe kit came with the beermaking manual, eh? sweet…I gotta look at getting that ordered then.

          Thanks again very much 🙂

        • #3173773

          A little warning…

          by fonken monken uk ·

          In reply to sweet…thanks

          Just before I forget…

          A wwhile back, in the UK, you could get these things called ‘brew bags’.
          It was literally just a bag that came all ready with malt and sugar etc in the bottom, you just added a few gallons of hot water, swilled it around then added the yeast and left it in a warm place to expand fora few weeks.

          Tasted: VERY DODGY!!!
          Considering reputable retailers like Boots were selling these things, they have a really weird taste. A mate could only describe it as being ‘a bit spicey’.

          Avoid!!!

          PS – whats good for a hangover?
          Drinking heavily the night before!

        • #3173760

          hahahaha

          by jck ·

          In reply to A little warning…

          yeah, I can only imagine…I kinda figured the “beer in a bag” concept seems kinda weird, since part of the art of beermaking is combining ingredients to your liking.

          I look forward to experimenting with the ingredients and hopefully making a Guinness clone, since I can’t get *real* Guinness here in the states.

          I’m gonna call my order in this evening, since I need to ask questions and don’t want to order things I don’t need.

          Thanks again! 🙂

      • #3173839

        Good info

        by cortech ·

        In reply to Need brew kit input

        There is a show on cable TV on the Food Network called “Good Eats with Alton Brown. One episode was about home brewing. He does a whole step by step, covering everything from the difference in hops, to sterilization, to bottle choice. I wish I had recorded it. I’m sure they have a website with info on it.

        • #3173828

          very cool

          by jck ·

          In reply to Good info

          I got food network on the satellite. I’ll go check the guide and stuff to see if they’re replaying the episode soon so I can watch/record it for learning my new hobby 🙂

          Thanks very much! 🙂

    • #3174532

      Well for empty beer bottles

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I can get a couple 4 packs of Grolsch with the resealable bottles and use those. Saves me money.

      I’ll check that link out in a bit. I gotta head for a meeting in 10 minutes with my boss. Friggin meetings…interfering with my beer research!!! OH THE PAIN!!!

      hehehe

    • #3174527

      water here

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      is pretty mineral rich, since I’m in an area of Florida with highly pourous ground.

      I’ll probably get big bottles of distilled water and try a batch that way vs the tap water.

    • #3173821

      Brew Kits

      by fonken monken uk ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Donkeys years ago (ie before I was too young to buy booze legaly) I made shed laods of brew.
      I tried kits and did if from scratch, and as a result I’d have to offer this guidace:
      1) Kits are good, but they’ve definitely got a taste all their own (I was told its down to the malt concentrate and theway its processed), so unless you are used to ‘real ale’ try going from scratch
      2) From scratch is the best (ie you scurge, the good stuff from the malt yourself in some sort of emersion) heater but be careful not to end up with gallons of malt porridge (been there, done that!)
      3) MAke sure everything is sterile. Absolutely sterile. Not you, just your brewing equipment, else get ready to give malt vinegar away as xmas gifts.
      4) Collect re-usable bottles before you brew anything, or if you want draugh, go buy a pressure barrel.

      Personally, I prefer cider, particularly Sheppys of Taunton, Somerset. Again, home made is great but you need good bitter/ bitter-sweet apples, else you’ll end up with something that smells and tastes like acetone.

    • #3173121

      more questions about Mr. Beer

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Mr. Beer sells ingredients with their kits they say are measured and made to work with their product.

      Could I buy ingredients from other places and experiment with those also? Are ingredients generic, or do different homebrew kits use different types of additives, etc?

      • #3173115

        I think so

        by mcdonjer ·

        In reply to more questions about Mr. Beer

        It’s been a few weeks since I’ve read the documentation that came with my kit, but I do remember they gave advice on adding to the mixes to make special flavors of beer. Cherry flavoring comes to mind.

        • #3173099

          Cherry? Gah!

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to I think so

          That you may certainly spell as “flavor”!

        • #3173094

          Fruity Beer

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to Cherry? Gah!

          (Please notice shout) NOT GOOD!!

        • #3173095

          Well, what I was thinking of

          by jck ·

          In reply to I think so

          if I find a homemade beer shop here (closest one that sells Mr Beer is 30 miles from me) and they don’t have Mr. Beer products, can I substitute other manufacturers beer-making ingredients to make beer in a Mr. Beer kit?

          Basically, I’m worried about ingredient concentration, etc…since I’ve never seen the Mr. Beer ingredients (St. Patrick’s Irish Stout, for example), I don’t know if it’s a powder form and what kind of concentration it has.

          I’m thinking when they say things are made “especially for our kit”, they mean that you have to use their stuff in measured quantities to get quality. Using anyone else’s product might not produce the intensity and richness because of a lack of concentration in the mixture.

          I might ask them on the phone when I call. I didn’t get to call last night…I got an invite to go swimming after 2 hours of yard work. couldn’t turn it down.

        • #3173090

          It’s goo

          by mcdonjer ·

          In reply to Well, what I was thinking of

          Ya put the water in the wart, add in the can of goo (beer mix) stir for 5 minutes and then add in the yeast. Stir again and let it sit in a cool dark place for a week. Then you prime each bottle with a teaspoon of sugar and put the beer in the bottle. Cap the bottles and let them sit in a cool dark place for a week.

          Chill and server.

        • #3173044

          Cool

          by jck ·

          In reply to It’s goo

          So you add sugar and/or yeast accordingly to the level of alcohol concentration you want…right? And if I remember, the water is supposed to be warm you put in the wart…and the bottles totally sterile or (as one guy put it) be ready to have vinegar for your friends? I have been doing a bit of reading 🙂

          Man…I am ordering that thing tonight.

          I am going to order 2 extra kegs too. Going to start working on my pseudo-Guinness mix.

          Thanks again 🙂

        • #3173035

          Then purchase yourself….

          by fonken monken uk ·

          In reply to Cool

          A Hydrometer. Very cheap (like pence over here) and it will indicate the potential strength of your brew, the actual strength, the concentratioin of fermentable matter, and when its finished fermenting.

          It’d be a good guide to your sugar levels etc.

        • #3173033

          those should be available

          by jck ·

          In reply to Then purchase yourself….

          at a homebrew store, I take it?

          Thanks for the info 🙂

      • #3185502

        Fine tuning batches

        by cbalness ·

        In reply to more questions about Mr. Beer

        Mr. beer would probably “like” you to get their stuff for their kits (also to ensure reproducable results) but you should be able to mix and match.

        In the past I have used a darker dextrose in place of the while malt sugar to introduce more character. There are many extras available to really custom craft the finished product.

        Good luck

    • #3175180

      tonight is for sure…and f***ing beer night

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      what do you call a boss who wants a project done now that doesn’t have to be ready until October 1?

      Paranoid?

      Scared?

      I call him…pain in the arse.

      So, I’ve pacified him…gotten him to take some of the load of me having to load a whole new server with SQL Server and give that to Tech Services HQ…so all I have to do is finish writing an import utility for the techs here.

      I’m having a lot of beer tonite. If you all see vulgar posts tonite…it’s because the filters can’t distinguish between various ASCII blanks.

      ciao

      btw…had no time for ordering last night or all day tonite. Work sucks.

    • #3178887

      alrighty…finally…

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      amidst handling father’s day… yardwork… housework… travel…

      Last night, I purchased my beer kit from Mr. Beer.

      I gotta tell you, Mr. Beer is a company I want to deal with in the future. Why?

      1) The call person was polite. (you’d expect that)

      2) She told me that from the first day you start at Mr. Beer, they give you a basic kit and tell you to start learning how to brew when you get home, i.e.- they want their employees to know what they’re talking about , in regards to their product, to customers…not just read a script. (wish all IT support did that)

      3) By the end of it all, I essentially got their “Ultimate Beer Kit” but with the beer choices I wanted…and, she ended up saving me about $20.

      4) You can actually contact Mr. Beer’s brewmaster for information. How many times could you contact an IT director, Accounting director, or PR director at a company?

      Mr. Beer is friendly. They are open to questions about brewing. In fact, the phone rep said I could call any time on their 800 number to ask any question about brewing beer and they would be happy to answer.

      I gotta tell you: if my cable company and phone company were that helpful and friendly, I’d be talking good about them too.

      OK…so the line-up for my brewing future is:
      Honey Brown Ale recipe
      Blarney Stone Irish Stout recipe
      Octoberfest’s Vienna Lager booster combo
      two more custom booster combos (involving a Irish Stout and English Nutbrown Ale mix)
      Sticky Wicket Oatmeal Stout Brewmaster’s select combo

      Needless to say, my brewing experience will start in 5-8 business days (shipping time to get here).

      • #3178854

        Keep us updated.

        by dmambo ·

        In reply to alrighty…finally…

        Next time you’re on the phone with Mr. Beer (Senor Cerveza, Monsieur Biere…) let them know that you’ve got an audience.

        You gotta love a female Mr. Beer rep. Be sure to fantisize that she’s hot.

        • #3178849

          hot beer chicks

          by jck ·

          In reply to Keep us updated.

          my view on women that drink beer:

          I like it.

          It was one of the things I liked about Ireland. A woman would be sitting with the men with a pint drinking and conversing. It was absolutely normal and ubiquitous there. In the USA, you see that amongst friends, but not as widespread as a social practice.

          I guess that’s the difference in a “bar” (USA) and a “pub” (UK/Ireland)… most people go out here to the bar for drinks…most people there go to the pub to have pints…

          Dunno…I like it tho when a girl likes beer…even if it’s Budweiser. (blech!)

          It did kind turn me on there’s a chance there’s a cute chick at Mr. Beer who knows how to brew. That would be so hot…brewing beer together…kind of akin to Patrick and Demi doing pottery in Ghost…hahahah ]:)

        • #3178831

          oh yeah…

          by anykey??? ·

          In reply to hot beer chicks

          nothin hotter than sitting there with your woman for two weeks while the sugar water and yeast FERMENT into an intoxicating beverage.

          You know I can’t think of any thing more romantic. (does my sarcasm
          come across ok in print)

          And remember now that you are starting to make your own beer that, alcohol is not a replacement for women, your pinis might get stuck in the bottle. hahahahahahahahaha

        • #3178803

          yep

          by jck ·

          In reply to oh yeah…

          but, at least my head isn’t stuck up my arse! :p

          BTW…what can you do in that two weeks????? hmmm?

          Then when you’re done, I’m sure ya’d be thirsty…and…voila! beer…

          see…there’s a reason behind the madness 🙂

          also…fyi…not had a real girlfriend in better than a decade…and I haven’t been in a bottle yet. 😉

        • #3178760

          are you trying to say…

          by anykey??? ·

          In reply to yep

          that I have a cranial-rectal inversion problem?

          I am actually very interested in this thread, I have been kicking around the idea of making my own beer for a while now.

          So please keep us posted as to how it works out for you.

          IMO you have probably not been in a bottle yet cos the necks are to big HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 🙂

        • #3177923

          lexically…

          by jck ·

          In reply to are you trying to say…

          if you had a “cranial-rectal inversion” your head and rectum would be swapped positionally.

          rectocranial incursion…there ya go 🙂

          as for bottles…that’s right…I’ve said in another thread that I’m hung like a pimple like Howard Stern. So, you’re spot on chippy.

          I’m 6’6…so…all I gotta do is go anorexic and I’ll look physically like Stern too.

          BTW…I will keep everyone updated…a co-worker said he’d get a kit if things went well with this one.

          I am just overly impressed with Mr. Beer’s customer service. So far, they are top notch. I have to find somewhere, if it continues to be, that I can recommend them for some kind of award…45 minutes on the phone…discussing beer…brewing…how it will/won’t make your house smell…direct/lack of/artificial sunlight’s effects on beermaking…types of hops…man…I felt so good after that call…like they really cared about my beer experience…it was amazing…and…she was just a phone operator…and knew more about making beer than probably half the guys at Anheuser-Busch.

        • #3177848

          jck

          by anykey??? ·

          In reply to are you trying to say…

          the term used here at work is cranial-rectitis is almost as good as cranial-rectal incursion.

          I am getting serious about this home brew thing after hearing your experience,I think it might be a good solution for myself because I have yet to find a beer that I enjoy as much as you enjoy Guinness.My biggest complaint about most beer is that it way to bitter,
          As for Budweiser and the likes I would rather drink nail polish remover and chase it with horse pi$$ cos that is about what it tastes like.

          Until I begin brewing a beer that suits my taste I’ll continue to drink scotch, or what ever happens to be around that is 80 proof or more 😉

          as for being hung like a pimple I’ve heard a rumor that your about 1/2inch away from having a pu$$y

        • #3177796

          anykey

          by jck ·

          In reply to are you trying to say…

          Yeah, Mr. Beer’s rep (I think her name was Debbie) was really cool…total pleasure dealing with someone like that.

          And…nothing wrong with a scotch as a staple in your cabinet 🙂

          As for being a half-inch away from having a pu$$y…well…that’s only if I’m dancing with my hips 1 inch from a woman 😉

    • #3176726

      question for the brewing experienced

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I’ve cooked for years, but never brewed so I have a question:

      When making a recipe from someone else’s, can you reduce contents proportionally to reduce the amount of beer you’re making according to measured amounts?

      I found a recipe for a clone of Guinness Draught and Extra Stout both. I want to brew them (eventually) when I get my Mr. Beer kit, but I didn’t know if you could scale back proportionally and still have it work. The recipes say they make 6 gallons. My kit will only make 2.5 gallons.

      Can anyone give me some input?

      Thanks

      • #3177192

        In my experience…

        by anykey??? ·

        In reply to question for the brewing experienced

        doing catering,most recipes can be increased or decreased proportionally to the amount needed,with the one exception being baked items like bread.

        I always have to tweak the recipes for baked goods several times when I’m trying to increase the yield from one batch.I have been told it is like chemistry,you need exactly the right proportions of ingredients to get the proper reaction from the yeast.

        I do believe you could do the same thing with your beer just by calculating out the proportions you need,That always puts me in the ball park the first time, but the end results usually vary greatly in quality, it will take fine tuning to get it totally right,but from then on you are all set.

      • #3177466

        Yes that will work

        by fonken monken uk ·

        In reply to question for the brewing experienced

        Scaling back the ingredients will work, and if you want to check, get a hydrometer (think I posted something about them above) to check that the potential alcohol is the same, else the taste will certainly be the same.
        I’ve got some brew books that go back to 1930, and they advise to make any booze ina big a bulk as possible. Dont know why particularly, but I suppose its nice to have more booze than you know what to do with

        See the link – what you know about brewing beer can easily transfer to wine
        http://shop.piwine.com/shopsite/prwc/instrum.html

        • #3177324

          Thanks

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yes that will work

          yeah, I am supposed to get the kit today…will begin with a strong Irish Stout so that I can get that perfected first. Then, I’ll get into regular porters. And, I’ll make some lager.

          Also will try my hand at ciders, but that will come much later.

          I gotta try and get a beer that, when I pour it, has the bubbles fall on the outside and tastes as close to guinness draught as possible 🙂

          I will let you know tomorrow how the “psuedo-brewmastering” goes tonite 🙂

    • #3176350

      jck, Did You Get It Started?

      by dmambo ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      How did starting the first batch of Mad Scientist Ale go? Is it doing it’s magic under the stairs or wherever?

      • #3177141

        not yet

        by jck ·

        In reply to jck, Did You Get It Started?

        I had stuff come up and had to deal with it. The kit is on its way from Mr. Beer and I hope to have it on Friday so that I can start making beer on Saturday.

        I will let you know first thing when I get it. Just been very busy at work and home and I am (as I’m typing this) on the phone to discuss the issues with VB.NET and why COM Interop isn’t backward compatible between Office application versions that are supposedly interface compatible.

    • #3178071

      latest beerkit update

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      *** NEWSFLASH ***

      Looks like the kit (all 26.8 lbs of it) arrives at my house tomorrow. I’ll be calling UPS this evening to see if it is going to require signature (I’m sure it will).

      If so, I’ll have it home by 6pm tomorrow night if they keep their promised delivery time.

    • #3179200

      it’s probably at my house now

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      as of 8:46am, UPS had my shipment marked as “Out for Delivery”.

      I will be reading the brew book as soon as the box is opened and the items are counted.

      There is a God…so long as my Guinness-like beer is good 🙂

      • #3188027

        Harp on this!

        by caleb ·

        In reply to it’s probably at my house now

        I do love the Guiness, but Harp ale, from the same producer, is also quite good. One of my favs, alongside Bass and Stella.

        I have always had a problem with many of the local brews. I’ve got to be quite parched to take anything from Labatts or Molson. I’d much rather a micro-brew. (At times I think Molson’s horse has kidney problems.)

        While I generally gravitate towards Scotch as a preferred libation, I can be happy with almost anything from Europe, South America, even Japan. US and Canada have some excellent micros, but the big names just don’t appeal to me, and not just because of their advertising methods.

        • #3188014

          Amen

          by jck ·

          In reply to Harp on this!

          Yeah, I can’t stand Coors and Bud as an enjoyment. They’re good really cold on a 105F/41C degree day.

          Otherwise, I like few American and Canadian beers. There are definitely good micros all over, but you generally can’t get them unless you go to the brewhouse or get lucky and have someone carry as a specialty thing (which usually gets marked way the heck up).

          And yes, I like European beers better myself. Stella, Bass, Harp, McEwans, etc, are all good. Too many to name, but I totally agree with you.

    • #3188011

      good news

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      The kit is in…
      The instructions are in my hand…
      I’ll have a batch brewing by 10pm

      Beer…it’s what’s for dinner (on or about July 17) 🙂

      • #3187399

        update, we need an update man

        by anykey??? ·

        In reply to good news

        did ya get it brewing or what.
        July 17 is marked on my calendar don’t let me down.

    • #3187370

      big update/pointers for brewers in warm states

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      The first batch is settled in my guest bathroom fermenting at a comfortable 75F. A nice Irish Stout.

      OK…first off…generic tips to the Mr. Beer brewing items.

      1) Have lots of counter/work space to do this…I’d say at least 5′ long x 2-3′ deep.

      2) When prepping the extract or mix in the can, put it in hot water from your tap for *15* minutes. The instructions say “warm” water for 10 minutes. It was still sludgy coming out of the can.

      3) When putting booster into the water, add it *very* slowly. I poured the whole bag into the pot over about a 2 minute time period and still had clumps bigger than a golf ball. I’m not sure if this happened because I added it into the water after the mix and extract, or because it does that naturally in any temp of water.

      *NOTE: I’ll be calling Mr. Beer to ask about these things. when I find out answers, I’ll put them here.

      Now for people in warm locations, I have one huge tip for you in regards to water you add to cool the wort:

      – When Mr. Beer says “cold tap water”, it better be cold. It took my 2 gallons of wort about 4 hours to come down to 80F so that I could add the yeast. In Florida, it seems the coldest tap water is not cold enough. You might put the cold water you use in the recipe in the refrigerator for 30-60 mins before you do the brewing. This way, you can almost be assured of not having a 6-hour brewing process like I did.

      But nonetheless, the beer is in the fermenter…and aging gracefully, I hope.

      I’ll keep posting things as it goes on.

      BTW…the recipe i’m using:

      1 can St. Patrick’s Irish Stout Mix w/ yeast pack in cap
      1 Can Creamy Brown Unhopped Malted Extract
      1 bag of Booster (to add that alcohol punch)
      1/4 oz. Northern brewer hops

      It’s their Shillelagh Stout II recipe, with a packet of booster added to make it a full 6% alcohol stout (would be 4.6% abv without it).

      ok…more later 🙂

    • #3187766

      growing beer

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Man…I got home yesterday…and…the yeast REALLY grew…I mean…almost a half inch thick…and I could see it falling as it was exhausting itself slowly.

      Man…I am diggin this…and I told my mother I was doing this as my hobby now…and she goes “Oh God, your uncle Bob used to do that too.”.

      My uncle Bob was the guy who used to tell me stories when I was a little boy about how if you didn’t keep your carpets nice, the gremlins would come out at night, pull the loose threads out and start spinning gold out of them for themselves.

      Yes…weird grows in my family, jd. yuk yuk

      • #3172802

        Ready on the 17th, hmm?

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to growing beer

        So we need to be prepared to whisper on the board on the 18th so you can cope with your humungus hangover…

        Any late nite posts on the 17th will no doubt be badly spelt and grammatically incorrect, too – as well as nonsense!

        Glad to see you’re having a go at this. But it did remind me of when the ex had a go at brewing his own (one of the 9 expensive hobbies he invested in and dropped after a number of weeks)

        The beer was all cooked, brewed and bottled when his father visited. So the ex passed on 2 bottles, with instructions that they’d be ready to drink the day after tomorrow. So they left our house, and started the 20 mile drive to theirs….and we received a phone call when they got in to say that both bottles had blown their tops off on the way home, and him, her and the car all smelled like a brewery! He had to have the car valeted 3 times before he could drive it without feeling sick, and another 3 times before the smell started to leave.

        Funniest part of all was when he had to ask a policeman for directions, and got breath tested – but then again his smart remark of “It’s not me that’s been drinking, it’s the car” didn’t help….!

        – did Uncle Bob also turn over all his coins on the first night of the full moon too? I gotta family like that!!!

        GG

        • #3172587

          beers, cops, and Uncle Bob

          by jck ·

          In reply to Ready on the 17th, hmm?

          Uncle Bob did all sorts of funny stuff. A real character…he probably did do that. I can’t really remember him doing that in front of me. He also used to tell me that they had people living in the cellar of their house named Burt Carrot and Ghost Peterson.

          I have no idea where he got these stories. It was a hoot though.

          As for beers…yeah, I plan on aging the beer in a bathtub with the shower curtain closed so that if any of the bottles blows that they only affect vinyl and tile.

          As for the cop…in my hometown, the cop probably would have confiscated his clothing and tried to extract the beer so he could drink it. 😉

          I’ll be bottling the stuff on Friday or Saturday (when a hurricane might be getting here). So if need-be, I can go buy a $79 A/C unit from Home Depot and plug it in to my generator to make sure the beer finishes carbonating well…then I’ll have to keep the fridge cold and guarantee the beer stays fresh. 😀

        • #3186849

          and….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to beers, cops, and Uncle Bob

          not too much tasting of the brew as you’re bottling – remember it’s still in its last stages, and the last thing you want is beer still fermenting and brewing in your stomach….

          (yup. the ex did that one too. was ill for 2 days. ]:) Mind you, he did drink the equivalent of 4 bottles…..)

          Similar families – my grandmother had regular conversations with Mrs. Underthestairs telling her exactly what I’d done when I’d been a bad girl…

        • #3186806

          what?

          by jck ·

          In reply to and….

          you? a bad girl? hmm…I can hardly believe that! 😉

          Yeah…well…I had 2 sisters who weren’t so nice…they’d lock me in closets and clothes hampers with dirty clothes (remember…I was about 2-3 years old) for hours. Makes the memories of my uncle that much better.

          They didn’t get punished…they’d tell my mother it wasn’t true. Lovely family…now you know why I don’t get along with my sisters…and why they now don’t pick on me since I grew up.

          They know I’d kick their arse now!!! 😀

          I need to go home and drink a therapeutic beer…not one in the keg tho!! 😉

        • #3180054

          Was it good for you?

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to what?

          – the therapeutic beer, I mean 😉

          Which brand got hammered last night? Any particular one? You need to be careful you know, we’re heading back in the direction of the original topic – oops! – must be a mistake, I know. Sheeesh, what would jdclyde say if he knew we were sorta keeping on track here?:p

          Me?

          Bad?

          Nope.

          Ain’t had any complaints yet …..:O

          GG

        • #3180031

          ended up

          by jck ·

          In reply to Was it good for you?

          not getting hammered 🙁 I am starting hurricane prep, as we have a possible major hurricane coming up my side of Florida.

          Oh well, guess I need to run down and get a case of Guinness tonite!! 😀

          I’ve had plenty of complaints…just usually about other people. 😉

    • #3184359

      Today is the 1st coming of

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      fermented beer in my house.

      Yes, it has been one week since I began fermenting my Shilellagh (sp?) Irish Stout II brew…with added “booster” for more alcohol content…and, I will be checking it to see that it’s ready.

      If it is, then the bottling will begin and I will be less than 10 days from having my very first batch of homebrew.

      It was looking good though, last time I checked. Hopefully, I will have succeeded.

      Now…a question for you experienced homebrewers:
      How did you keep a room in your house between 68-76F/20-24C to ensure proper fermenting? Do you use a cellar? or have a special room with a cooling unit in it?

      I understand in Britain and northern Europe it is cooler, but it has been between 88 and 94 here outdoors and keeping that room 74F has been paramount to making sure the beer ferments properly. I just hate to see my light bill next month.

      • #3184330

        oh dear

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Today is the 1st coming of

        your title line.

        You put that in your title line.

        Knowing how my mind works….

        oh dear

        ;\

        • #3184318

          er…umm…

          by jck ·

          In reply to oh dear

          I think the first vowel is different…

          Nonetheless…there’s nothing wrong with imagination!!! (It’s all I’ve got!)

      • #3184269

        jck,Considered blogging this thing?

        by dmambo ·

        In reply to Today is the 1st coming of

        It’ll be easier than keeping up with this thread. And believe me, I’m interested in how this baby turns out.

        • #3184230

          erm…yeah…I did…

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck,Considered blogging this thing?

          but, I don’t like the blog interface…too many applet buttons and what not.

          I like to keep it simple and neat…and efficient…and the blog interface requires me to go to so many different interfaces and scroll through all the responses at once.

          If everyone wants me to blog it, I will.

          I’m not out to piss anyone off…

    • #3182780

      Don’t let Dennis drink your beer!

      by gadgetgirl ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Now, look, jck, I know you said you were big, but I think you’ll find Dennis is bigger.

      So no fighting with him, right?

      But if he tries to get your beer out from under you, I’ll leave it in your very capable hands!!

      Keep safe

      :p

      • #3182777

        Thanks, GG

        by jck ·

        In reply to Don’t let Dennis drink your beer!

        If I see Dennis coming with a bottle opener, I will start to consume the beer ahead of time so as to rain on his parade 🙂

        I’ll be alright…me and my neighbours will hang through this. We’re all stocked up on supplies (I have 12 gallons of bottled water, 12 2-liter bottles of soda, 18 bottles of Guinness Draught (oxymoronic term, isn’t it?), about 15 cans of soup, freezer full of food I can grill if we’re out of power for a while, and a generator to power the DVD player and television when I get absolutely bored).

        Things will be okay…trust me.

        How can it be wrong? 18 Guinnesses is a full 2 day supply! 😀

        • #3182746

          Yeah, jck – Stay dry

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to Thanks, GG

          Looks like this bad boy is going west of you, right?

          18 Guinness is 2 days worth? You might want to pick up a few more in case power is out for a week.

          Hmmm….Water for survival or Guinness for life?? I’m glad I don’t have to make that call. 😀

          Keep your head down, man

        • #3182740

          surviving on Guinness

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yeah, jck – Stay dry

          is more probable than with water…Guinness has minerals and iron and carbohydrates.

          I will do, as they suggest, and hit the ATM today and get cash so that if stores have power out, I can still buy Guinness and food and what not.

          Oh yeah…I have 2 bags of charcoal briquettes, 1 bottle lighter fluid, and 2 cans of propane gas…I have 2 grills (one gas grill, one charcoal grill)…so…cooking will be a snap.

          The only thing I hope doesn’t happen after the storm (if it hits here) is the looting like in Miami in 1994 after Andrew.

          I have 4 guns…and if anyone tries to break in my house, they will suffer loss of their life.

          If a man comes to me hungry, I will feed him. I’m not inhumane. There’s no need to steal from me…just ask for food or dry clothing or water.

          thanks for the sentiments…My goodness…my Guinness!!! Guinness go neart! 😀

        • #3182724

          only 18 ????

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Thanks, GG

          :^O

        • #3182720

          Merely an afternoon’s refreshment

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to only 18 ????

          for a Geordie!

          :p

        • #3182715

          Afternoon? Hmmmph!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Merely an afternoon’s refreshment

          2 hours max.

          (The 18 cans of Guinness I mean!!! :8} )

          For the men here, maybe. I’d be quite happy with a bottle of wine or three

          (less fizzy, less fattening, less comfort breaks :D)

        • #3182710

          Hey GG

          by jck ·

          In reply to Afternoon? Hmmmph!

          When I saw they only had 18 bottles…

          I bought a 750ml of Captain Morgan Private Stock spiced rum, and a bottle of Lehnert Piesporter Kabinett 😉

          I am prepared ]:)

        • #3182707

          Yus.

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Hey GG

          You is.

          I’ll give you that one, jck, you really are prepared!

          but where’s my wine?

          (and don’t reply with a “ooooo” type whine!)

        • #3182703

          if you ever come visit

          by jck ·

          In reply to Hey GG

          You have to let me know ahead of time and, if they keep it in stock, I will have it at my house next to a bottle opener.

        • #3182712

          erm….are you saying…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Merely an afternoon’s refreshment

          that Geordie girls are alcoholics????? 😀

          as I said in the other post…all they had were 3 6-packs of bottles…and I hate the cans…so, I am hoping they have more in today…I’ll throw the gallon bottle of hot sauce out to put more Guinness in the refrigerator 🙂

        • #3182709

          nope, not Geordie girls…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to erm….are you saying…

          Geordie men are, though!

          Us wimmin’s jus’ practishin’ allot till wekin git purrfick….

          hic!

          sho, schwill, (pal) – Ya luckin’ f’ra a alcohh alcooo all holoc (hic!) drinkin buddeee ???

        • #3182704

          hahahaha

          by jck ·

          In reply to nope, not Geordie girls…

          ah shar um…yee meind if’n we stoop bay dee loo so ay’cun let goo sum yoosed bair? 😉

        • #3182713

          18: The reason why so few

          by jck ·

          In reply to only 18 ????

          It’s all the store had in stock…the bastards!!! 😀

        • #3182711

          which implies, then

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to 18: The reason why so few

          that you drank the store dry !!!! :^O

          You MUST be a big man!!! ;\

        • #3182708

          no no no…didn’t drink it dry

          by jck ·

          In reply to which implies, then

          You must understand…most Americans think Budweiser and Coors are “good” beers.

          Most also think that Heineken or Corona is a “great” beer (Heineken is okay…Corona, IMHO, sucks).

          I usually blow peoples’ minds when I introduce them to something like Guinness, Franziskaner, Warsteiner, Stella Artois, Grant’s Perfect Porter, or the other sundry of beers I know about.

          It’s like I told a customer once when I worked in a liquor store:

          “Who do you think would really know how to make beer?? The country that’s been making it for 100 years? Or the countries that have been making it for a thousand years?”

          nonetheless…I’m a big man…but, I can’t drink out the supply of Guinness…they’d increase their inventory if they knew they could sell more. Damn capitalists!!! 😀

        • #3182705

          Squirming on the hook

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Thanks, GG

          “18 Guinnesses is a full 2 day supply!”

          I wonder who said that?

          LOL 😀

        • #3182701

          Well…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Squirming on the hook

          if you had my job, that’s all you could drink too in the USA.

          BTW, did I mention that during and after the event…if the government is shut down that I work for…I will be having to work rotating shifts out in the field watching generators and pump stations to get water going even when electricity is out?

          I can take down 9 pints in a few hours drinking at a leisurely pace. Hell, I had 14 my first night in Ireland.

          Guinness loves me…I make their stock go up!! 😀

        • #3182698

          stay safe, jck

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Well…

          gotta go home now

          will be watching Dennis, though

          Take care

          Hugs

          GG

        • #3182693

          thanks

          by jck ·

          In reply to stay safe, jck

          I’m gonna try…

          Like I said…if I end up getting hit by something, I’ll demand my laptop and internet in from the ER. 😀

        • #3183788

          you’re back…..

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to thanks

          so I assume you’re ok?

          any damage?

          Any Guiness left? (!) :^O

          (I know, I know, damn silly question ;\

    • #3183784

      An Adults Sweet Shop – A good Pub

      by arthurp ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Should you ever find your way to Reading, (England), then please take a few minutes to find the HobGoblin pup … it’s on the Broadstreet opposite the Oracle shopping centre; where you will find 90% of the beers are “Real Ale”.

      It’s definetly an adults’ sweetshop, where you’ll find it hard to find the same beer two days in a row …

      They’ve managed to provide 4,800 beers in 12 years

      Take a look

      Arf’s

      • #3183782

        Aaaargh…

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to An Adults Sweet Shop – A good Pub

        why didn’t I know that when I was there last August…?!

        Darn. X-(

        • #3195809

          that’s because

          by arthurp ·

          In reply to Aaaargh…

          That’s because it’s opposite the Oracle, and Coffee Republic … looking from the outside it appears to be a small theme pub, but when you walk inside you will have entered a tardis …

          Well worth checking out … next time you’re in town

          Arf’s

    • #3183695

      I’m back…and bottled

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Yeah…hurricane stayed west of me. I’m okay.

      Actually, didn’t have that many Guinness this weekend…I stayed busy with boarding up, getting things prepared so if I had to move patio furniture in I could, etc. I had two Friday, then I had a taste of my homebrew on Sunday(?) when I bottled it.

      I did manage to drink 3/4 of a bottle of rum this weekend tho ]:)

      I’ll save the Guinness for the flavour….I drink rum for effect. 😀

      • #3183692

        and? and?

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to I’m back…and bottled

        Ye gods, you had a taste of your homebrew and you’re not telling us how it was?

        Come on you! Out with it?

        Give yourself marks out of ten ….

        Dying to make a remark about the “rum for effect” – wot effect?! ;\ I’m sure you don’t drink it to get drunk, do you ?????????

        GG

        • #3183520

          Me and my old friend…Captain Morgan

          by jck ·

          In reply to and? and?

          When I wanna get my buzz going…and don’t want to waste any time…I buy a bottle of Captain Morgan Private Stock and start mixing it with this generic brand diet cola that’s actually carbonated after you mix (Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi go flat in spiced rum in about 30 seconds).

          As for my beer? Well coming out of the fermenter, it’s gonna be yeasty…and…this is my first batch…but overall, 1 to 10 scale…a 7.3. It was kinda alcoholish, but that’s because it is gonna be 7.x% beer.

          I’m just hoping the week in the bottles and fridge before Emily is enough time. I’m calling Mr. Beer tonight to talk to them about how to know when it’s ready to refrigerate…if I just know by the feel of the plastic bottle…or, if I need to wait a certain number of days before I chill it.

          Nevertheless, I still have several bottles of Guinness in the refrigerator so that I won’t have to suffer if it’s not ready this weekend.

          BTW…I left the house boarded up so that I have more beer enjoying time 🙂

        • #3183509

          Leave the boards up jck!

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Me and my old friend…Captain Morgan

          Wow! They’re early this year. After last year’s four it’s either global warming or someone is really pissed with Florida!

          Hurricane number five (Emily, you say?) seems to be heading in your direction as well. Early days, though.

          You take care and keep your head down. Beer only when it’s safe!

          Neil 🙂

        • #3183979

          beer safety

          by jck ·

          In reply to Leave the boards up jck!

          I have to tell you, Neil.

          If they tell us on the news a Category 5 is heading toward me, I’ll be pulling the mattress off my bed, putting it over me and my Guinness in the bathtub, and hoping I can hold it down.

          I figure between the 12 inch thick pillow-top mattress on top of the tub and the metal bathtub with a concrete block wall on two sides of it…I should be able to make it through just about anything.

          The tricky part would be getting out from under a water-soaked mattress after all those beers!!!! hahaha 😀

        • #3183977

          Priorities look about right

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to beer safety

          if Emily decides to come over to play!

          So, you guys going for the record this year? Five named storms and we’re not in the middle of July, yet!

          😀

        • #3183972

          yeah…we’re trendsetters

          by jck ·

          In reply to Priorities look about right

          Most hurricanes in a season will be set this year, I have no doubt. I think 17 named storms…10 will hit land…be various strengths.

          Remember…we’re also the state that got a president elected without having the majority of votes of the American public.

          We’re also the state that chemically castrates repeat sexual offenders to kill their sexual urges all together. (I love that law…most states just put em in jail and think that cures them)

          Oh well…enough of that…this year, we’re gonna set the highest damage total for natural disasters.

          Yippie 🙁

        • #3183953

          Seriously, do you think that you’ll top Andrew?

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Priorities look about right

          The family were vacationing in Florida the spring following Andrew and we drove from Orlando down to the Keys and the devastation was like nothing we’d ever seen before. I sincerely hope that you don’t get anything LIKE that! at least not until you’ve moved to Ireland!

          I got quite interested in hurricanes – I’ve always been an amateur meteorologist – and since then I watch with interest and from a safe distance.

          I’m a bit sick, a couple of my ambitions are to get myself on a Tornado-chasing vacation and to sit through a [b]proper[/b] hurricane – Cat 3 from behind concrete will do.

          Neil 😀

        • #3183945

          things to remember about storms

          by jck ·

          In reply to Priorities look about right

          I used to work as a volunteer stormspotter/damage assessor for FEMA/Civil Defense.

          1) Stay at least 1.5 miles back from chasing a tornado. Debris fields thrown off within 2000-3000 feet of the vortex can often mask flying objects until they are flying at speeds near 300mph and are more likely to catch you off-guard (fence posts, car doors, etc).

          2) Hurricanes: best watched on a television. Yeah, Andrew was bad. However, a lot of that was due to poor enforcement of the housing codes in the Miami/Homestead area. Homes were not properly constructed and once the roof is ripped off the house is done in for even in a Category 2 storm.

          3) Winds of a Category 3 hurricane are 111-130 mph. If these winds break off a metal signpost, this object (when airborne hitting on its end) can punch through a concrete block wall or brick exterior, and cause actually chip chunks from solid concrete walls.

          My advice: keep that safe distance. I only stay here because I have a decent job now, plus I’d have to worry about moving my parents out of the state before I leave the country so that I wouldn’t have to worry from 5,000 miles away if they’re in danger when a storm comes.

        • #3183826

          I sometimes find the tricky part to be…

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to beer safety

          getting UP off a “water”-soaked matress after all those beers 😀

        • #3183818

          hahahaha…

          by jck ·

          In reply to I sometimes find the tricky part to be…

          I went out with friends once and got sloshed and stayed at my friend’s.

          I thought I’d gone on his bed or something once, cause I woke up and part of my shirt was wet.

          Evidently, I just sweated so much cause he didn’t run his AC that it made my shirt damp.

          Friggin thought I was going to start needing Attends or Depends. 😀

        • #3184015

          Good for you

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Me and my old friend…Captain Morgan

          first batch gets a 7.3/10 …well done, jck!

          I’m proud of you 😉

          Heard about Emily last night, and immediately sent you telepathetic messages to leave the boards up – glad they worked! 😀

          Only several bottles of Guiness in the fridge? Gosh, your stocks are running low – better go and bulk buy, quick!!

          (I’m assuming you have one of those all singing, all dancing, does-everything-but-make-the-tea type of American refrigerators…)(I want one. Have the space but not the dosh! X-( )

          Neil – need a swift translation “get his buzz going” ? Does that mean “get bladdered” in ourspeak?!

          GG

        • #3184004

          I think, though I may be wrong,

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Good for you

          that it just means “getting in the mood” in ourspeak, you know, just getting into top gear. It’s Friday, you’re several pints in and feeling good.

          As for American refrigerators, only get one if you want the damn thing to churn out more ice than the Ross Shelf in Antartica. The Second Law of Thermodynamics applies in that for every mile of Alpine Glacier that recedes, an American family is furnished with enough ice for their daily survival.

          Neil 🙂

          So far, early days but Emily’s track is heading for Jamaica and Cuba again but they can go absolutely anywhere and Emily’s not yet into the Carribean.

        • #3183976

          hurricanes, glaciers, and terms

          by jck ·

          In reply to I think, though I may be wrong,

          Yeah, Emily can go anywhere at this point depending on the high pressure center that’s currently over eastern Georgia and South Carolina.

          As for glaciers…screw cold drinks…save the environment. Nuff said.

          “get my buzz going” means “getting a wee bit knackered”.

          A buzz is just getting that slight feeling that warms you up and relaxes you and makes you laugh at things…it’s not getting sloshed or pissed. It’s that kinda harmonious state of intoxication before you move into being overly intoxicated.

          Professional drinkers do this…please don’t try this at home 😀

        • #3183971

          Aha!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to hurricanes, glaciers, and terms

          I get it!

          You mean the “slightly silly side of just nicely, thankshh” stage!

          ?:|

          Now I know!

          Wahey – another Americanism bites the dust!

          (Need to go home and get MY buzz going now – too hot for me here, dehydration will set in if I don’t get a cold one soon…..;)

    • #3190476

      17-July has past and jck has not updated!

      by dmambo ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      That can only mean one thing. The Mr. Beer Irish Stout must have been VERY good.

      jck, when you head is back to normal, let us know ow it was. Assuming you are not blind 🙂

      I have an idea, change your handle from jck to “Moonshiner”. That would be a cool name.

      • #3190447

        hahaha…Moonshiner

        by jck ·

        In reply to 17-July has past and jck has not updated!

        July 17: was a Sunday. I don’t post from home. Got too confusing as to which posts I had read or not.

        Beer: It is in the refrigerator. When I bottled it, I did this for priming the bottles:

        2 bottles: 1.5 tsp white sugar
        2 bottles: 1.0 tsp white/ .5 tsp light brown
        2 bottles: .5 tsp white/ 1.0 tsp light brown
        2 bottles: 1.5 tsp light brown

        I uncapped the bottle that had been the “dredge” of the keg and would be most yeasty, but it still tasted alright. The extra booster almost seems to have made it a bit too overpowering, but still tasted alright. The “dredge” (last 2 that I filled) bottles were the ones with all light brown sugar primer. It actually seemed to have mellowed the alcohol taste from when I originally bottled them.

        I have to let them sit in the refrigerator for a week now and slow carbonate/ferment in there and they will be ready.

        Blindness: No more than I already was. Without my contact lenses, I’m considered by law “severly impaired” since I can barely discern the lines in my hand from about 3-4 inches with uncorrected vision. Life sucks, right?

        Besides…if anything was gonna cause me to go blind, it’d have to do with…erm…let’s just say…manual actions…hahahah

        Nickname:
        Someone might think from that name it means I pull my pants down alot and let the moon shine! 😀

        If I change my nickname to anything, it’d be something totally distasteful like IGotYourTap or TheBigPlug or something beer oriented with a nauseatingly sexual overtone.

        Nonetheless…well…jck is how I initial paperwork…so…I’ll stick with it til I think of something clever.

        If I were still fishing regularly, I’d nickname myself “Master Baiter”. 😀

    • #3189794

      can’t get your beer fast enough?

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Evidently at the U of Wisconsin, they have a course in the “fluid dynamics of brewed malt and hops beverages through a pressurized dispersion system”.

      http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002630.php

      Why couldn’t I have gone to school there?

      • #3176187

        You’re never too old…..

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to can’t get your beer fast enough?

        – return to study as a “mature” student!!! Get work to pay for your course!

        Glad the beer is going ok – had to log on, had withdrawal symptoms!

        Keep out of Emily’s way, won’t you?

        😀

        GG

        • #3176132

          beer and Emily

          by jck ·

          In reply to You’re never too old…..

          thanks on the beer…will start drinking it on Friday.

          Emily is hitting south Texas and Mexico. 700 miles from me. I’m totally dry 🙂 thanks 🙂

    • #3185784

      THE BEER COMETH!!!

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      OK…started drinking it last night…I sent an email to the brewmaster and told him everything…so…I’ll paraphrase it all here

      Basically…I rated the beer a 6.8 out of 10.0 (guinness is a 10.0 for a porter/stout), but noted I’d made several variances from the recipe…so, the recipe would end up between 7 and 8.5 in my book if done to instructions.

      It was mediciney, but that’s because I boosted the alcohol content. figure I need to cut the booster in half if I do it again and only make it about a 5.8% alcohol content.

      Also experimented with the use of varied levels of light brown sugar. It made the taste richer and deeper with increasing amounts. I’d recommend about 2/3 white and 1/3 light brown for primer, if you’re into a deeper flavour.

      it is good tho…I’m gonna drink another liter tonite.

      But, the parents are coming this weekend so I friggin have no time for myself…so…hopefully, I can brew 2 new batches and not fall asleep in the process.

    • #3195266

      beer update

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      first batch came out alright…

      next two batches:

      Sticky Wicket Oatmeal Stout
      Englishman’s Nut Brown Ale

      5-6 weeks til it’s done.

      • #3195259

        Where have you been?

        by neilb@uk ·

        In reply to beer update

        Swill you might be but it wasn’t the same without you around to lower the tone…

        Good to hear about the beer.

        I will offer a prize (a pint of Theakston’s Old Peculiar in my local) to the first American who can describe a “sticky wicket” to my satisfaction!

        Neil 😀

        • #3195257

          me first!!!!

          by jck ·

          In reply to Where have you been?

          “A wicket was originally (and can still be) a small door or grille, especially one cut into a larger door. It was borrowed in the early eighteenth century to refer to the three wooden sticks called stumps that form the structure at which the bowler aims and which the batsman must defend. In the usual double-ended game there are two sets, 22 yards apart. By a further extension, the word came to apply to the ground between them (we?re now some way from a small door, but the sequence is plain). After rain, the ground becomes soft and the ball bounces more erratically, making it more difficult for the batsman. Hence a sticky wicket, in full to bat on a sticky wicket. To be on one, figuratively speaking, is to experience great difficulty.”

          Hence, a sticky wicket is a pitch that has become wet.

          you didn’t say I couldn’t look it up 😉

        • #3195245

          A “sticky wicket”

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to me first!!!!

          A sticky wicket is when your girlfriend is experiencing extra heavy flow, but you go ahead and…..oh, wait, that’s a “stinky wick”. Never mind.

        • #3195147

          well, I wouldn’t know about that

          by jck ·

          In reply to A “sticky wicket”

          my wick ain’t been stinky in over a decade…kinda glad it didn’t…that means I didn’t cook any buns in the oven either!!!

          ya know…when you don’t like the baker, you don’t wanna have any buns in their oven…

          guess I gotta find a baker I like and get her to workin with my dough!!! 😀

        • #3053246

          haha!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to well, I wouldn’t know about that

          say what you mean, jck! ]:)

        • #3051705

          ok…I’ll say what I mean GG

          by jck ·

          In reply to haha!

          I haven’t gotten any sex in a long time…and…I don’t really care to get any from some two-bit, useless, over-opinionated and aggravating female.

          I like it, but it’s not worth the hassle if I get 1 hour for a month of aggravation.

          is that blunt enough? Or should I be more descriptive of what I will and won’t do? 😉

        • #3053234

          That’s the problem

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to well, I wouldn’t know about that

          A lot of them would rather work the dough instead of working the meat. 😀

        • #3053201

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to That’s the problem

          oh, look, we’re in the gutter again!

          Hang on, King Swill is missing…..

          ALL HAIL KING SWILL!!!

          😀

          GG

        • #3051704

          er…

          by jck ·

          In reply to That’s the problem

          I like it when she works the doughy stuff into a hard roll…hahahaha

          oh yes…the gutter…

          King Swill lives…men…salute…

          Women…on your knees…hahahaha ]:)

        • #3051655

          Classic Swill

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to That’s the problem

          Now that’s just plain funny.

          (Ever notice that GG is drawn to the gutter-worthy posts like a moth to a flame? Don’t tell her I said that.)

        • #3051415

          ya know…

          by jck ·

          In reply to That’s the problem

          I always kinda did like gutter moths. ]:)

        • #3051379

          It’s just possible

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to That’s the problem

          that GadgetGirl regards jck as something of a sophisticate. I had a Geordie (Gateshead) flatmate for a couple of years and his habits were a bit basic…

          😀

        • #3051261

          Gutter Moths

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to That’s the problem

          Just watch out they don’t go eatin’ your wool.

          Oh, man. Why do I say these things??

        • #3051256

          I dunno…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to That’s the problem

          but you do make me laugh, DM, really! Gives my filthy mind something to do….!;\

          Ha! DM – Danger Mouse! Did you get that cartoon over there?

          GG (or should that now be GM?!)

        • #3051435

          oh, DMambo…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to me first!!!!

          I told you to keep it quiet!

          Now everyone will know.

          My excuse is that this has all come about because of what I do in my job – ICT Security.

          Mind you, that doesn’t cover the umpteen years I spent doing other things before I fell into this! Ok, spent 16 years as a “Strict Chapel” girl, and have spent the rest of my life making up for it! ]:)

          And yes, I have a penchant for double entendres, have a one track mind, and it’s always in the gutter….;\

          Move over King Swill, I think! 😀

        • #3051411

          oh…no you don’t!

          by jck ·

          In reply to oh, DMambo…

          I’m *King* Swill. Grow a willie, lose the knockers, and have a set of jewels that bang around in your breeches and bruise your knees before ya wanna try and take over being King Swill 😀

          of course, you’re still welcome to come over for piesporter 😉

        • #3051275

          oh, my liege….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to oh…no you don’t!

          I alopojise host mumbly! Please forgive your unworthy vassal!:_|

          (Besides that, if I “lost the knockers” after all this time, I’d lose my balance! Had ’em a while now, y’know! 😉 )

          Loved the gutter moth remark, though, very apt!

          Neil – was going to take you for a drink when I come down to London in September….hmmmphh!

          GG

        • #3051271

          Noooooooooooooo!

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to oh, my liege….

          I’ve offended someone who was going to offer me booz! A [b]woman[/b] who was going to offer me booze! How stupid can I get?

          :_| :_| :_|

        • #3051142

          oh now…

          by jck ·

          In reply to oh, my liege….

          it’s okay…

          Like I said…female vassals should be on their knees before the King of Swill…hahahaha 😉

          hmm..yeah…don’t lose the knockers…otherwise, I’ll have to find them for ya!!! ]:)

          BTW, Neil…you’re gonna have to travel to meet me…me and London are lookin less and less…I’m being hounded to head toward Cornwall and Penzance by a friend who flew from NC to FL to visit me 20 months ago…so…from Pompey it’s westward before going to Geordie-land.

          If not…fly to Ireland and have beer with me, a shipyard director from Belfast, and one of the Republic of Ireland’s top ten presenters (DJ, for you Americans who don’t understand Irish-talk).

          Yes…I know important people…and they actually like me!!! 😀

          (of course…they don’t know what kind of swill I am here!!!!! ]:) )

        • #3051359

          Long Live the Queen!!!!!!

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to oh, DMambo…

          Queen Swill,

          I am your humble servant. (No, not that kind of servant ]:))

        • #3051238

          I wouldn’t dare take the title from my liege…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Long Live the Queen!!!!!!

          I like living too much!

          But, DM, that doesn’t mean to say I ain’t a princess……:^O

          (Knowing that your mind works along the same lines as mine – no, you may not call me madam!)

          GG

        • #3051140

          DMambo…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Long Live the Queen!!!!!!

          you’re married…let a single guy serve the Queen that way!!!

          Oh wait…I’m a King…ummm…Queen…get over here…I have some royal duties for you!!! ]:)

        • #3050542

          considering…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to DMambo…

          that I think you just changed my nickname to Gutter Moth, just what duties would you have in mind? ]:)

          What? Drink your piesporter to save you having to?

          OH MOST CERTAINLY, MY LIEGE!!!:^O

        • #3050448

          We could talk service

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Long Live the Queen!!!!!!

          the queen should be well serviced, frequently! Just waiting for that long boat trip over!

          Double huh? that could be arranged. ]:)

        • #3051250

          so the question for today is…..

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to oh, DMambo…

          how many times can Neil get the word “SORRY” in one comment box….????

          Yes, he just messed up a woman yes, definitely, a WOMAN who was going to buy him alcoholic beverages…. ;\

          Go ahead, guys, tell him what an idiot he is….!!! ]:)

          (oh, and in case he doesn’t make up for it enough, I’ve changed it to November 7th anyway….just to give him more time to grovel, you understand)

          GG

        • #3051138

          sorry…

          by jck ·

          In reply to so the question for today is…..

          I can’t call Neil an idiot…

          he has the King’s respect….or…at least all that a male can have…which…is actually about 30%…hahahahahaha 😀

        • #3050541

          haha!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          that leaves the other 70% for me then!!!:D

          GG/GM

        • #3050439

          Anyone that messes up free beer with a lady

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          is someone I can step up and call an id10t! 🙂 You can be the nicest, smartest, most helpful person in the world, but if you make a mistake like that, you must be made to pay the price.

          Esp if that woman would promise to take advantage of me after buying me the drinks! I am all for womens liberation! (I will still open that door for you though. It gives me another chance to watch your butt as you walk on through!)

        • #3050433

          well, in that case…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          I’ll just have to take advantage of you, won’t I??!!

          Which may make yourself ask if you should have made that statement about a “lady”. Well I am. Not liberated at all, prefer to be treated like a lady, like doors opened for me, coats/chairs held etc. Despite what Neil implies, I have been properly brought up (cos I wasn’t born in Gateshead….na na na na na!)

          But there are times when I can be just the opposite of a lady ……

          (you all have dirty minds – I meant I can be a little ]:) )

          GG/GM

        • #3052097

          I think people get the wrong idea

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          about what a lady is and isn’t allowed to do, or how often.

          A lady is what you are, not what you do. How you think about yourself and how you carry yourself.

          A female walks into a room, you can tell very quickly if they are a lady or not.

          I have no problems with a lady that still likes hot monkey love after a nice dinner. After all, LADIES have been breeding for generations!

          And as long as no outsiders see the digital pics of the whips and leather, what happens between three concenting adults is just fine by me! ]:)

          So, just remember having fun doesn’t make you NOT a lady! Now shut up and bend over. :^O

        • #3052006

          Walking into a room you can tell??

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          Damn man…and I thought David Blaine was good…

          jdclyde…I abdicate that duty to you…finding women by looking at them.

          Also tho, I agree…ladies…are not women who are prim and proper all the time…they are the ones who know when it is the right time to be nice…and…definitely when it’s time to be naughty!!! ]:)

        • #3052158

          Ben Dover?

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          Who he?! :p

          As for the digital pics of the whips and leather – don’t tell me you posted those ones up somewhere again? You promised you’d keep them to yourself, jd …..

          And yes, I know when to be good, and when to be bad…..and when I’m bad, I’m very, very good….!;\ ]:)

          GG

        • #3052128

          if you’ll pardon me now…

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          I’m off to take a cold shower… ]:)

          (I have to find a way to focus on work somehow!! :D)

        • #3052124

          you’re slipping…..

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          You mentioned a shower, and omitted the fact that you needed someone to wash your……back?

          My Liege!

          Thou dost surprise thy vassal greatly!

          ;\

          GG

        • #3051086

          Hey, GG/GM

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to sorry…

          If you keep up this type of talk with jck, you’ll have to send him a package of handiwipes so he can clean up afterwards.

          Also, you don’t know Ben Dover?? He’s Wilma Fingerdo’s brother. Cousin of Anita Handjob.

        • #3051068

          Wipes

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          well, DM, as we all know, King Swill has very sensitive skin. It comes from being in the dark gutter for so long…..!
          So I’ll get some sensitive baby wipes, and send them over to him.

          Don’t know Ben, Wilma or Anita – are they all friends of yours?? :p

          But I bet YOU know Mr. Bates….!!! :^O

          GG

        • #3051042

          slipping? nonsense

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          the cold shower was to try and get things calmed so I could work…yes…even lieges work…at what I have no idea…haha

          hmmm…babywipes…kinky…got some powder too?

          NO ANAL THERMOMETERS THOUGH!!!! 😀

          Oh jesus…the terrors of being a child…anal thermometers…suppositories…and a cruel pediatric nurse at the clinic…

          oh well…hmmm…back washed…nice idea…bring a bar of soap…a sponge…and I’ll have the kabinett or spatlese ready…hahahaha ]:)

          And bring Neil along as well when you come…I need someone to answer the phone while you’re washing my back!!! 😀

        • #3051028

          Powder or body oil, your choice!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          and no, no anal thermometers! Soap and sponge? No problem. Got some spare carbolic and a loofah somewhere (j/k! honest!) Yus, could wash your back, legs, arms, f… f…. face!

          You want towel dried too, my liege? ]:)

          Aha! You want me to bring Neil? You into threesomes?! oh, soz, to answer the phone. Dunno about that, an answering service would be cheaper and less likely to snaffle your home brew!

          But you should make alternate arrangements for the phone, cos by the time I’ve washed your…..back and your etceteras, towel dried you and pampered you with body oil

          YOU’LL NOT BE FIT TO ANSWER ANY CALLS ANYWAY!!!

          ]:)

          hahahahahaha!

          GG

        • #3051022

          choices, loofas and Neil

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          Trust me…no offense, Neil…but if I were to get into a threesome (which is not something I’m into…thoughtwise or practically), I wouldn’t want another guy’s parts anywhere near me…so…it’d be two women, if anything.

          As for loofahs…never saw much use in them…I prefer a human touch…and I prefer to choose who touches me…liege’s right, ya know 🙂

          As for choosing oil or powder…

          BAH!!! I’m King Swill…and I shall have EVERYTHING!!! ]:)

          ok…now…how about some bangers and mash, pints of Guinness…maybe a few pasties…hmm…yeah…then the bath…

          Even lieges need their strength 😀

        • #3050994

          Anyone can share beer

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          only a REAL friend will share a woman!

          Just as long as you stay at different ends, all is well. ;\

          Oh, don’t look at me like that! Like you never had a three-way? Sex, drugs, more sex, rock-n-roll, and more sex. Ah, the good old single daze! ]:)

          Question, why is two girls kissing so hot and two guys kissing not? Many guys get into watching the girls kiss B-) (yes, ozzfest ROCKED!), but I don’t know ANY girls that get into watching guys kiss. :O Discrimination? And no, I am not one of the guys that kisses guys, but I do like the girl/girl stuff. Oh the things I saw at the fest….

        • #3050988

          I’m just a lowly chapel girl …

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          jd, I’m sure I haven’t got a clue what you’re going on about…..:O

          Want to educate this lowly chapel girl? ;\

          and I await my lieges response with his preferences to three-somes……and body oil, and powder, and….and….

          ]:)

          GG

        • #3050984

          threeways…preferences…and spare tools

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          ok…the answer to jdclyde’s question:

          No, I’ve never done a 3-way. Never took a drug until I was 23 and only ever smoked 4 times before I quit. I drank like a fish from 17 to 20…and some periods later…but…otherwise, I was kept on a leash by mom for quite some time.

          As for sharing with a buddy:

          If it is just a female I got no care for…maybe…if I’m real drunk. Girlfriend or wife…never.

          Now, to GG’s questions on preference:

          baby oil…that’s fine…astroglide or motion lotion has better effect…but, I can work with anything.

          powder…smells nice, but I imagine it can make other activities…um…rather dry.

          just ask me anything else ya wanna know, GG…I’m not afraid to answer any questions…especially in my beer topic.

        • #3050974

          NO POWDER!

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          Chocolate syrup, whipped cream (can, not tub!) champane all make for a great time. You haven’t seen a woman shiver till you drank champane from their chest and down.

          Oils of all kinds are nice, as long as they aren’t lilac or something flowery/purfumie.

          Incents in the background. Fog machines are even fun! A few lava lamps and lots of candles! This is generally the only light, but it is enough if you get enough candles. Still got to see what is on the menu before eating!

          A BIG STURDY bed is a must. Need lots of room to work!

          Time, lots of time. It really is the trip, not the destination. Better block off your afternoon for that one. ]:)

          Music! That can be a touchy one. Depends on the session your planning and with who. Sometimes some nice jazz, other times you just need some pantera kicking! Something agressive, with a beat.

          GG, I doubt there is anything new my humbleness could teach you? I know what it is like out on the high seas! But I would be willing to TRY! ;\

          And yes jck, no wives or girlfriends. Too many ways that can go wrong. Just three people out for a GREAT time. no jelousy, no emotions, no hard feelings, just feeling! I wouldn’t want to share the mother of my children even with my best friend. (or at least when I gave a rats a$$ about her) Now I don’t care who/what happens to her. Funny how that works, huh?

        • #3052731

          WHAT?!?!?! NO POWDER!!?!!?

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          But me bum might get a bit chaffed! 😀

          oh well…guess I’d just have to substitute cooking oil and a large visqueen for baby powder and a back rub…

          Oh…the imagination flourishes… ]:)

        • #3052728

          Powder makes me choke

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          and everyone knows it is only WOMEN that are suppose to choke on anything during an adventure like that! My favorite noise in the whole world….

          But as your NOT my bed partner jck, you can help yourself to an econo sized case of Johnsons and keep them buns unchaffed! :p

          Now gg, that is another story. Better bring a wheel chair, because you won’t be walking for a week baby! Waterbeds are fun, but out on that boat must be even better! (still no word on the tall ships yet….)

        • #3052697

          In answer to jck and jd…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          jck – thanks, yes I am only 33 😀 (I wish!)

          Any sort of oil (other than the cooking sort!) [no offense, but why did my mind immediately go to roast pork, there?!]will do – nothing too perfumed, just a plain base massage oil [to massage your base with…oh, grief, got the giggles again…!] Can’t see you needing motion lotion….(!)well, not with me around anyway (!);\
          Chaffed cheeks? Hmm. Bit of lotion on there too, if you wish, prevention is better than cure. But then again, some of the “better” talcs have a distinct feel of silk when massaged gently with warm hands into the skin…..;\

          or so I’m told, I can’t remember.

          jd – no, I doubt you could teach me anything too! But in order to ascertain the truth of my statement or yours, we would have to define the levels of what each of us have done so far. :8} I would beat you by far and away, but I don’t think the board would let us have that particular discussion without ruining it with censorship asterisks all over the flamin’ place!!!!!!!

          But it would have been nice to see who was the eventual winner!!!:^O

          Being a lowly chapel girl till I was 16, I’ve made it my lifes’ work to catch up on what I’ve missed – but I can still miss the “point” (ha!) on occasion. It doesn’t help me when people use “Americanisms”, either! {and spell funny!} I would normally use my translation service, but he’s missing from the board lately – assume he’s up to something nice somewhere!

          But, jd, it would be you who would need the wheelchair. And a motorised one at that.

          As for the TS update, as soon as I can I will, just having a few time constraints in my life at the moment. (that’s policy talk for I’m too bloody busy at the moment!)
          Also – you’re the one who didn’t confirm he wanted a certain photograph…..;)

          {snigger}

          Right – jck – into the shower, NOW! ]:)

          GG

        • #3052651

          “I Like To Watch”

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to sorry…

          Not really, but I feel like Peter Sellers in “Being There” as I read these posts. Just old innocent me looking on as it all goes by. You guys are *almost* making me blush. Maybe it would be fun watching!!!!

        • #3052624

          powder…oils…and watchers

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          hmmm…I’m flexible…oils…why need for cooking oil (unused, of course)…

          Have you ever tried getting any lubricant in a 10 gallon bucket?

          I’m telling you…a big sheet of plastic and a lot of cooking oil…big fun…until you actually want to stand up…hahahaha 😀

          oh well…hmm…I got nothing to teach anyone…cepting maybe for how to play a few musical diddys…or program an ADO.NET connection…or something else obscure.

          btw…diets suck…

          oh well…

        • #3052591

          A little something for everyone

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          First, I am SURE GG would and COULD give a whole new twist on the term “Do the Mambo”! :^O

          Second, NO PLASTIC SHEETS! Can’t get traction!

          Third, Two motorized wheelchairs to go please! ]:)

          Fouth, As for teaching, I like to learn as much as I like to teach. It has been and adventure and I am sure there is always room for this old dog to learn a new trick!

          Finally, Diet = moderation and sex (I mean exersise). Lite beer only for you young man!
          I have been working at getting back in shape, being single and all. Main thing I have done is cut out soda. There is WAY too many calories there. The second thing is french fries.

          Lots of water and coffee (black of course).

          Moderation, not starvation. Good luck!

        • #3052560

          Hey!

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to sorry…

          There’s me just out of hospital – only a minor op but thanks (in advance) for your concern – and my name is taken in vain at every opportunity!

          When I’ve caught up with the threads then I may have some chastising to do!

          😀

        • #3053153

          Well, I wondered

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          why it was so quiet around here….

          You doing well?

          This thread is about the only one really worth the fine tooth comb and roll of paper towels.. ]:)

        • #3053112

          From the top…..(eek!)

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          DMambo – you must blush easily – this is quite tame, cos it’s public! As for watching…..isn’t that what webcams are for???!!!;\

          jck – obscure? what’s obscure? how obscure you wanna get??? ]:) c’mon tell me….you said I could ask you anything in your beer thread…!

          (love the way we keep getting back to the beer, too! Proves DM’s point a few weeks ago that whenever booze/sex/beer is mentioned, the 3 Musketeers are there :D)

          jd – hope both the motorised wheelchairs are for you! I daresay you could teach me something….but you’d have to find out EXACTLY what I didn’t know first….. But, then again, I always “refine” my “technique” through learning ……;)

          As for diets….hmm. Don’t believe in diets exactly, just cutting down. (Have a wierd “diet” anyway – tummy trouble) Told Pa after working on the boat that I’d lost 2lbs in weight – “Shall I go and find them for you, pet?!” was his only reply….

          Agree that sexercise is the best way to lose weight…..average loss of 200 calories per time! So, jd, ready to lose about a zillion calories???

          hahahahaha!

          GG

        • #3053025

          Hey GG

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          By any chance do you have a sister, cousin, astrial twin or whatever living in the States? ]:)

          I just can’t seem to find a woman like you in the local server rooms! Maybe I need to start combing the marinas that have satalite dishes on them?

          The nice thing about having a boat as a big part of your heart, it doesn’t get jelous about cyberchat!

          When things get back in order, we await the naked pics of you getting a tan on the deck of your baby there! Woo woo!

          I think if you even made it to the states, I would have to get and oxigen tank and some glyserin tablets!

        • #3053010

          well, you may want to….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          order that oxygen tank!! ]:) No seriously, I have been asked to put in a business case to do a comparison study in the US. Whether that ends up as this year or next, I don’t know. I also have no idea where in the US yet, but I live in hope that it’ll be near a TRm8!

          You’re looking in server rooms? Nah, we only go in there when its too warm outside. Gets too cold in server rooms (and you just know what happens when I get too cold….;\)

          [I shiver!]

          Try the marina, but take the following hint along in the back of your mind – if the woman is just lazing about on the boat, or looking to give orders, avoid like plague. You’re looking for the one who is actually working on the boat – I mean painting, varnishing, splicing ropes etc. That’s the one you’re after! :^O

          Yes, very similar to me, that one. I found a long time ago that because I’m actually involved with Phoebe, and her maintenance and upkeep as well as the refit, I get one helluva lot of respect from other sailors. Even to the extent where one of them asked if he could hire me! (no, no, no – mind out of the gutter just this once, please – it was to calligraphically paint the name of the tender on its’ side!)

          Hate to disappoint you jd, but all the relations I have are now in the UK. They all died off in Australia, and the one that emigrated to Hong Kong came back in 1997! My astral twin was over in Oz until March this year, but has since returned to good ol’ Geordieland, but if she decides to take a trip Stateside, I’ll let you know!

          GG

        • #3052984

          the plethora of that which is swill

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          jd: diets suck…I won’t starve…actually eat better, if anything…well…except for the beers..but, EPL starts this weekend and screw the thought of being up at 7am to watch footie without my pint of Guinness!!!!

          As for meeting women on “servers”…I’ve met *1* woman from the internet (in person) who I would have married…but, she was engaged to a guy at the time (who ended up being a dopehead and she later parted ways with). She’s now engaged to another guy, but we talked once when they’d first started dating and she knows how I feel about her…and it’s quite mutual from her end too.

          The lesson: Don’t count on the net to be Pandora’s box…they’re just as few and far between as in the real world.

          neilb: I thought maybe you were away on business or holiday. sorry to hear about your operation. Did you remind the physician that Guinness is not only full or irons and minerals, but makes a good antiseptic for your wounds? 😀

          GG: I don’t know that I’d go to a marina to look for a girl…any woman on a boat either a) owns it, b) is related to someone who owns it, c) is married to someone who owns it, or d) is in a social clique that has these things.

          Unless it were a row boat or a dinghy, I don’t think I could afford a woman who’s used to that lifestyle…I can’t afford to keep that up and a house and car…not unless I win the lottery…hahahaha 😀

          I’ll just keep looking at the welfare lines and convenience stores, I guess 😉

        • #3052965

          women, boats and everything between

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          First jck, I wasn’t talking about looking on-line but in actual server rooms! I want someone that KNOWS something (for a change!). And if they are a good enough geekett, then they will have spent so much time in that server room that even I will look good to them! ;\

          Women ON boats could be real problems. Many are just decorations. You called it GG about the hands on girl, not the prissy “kept” women. Now if they are rich and want to “keep” me for a while as we cruise the caribian, I could go with that flow (provided she gets me satalite internet!). The LOVE slave! ]:)

          Any woman I spend more than a meaningful overnight relationship will have to be my equal that can walk BESIDE me. If I want someone to walk behind me the standard three paces I will go mail order.

          As for shivering, I think that is so hot! Nothing better than a cutie that I can share some body heat with! Yes, I generate a LOT of body heat and am able and willing….. (sorry can’t resist, so here goes. TURKEYS DONE! )

          As for that case study, they are trying to push Michigan as a tech state! You are guarenteed a nice dinner if you come this way.

        • #3052866

          love in a server room

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          man…I don’t know if I could get all frisky around a bunch of terminals…I’d risk havin a floppy drive of my own…

          hm…I’ll stick to the candlelit bathtub scenario…or the outdoor hottub with mounds of snow back around it…yeah…snow doesn’t count when the water is 105 degrees F!!! ]:)

          ok…so…um…I’m going home and stuff…

        • #3049335

          Note about hot tubs

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          Water is NOT a lubricant!

          Is there really anything else I have to say about NOT doing THAT in THERE?

          Server rooms, nice and air conditioned!
          Big locking door!
          Geeketts that haven’t been with a man in years, so by comparison I am a LOVE MACHINE! (all 30 seconds of it! ;\ )

        • #3049207

          jd…..

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to sorry…

          are you really trying to tell me that you’d need a wheelchair after ALL of 30 seconds??????

          :O

          (Still say server rooms are too cold!)

          GG

        • #3049206

          another bit about hottubs

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          immersion in hot water for prolonged periods of an hour or more before sexual activity begins does lower the sperm count…plus, the chemicals in the water act as a natural viral and bacterial inhibitor.

          And…ya know…I wouldn’t want to do some stuff in a hottub…holding your breath for that long just isn’t feasible ]:)

        • #3049193

          Time limits and boiling in the tub

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to sorry…

          First, the 30 seconds was a JOKE! ;\

          Second, you are NEVER suppose to stay in a hot tub for more than about 15 minutes! REAL bad for you dude!

          I am too warm blooded to try activity in a tub sitting at 104 degrees! That is why the server room is so nice! Generate your OWN heat! If your still cold, you need to MOVE more! :^O

        • #3049192

          damn…

          by jck ·

          In reply to sorry…

          hope I’m not sterile then…used to sit in the hottub at the neighbor’s for 2-3 hours when I was a teen.

          Oh well…I’ll find out eventually…if I ever get married.

          Be just my luck…find a woman to have babies with…and will be shooting blanks…

          bah humbug…gotta go…meeting time…

        • #3195256

          where I’ve been

          by jck ·

          In reply to Where have you been?

          thanks for missing me…at least I know someone here did (besides the *one* person who emailed)

          I’ve just had a lot going on lately…namely, I am involved in *7* projects now, plus the parents were on this coast last weekend and I had some lawn maintenance equipment go out that I had to repair…so, I’ve had *no* time to get on here.

          Right now, I have time because I’m waiting for a reply from the network admins to bring my new dual-proc win2k3 server on the network (they administrate services and IPs…no DHCP here…)…so, I want explicit clearance from them before the RJ-45 goes in the NIC.

          After I get that…I might disappear again…I have to start doing ASP.NET web interface implementations, TELNET customized interfaces for our new maintenance tracker for locates, etc…

          Oh well…I should never have accepted another salary position…I’m just waiting to move to Ireland now…I like the concept of bank holidays 🙂

        • #3195220

          you just missed one!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to where I’ve been

          there was a Bank Holiday in Ireland yesterday! Your timing is about as good as mine, jck! 😀

          Now, here in the UK, we have a bank holiday coming up – last Monday in August….

          so get yourself over here – NOW! ;\

          (oh. and don’t forget to bring the beer with you, it won’t be far off ready…..!!!)

          GG
          x

        • #3195164

          Finally tried that “other” stuff

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to where I’ve been

          not impressed. Reminded me of a heavy PBR. :^O

          Thought things were quiet, but wasn’t sure if it was I was just missing your posts or you weren’t posting. Been on the road 5 out of 7 days for the last few weeks so I haven’t been around much. Some the last day or so, and then at night mostly when I can find an open wifi. sucks having to walk down the street until you find access!

          Good luck with batch two! Make sure you journal everything well, times and measurements. When you start to customise batches it would byte if you made something really good but couldn’t remember what you changed! B-)

        • #3195156

          my memory

          by jck ·

          In reply to Finally tried that “other” stuff

          I can remember important things…like…beer recipes, names of women I am attracted to and people I like, etc…

          by the way…what’s your name again? hahahahah :p j/k

        • #3052086

          I pull something like that with my boys

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to my memory

          Started out one day saying I have a great “re-memory”, and that I am like that animal that never forgets. Then I ended up with “what animal was that again?”

          They both answered me right away “elephant”. Then they realized what I had just done to them. Too funny.

        • #3053163

          PBR

          by ben “iron” damper ·

          In reply to Finally tried that “other” stuff

          You don’t like PBR JD?

        • #3052094

          will always be an old mans beer to me

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to PBR

          Sorry, don’t mean to offend any PBR drinkers out there.

          Just growing up, grandpappy always had one of those in his hand. That image stuck and has made it impossible for me to think of anything else when I see it.

          I am not commenting on taste or any other aspect of PBR, just the mental image that stops me from partaking in it.

        • #3052082

          Ahh

          by ben “iron” damper ·

          In reply to will always be an old mans beer to me

          Okay I see. Nah I’m not offended or anything. My Dad use to drink it when I was growing up, that and Budweiser. Once I had my first taste of PBR from a keg I loved it. Down here in Texas PBR is very hard to find and if you do find it it’s only in cans not bottles like back home (Iowa).
          If you ever make it down to Fort Worth TX. try Rohr. They are a local brew company, very good dark beer.

        • #3052021

          Speaking of old man beer

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to will always be an old mans beer to me

          One Thanksgiving I was assigned to bring the beer to the family dinner. One of my brothers is a Cooty Light drinker, and I went to the store to get some Long Trail (local) for the rest of the family and 6 Coors Laugh for Johnny. When I got there, I saw Schlitz beer in cans. I remembered it as the CHEAP swill (no offense, jck) from my childhood days. As a joke I thought I’d bring the Schlitz. It’s the type of beer that might be printed with a born-on decade. It’s bad beer. When I opened the cooler and my brother saw the Schlitz, he said “Schlitz, that’s great. I haven’t had that in years.” Joke ruined.

        • #3052003

          You know why it is called that don’t you?

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to will always be an old mans beer to me

          Because it sound very similar to what you do in your pants the whole next day! 😀

          How about the poor days of high school? [b] Altes![/b] Not TOO bad if ice cold and you don’t taste it!

          Then the other day I had some guiness. that STUFF….. ;\ (I just don’t “get it” I guess)

        • #3051966

          what in your what?

          by jck ·

          In reply to will always be an old mans beer to me

          I gotta say this…

          They brew 3M pints of Guinness a day for consumption in Ireland…I saw not a dirty bathroom (even in Dublin Airport and Heuston Train Station)…

          But in the USA where we make “Great American Beers”, try going to DFW airport and sit down to drop a load in the can…you’d be sitting on a friggin lake.

          So…it’s either the American beer’s causing bad aim, or we Americans have no sense of courtesy toward fellow countrymen.

          Or maybe…they have wider bowls in Ireland???? hahahaha 😀

    • #3050755

      Harpoon New England BBQ Championships

      by dmambo ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Oh, and BTW, a couple of weekends ago, Harpoon, a Boston brewery with a plant here in VT, held the NE BBQ championships. I attended with my best friend since I was 6 years old and our families. Talk about fun!!

      It was bands, beer and BBQ all day long. It doesn’t get much better. It truly is a gift to have this guy as my buddy. We can go a year without seeing each other, then almost pick up the conversation where we left off. And the Harpoon Munich Dark was fresh and cold.

    • #3050970

      another beverage bulletin

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Well, the two new batches are fermenting to full potential. I’m letting these age 14 days or more as to make sure they are fully ready.

      I will be bottling them around August 14, then hope they are ready for consumption around Labor Day…what timing, eh?????

      • #3050961

        Labor day?

        by jdclyde ·

        In reply to another beverage bulletin

        I didn’t know you were even pregnant! Congrats! :p

        So, are you starting with mixes or from raw ingredients?

        Did you get yourself a bottler?

        Beer doesn’t have much of a shelf life. Make them big bottles!

        That is why I really want to get into wine and liquor! Make for all the special occasions, like today is monday! What an occasion that is! Open another bottle! B-)

        Wine making and a massage chair I think are going to be my gifts to myself this year for xmas. I have been a very good boy (haven’t been caught ONCE all year!) so I deserve it!

        • #3050954

          Yeah, JD’s right about the shelf life

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to Labor day?

          JCK, Need any help poundin’ them babies down?? Two batches at once can mean a lot of headaches for a couple of weeks.

          JD, my cousin makes great wine from scratch. You should try it. He gave me a 2-year old bottle last year and it was EXCELLENT. He buys grapes at a farmers’ market about 3 times per year and goes nuts all weekend on my Italian grandmother’s old wine press. Try it and start a new thread!!! Good Luck! 🙂

        • #3050948

          Labor day beer pounding

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yeah, JD’s right about the shelf life

          Labor day, I’ll have *16* liters of beer ready to drink…

          That’s a might much to drink by myself…if you want to help me get them taken down, just send over all the attractive 21-35 year old females you know…I’ll decide whether or not to answer the door via the cam outside the entry…hahahaha 🙂

          Oh…you wanna come drink? hahaha…King of Swill requires…an offering…bwahahahah ]:)

        • #3050949

          um…you need to learn about fermenting…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Labor day?

          it doesn’t just happen overnight…

          and realize…Labor Day is only another 4 weeks away…1 more week of fermenting…2 more weeks for bottling…another week in the fridge to “lager”…hmm…that’s 4 weeks…perfect timing 🙂

          I have mostly mixes right now, although I do have oats, hops, and other stuff for adding to the mix for flavor/ABV enhancement.

          Ya don’t need a bottler, really. when you bottle the beer into PET bottles, the carbonation from the primer does the compression and what not.

          As for not getting caught…just remember…luck eventually runs out…enjoy it while you can. 😛

    • #3047724

      I bottle this weekend…both batches

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Sunday, I’ll be bottling the beers…hope they turn out alright…check out my blog for a pic of the one beer.

      • #3048035

        Bottling go OK?

        by dmambo ·

        In reply to I bottle this weekend…both batches

        Did it look good going intothe bottles? Did you taste one? Two weeks in the bottle and then ready to drink, right?

        • #3048032

          I think he’s bottled out!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Bottling go OK?

          oh, gosh, sorry, I really couldn’t resist that one at all.

          Beg pardon my leige, no offence intended!

          Thy vassal craves thy …… pardon….!]:)

          GG

          DM – thanks for the opening for that one! 😀

        • #3047892

          Bottling the batches…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Bottling go OK?

          I bottled them on Monday, actually. I’ve been worn out lately…hope it’s not something going wrong with me…but if it is, I’ll come back here for pity…hahahaha.

          They looked good going in…save for the 1/2 liter bottle that was the “slag” from the bottom of both kegs…I don’t like to waste…especially beer.

          It will be 1-2 weeks or so carbonating…then a short amount of time (maybe a week?) in the refrigerator…then…ready to drink…around labor day…

          Oh…what to do with 16 liters of beer…hmmmm

          I KNOW!!! I’LL DRINK IT!!! ]:)

    • #3056412

      ok…

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      King Swill of Beerlandia is back! 😀

      kinda…workin hard…but…the 16 litres will be ready next weekend…Labor day…oh yeah…and I have a four-day weekend.

      Oh yes…the beer will flow…

      To walk or not to walk (crawl)…that is the question! ]:)

      • #3055973

        get it right!

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to ok…

        My liege, as the King of Swill, surely that should read…

        “to wallow or not to wallow, that is the question!”

        so – 16 litres is approximately 28 UK pints…ok, that’s 14 for me and 14 for you….

        So what we gonna do after that solitary days boozing, then? ]:)

        GG

      • #3055948

        King Swill is Back?

        by dmambo ·

        In reply to ok…

        You were gone? Didn’t notice.

        • #3055916

          ooofff!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to King Swill is Back?

          miaow…..fft….fft…..miaow!!!

          😀

          GG

        • #3055889

          Hey, GG

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to ooofff!

          Since jck is back, I think we should keep our little “rendez-vous” to ourselves. He doesn’t seem like the jealous type, but you never know when someone will snap. Especially after all the “My Liege” stuff you’ve been slathering him with.

          Thanks,
          Mambo

        • #3053940

          and the prize for the biggest stirrer goes to ….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Hey, GG

          Mambo! Who else!

          See, now you’ve been and gone and done it. Haven’t you. Told the entire of TR about our little get together.

          Naughty. X-( Very, very naughty. X-(

          I told you what would happen.

          so:

          1. No more chocolate body paint
          2. No more squirty cream
          3. no more massages

          and if you do it again…..

          4. I tell your wife.

          and I thought we had something good…:( sniff sob waaaagh!

          GG

          Love Fridays on TR – my silly sessions get sillier on here….:D

          jck – It’s ok, my liege, we was only funnin’, I’m still your vassal.

          OK – why he go hide in corner ?????

        • #3053921

          DMambo and GG

          by jck ·

          In reply to King Swill is Back?

          DMambo…don’t make me tell everyone about the loving letters you’ve been sending me…DOH! 😀

          It’s okay, GG…even vassals screwed other vassals out in the fields…hahahahaha…

          Besides…erm…I got me eye on a bonnie lass at the market…hehehe…tall, dark brown eyes, brown hair, smart, funny…and…she doesn’t mind working! My kinda woman…isn’t lazy…isn’t stupid…and I wouldn’t have to risk throwing my back out from having to bend over to kiss and hug on her.

          OK…King Swill must go…just got out of a 2 hour meeting…and now I gotta test so Monday I can kill another small project off.

          Take care…

        • #3053917

          Today’s “Loving Letters”

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to DMambo and GG

          “F” and “U” :^O

        • #3053856

          no thanks…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Today’s “Loving Letters”

          although I know you’d like that…I’m exit only

          BTW…no never mind…I won’t come down to your level.

        • #3053699

          THAT IS A FIRST!

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to no thanks…

          jck having to go DOWN to get to someone elses level? I didn’t know there was such a place! :^O

          Guess you learn something everyday!

        • #3054768

          oh trust me…

          by jck ·

          In reply to THAT IS A FIRST!

          there’s a lot of levels below me…

          I just let those in them linger there in the ignorant bliss.

          Oh well…smooch smooch, DMambo… 😀

        • #3053915

          Umbrage! Umbrage!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to DMambo and GG

          I’ve just been ditched in favour of someone taller!!

          I demand justice for us vertically challenged!

          Stay horizontal so we can compete!! ;\

          😀

          GG

        • #3053855

          oh dear…horizontalism…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Umbrage! Umbrage!

          is that a religion?

          If not, it should be…then I could be the Pope of Poke!!! ]:)

        • #3053661

          You “Sky People” are all the same

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to oh dear…horizontalism…

          Worst of it is that your type has the best view of my bald spot. To anyone under 5’6″, I have a full head of hair!

        • #3054770

          now you know why

          by jck ·

          In reply to You “Sky People” are all the same

          I don’t hang around with NBA players.

          my hair is fading too…but to you, it looks like it’s still there 😀

    • #3046916

      Starting my seasonal brew…

      by fonken monken uk ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Not beer, but wine, in particular blackberry wine which is good at this time of year as here in the UK you can pick the hedgerows and get the blackberries for nothing, although its best not to pick them too close to a road.

      To every 3-5 lbs of fruit (washed of course),add 7 pints of boiling water in a large bucket then crush the fruit and leave for 3-4 days, stiring every so often.
      After the 3/4 days, strain into a fermenting vessle, keeping a pint of the must back. Into the retained pint, add 3 lbs sugar (3 dry, 3.h medium, 4lbs sweet), and disolve it. Add to the rest of the must. Make up to 8pints if neccessary with hot water. Add yeast, insert air lock.

      Leave in a warm place. Will be vigorous to begin with, so keep it on a tray. Top up with hot water as needed (when it spills over). After 3-4 weeks, should be ready to rack into another gallon container .Rack off again after 6 months, then bottle after anohter 6.

      Expect something between 14% and 20% Alocohol by volume. If you want it stronger, freeze it after fermentation, then defrost while holding upside down. The alcohol will melt out first.

      • #3046911

        I really shouldn’t speed read….

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to Starting my seasonal brew…

        you just know I picked up the “defrost while holding upside down”…don’t you!

        Seems to be a glut of blackberries here at the moment – neighbour keeps making donations of them to the crumble fund…. 😀

        GG

    • #3046870

      twas the night after chilling…

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      (done in tribute to “Twas The Night Before Christmas” and beer drinkers everywhere)

      Twas the night after chilling
      Monday night in my house
      All the beer in the fridge
      And I still have no spouse

      All the bottling was done
      Just a week before this
      So my Labor Day would have
      Some beverage-based bliss

      Now just home from work
      And just changed into shorts
      I was flipping around
      For some footie reports

      When what to my televising
      Eye should appear
      A little advertisement
      For cold Guinness beer

      So I in my wisdom
      With a thirst there to quench
      Got a bottle of homebrew
      For myself like a wench

      I popped open the cap
      And it poured forth the gas
      Then I poured the dark nectar
      In my pint-sized beer glass

      Then I took in the smell
      Of my homemade libation
      Then I took down a sip
      And I felt this sensation.

      “Give me One Beer, Two Beers
      Three Beers or Four!!
      Oh dear God, if I have eight
      I’ll be down in the floor!”

      Then I thought to myself
      As I settled in bed
      “If you drink too damn hard
      It goes straight to your head.” 😀

      Merry Beer Day! 😀

      P.S.- The homebrew is good. 🙂

      • #3046850

        Excellent Poem

        by dmambo ·

        In reply to twas the night after chilling…

        Destined to become a classic.

        Congrats on the brew. Did you cheat and open early, or were these from the last batch?

        Wish I could enjoy one as well.

        Merry Beer Day to you too!

        • #3046844

          opened a bit early

          by jck ·

          In reply to Excellent Poem

          You’re supposed to bottle for a week…then chill for another week.

          Well, I bottled for 9 days…and…chilled for one…hahahaha…well, at least one liter of the 16 liters I made.

          It tasted pretty darn good…I figure by Friday morning, it will be finely chilled and aged…and…be perfect for my palette to absorb.

          And…about the poetry…can you believe I did that in about 15 mins? People tell me often I’m too creative for my own good…if I could draw, I’d be a comic artist and do something similar to “Heavy Metal”.

          Oh well..hey…thanks…glad I did something positive…I’m not total swill you know!! :O

      • #3046849

        Brill!

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to twas the night after chilling…

        Absolutely brill!

        The King is Back.

        Long live the King!

        Merry Beer day to you too, my liege. Hope you left some for Labour Day, after all that libating…

        (gosh, that sounds dirty….!)(Ooops) ;\

        GG

        • #3046845

          if I tell ya I got some for ya

          by jck ·

          In reply to Brill!

          what ya gonna do about it? 😉

          oh dear…innuendo…such a tool for us swill ]:)

          yes…have…erm…15 liters left?

          I’m doing well in the supply department until Friday. Then, I will be hitting it hard. I plan on burning up a lot of calories doing yardwork and car washing and exercising while I have a long weekend. So, I need all the beer I can get! 🙂

          thanks for your support, my most faithful vassal…I’ll tap you with my royal swill sceptre sometime 😉

          ok…better get outta here before I get hit with the TR censor!

    • #3058849

      So…who’s up for some beer and fun?

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      Well, Octoberfest/Oktoberfest is comin up…so…anyone attending one?

      I am gonna look around for one somewhere here. I want to go dance and be drunk with other fun-loving, non-anal-retentive drunk people.

      • #3058772

        Hmm

        by ben “iron” damper ·

        In reply to So…who’s up for some beer and fun?

        You know I’ve never been to one and yet am an avid beer drinker. Since you mention it maybe I’ll hit one up this year.

      • #3058734

        Some info for your European trip

        by neilb@uk ·

        In reply to So…who’s up for some beer and fun?

        There’s posters up all over London explaining that all draught Guinness is now shipped from Dublin and not brewed in the UK any more.

        Enjoy 😀

        • #3058647

          Neilb…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Some info for your European trip

          You, sir…are a bringer of tidings of great JOY!!! 😀

          Thanks for that info. I just hope it’s not solely in London, since I won’t be coming there.

        • #3058643

          My Liege!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Neilb…

          Thy vassal saw the same posters on the way home last night!

          (so yes, jck, it’s getting to Newcastle too!)

          Now, howzat for the best news of the day for you? 😀

          (U ok btw? Keeping hands off Rita?)

          GG

          ]:)

        • #3058640

          Rita…and other things…

          by jck ·

          In reply to My Liege!

          Rita spit some rain up here. I’m about 250 miles due north of Key West, though. So, I didn’t expect anything but a small bit of inflow from feeder bands.

          As for the Guinness info:

          *THAT* is great news. I will (money and vacation time available) be in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 24 February 2006 and depart 26 February 2006 for points north.

          Real…Irish…Guinness…in England.

          Now if it gets to America, that will be definitive proof there is a God…hahahahah 😀

          Thank you, my vassal… 🙂

        • #3062584

          Your friend Rita

          by m_a_r_k ·

          In reply to Rita…and other things…

          It’s a category 4 already and still has a few more days before it wallops terra firma. Heading directly for Galveston and Houston. Those poor evacuees from New Orleans are hurricane magnets.

        • #3062582

          like I said…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Your friend Rita

          the other day at work.

          Before the end of October…7 more hurricanes…2 go in the gulf and balloon…case goes over $5 a gallon.

          Glad I’ve got a mountain bike.

        • #3058618

          GG Grab a flyer and send it to jck

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to My Liege!

          I’m sure he’d have it framed and candles lighted near it. It could be his own little shrine to Guinness. 😀

          Jck, you owe me an Oatmeal Stout for the idea. I’ll drop by to pick it up.

        • #3058615

          dropping by and oatmeal stout

          by jck ·

          In reply to GG Grab a flyer and send it to jck

          The oatmeal stout is gone. I’ll be ordering more to brew in late November in preparation for my New Year’s drunken 5 day weekend.

          Dropping by:

          One of the reasons I don’t use my name is because I don’t want people looking me up. My home number is unlisted and unpublished. I rarely have visitors as a result of previous problems with folks I had over I thought I knew well enough that have taken things, harassed me later, etc., and the fact I had a scary situation a few years ago after I finished working at the government contractor with a phone call.

          I would be glad to meet you somewhere if you’re ever down here and try to have you a liter of beer ready.

          No offense to you as I’m sure you’re nice enough, but it took one of my friends 3 years before I trusted them enough that they got to come over to my place. I’ve had some uncomforting things happen. Don’t want those experiences again.

          Anyways…let me know if you’re down here. Especially, if you’re in Pinellas County. Can tell you the good pubs and wing joints to hit.

        • #3062563

          Me

          by dmambo ·

          In reply to dropping by and oatmeal stout

          I’m as harmless as they come. I’m even too scared to flirt with GG!!

          One of the things that impressed my wife the first couple of times that I met her is that I’m a “happy drunk” (as she put it). Gotta like a girl impressed by that. 🙂

          So, unless you smack your sister at the dinner table (which I’ll bet you wouldn’t mind doing based on what I’ve read) you’re safe from me. If you do smack her, I’ll paddle your ass and send you to your room for the rest of the night. (Unfortunately, due to my poor child-rearing skills, this is a somewhat common occurrance in my house)

          Edit – And by paddle, I mean a single light swat, I’m pretty light-handed.

        • #3058597

          as close as I could get…

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to GG Grab a flyer and send it to jck

          is this….

          http://www.guinness.com/gb_en/ads/

          thanks for the idea, DM!

          jck – glad you ok – we still on for a mutual birthday drink? 😀

          GG

          ]:)

        • #3058579

          birthday drink

          by jck ·

          In reply to as close as I could get…

          I’d say if we are to do that, it’s best if that happens right after I get off the train.

          Steve will take me after that and begin showing me off to every girl from all over Europe who’s in Newcastle for Hen Holiday.

          He’s bound and determined I’ll meet my future-wife there…said that there’s more girls in Newcastle on a Saturday night than are in London.

          I am anxious to see this!

          But so long as money holds up and my job doesn’t forbid me from coming…I will be glad to make time to sit down and enjoy multiple pints with you 🙂

          Sincerely,

          Your humble-but-not-so-chaste King Swill ]:)

        • #3058552

          and the train gets in….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to as close as I could get…

          three minutes before your first pint hits the bar!!

          Yes, you could say the Toon gets a little busy in the evenings (Geordie understatement :D) We’re apparently the “in” place for hen parties, and Whitley Bay is the “in” place for stag nights. You need Steve to keep you right on where you can drink, though, some public areas are now under local control, so you can’t stand and drink outside a pub, even if you can’t be shoe-horned back to the inside!

          More instructions could follow (such as – watch out for gangs of 20+ females, all in identical t-shirts or tops, all identically ratted, they work in a pack) but I’m sure Steve will have that covered for you.

          (I’m serious! Best one of all was last Xmas – 25+ drunken girls against 4 burly worse for wear guys, who couldn’t take a joke. Guess which lot ended up in the River Tyne!)

          GG

        • #3058545

          eh?

          by jck ·

          In reply to as close as I could get…

          20 women at once?

          Damn…I’ll need viagra! ]:)

        • #3062577

          well, we are civilised….

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to as close as I could get…

          you can get that here, too!!

          Then again, you could have enough trouble on your hands with just one…..

          ME!!! ]:) 😀

          Gotcha!

          GG

        • #3062573

          beware of the swill, gg

          by jck ·

          In reply to as close as I could get…

          never underestimate the power of King Swill.

          And like I said…if I didn’t meet up with Steve, he’d pull strings and find me via the Toon Army…everyone in Newcastle would have a pic and he’d be telling women if they find me they can have me.

          He’s a good mate…and…the guy played youth league against Alan Shearer…I got pics of it and him at a pub with the guy just a couple years ago.

          Anyways…I have to go to the NUFC fixture…gotta try and meet Shearer…he’s a legend and one of my favorites and a class act.

    • #3071210

      This weekend…and brewing tips

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      This weekend, I start drinking my Golden Wheat Vienna Lager…and some Boosted Irish Stout. mmmmmmmm…

      Um…anyone considering getting the Mr. Beer Kit, they say you can make a beer in about 3 weeks. Maybe a pilsner, but I’d suggest letting stouts ferment 10 days, then carbonate for 12-14 days, then settle in the fridge for 14 more. And, I’d suggest the same for a lager as well. Seems to settle the beer better and lets it slow-finish any remaining carbonation.

    • #3137260

      beer? or pain killer?

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      OK…I gotta tell you guys about this one:

      I’m ordering my beer supplies and talking to one of the brewmasters (Diane) about good strong beers.

      She mentions a recipe they have called “Novacaine”, which was actually a brewing mistake by the headbrewmaster when he accidently mixed two batches together and decided to put all the ingredients in to see what happened.

      Ends up, it makes a beer she said was actually good and was over 10 percent alcohol…she said that it is apparently (by their calculations) about 12 percent.

      So being the beer-loving swill that I am, I order it…all $42 of that kit.

      So in 6 weeks…just in time for Christmas…I’ll have some pain killer to sooth my holidays to a numb, relaxed semi-conscious state.

      Mele Kalikimaka ]:)

      • #3137242

        Seal me a small taster, please

        by gadgetgirl ·

        In reply to beer? or pain killer?

        and bring it with you on your trip over.

        Now, Novacaine I think I could handle…!

        You never know, if I get enough of it I may be able to understand the lingo and provide the translation for your last line…..!

        😀

        GG

    • #3120049

      The dangers of becoming a beer geek

      by dmambo ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      jck, please be careful!!!!

      I recently met a total beer geek. This dude is now finishing a correspondance course to become a brewmeister, and is looking to make a career of it. As I was on a group tour vacation with him, I spoke to him nearly every day about the boozin’ we were doing most nights and I have to say it took much of the enjoyment out of trying the local microbrews.

      Each morning we’d run across each other, and he’d ask questions like “Didn’t you think that Kona Pale Ale was a little too yeasty?”, or “They could have added the German Bitemyass hops to really round out the flavor and diminish the aftertaste.”

      It got to the point where I told him I just had a few Coors Lights the night before!

      Beware lest each beer you drink becomes an academic pursuit.

      Your buddy,
      Mambo

      • #3117837

        becoming a beer geek

        by jck ·

        In reply to The dangers of becoming a beer geek

        ya know after speaking with the folks at my beer making supplier, I have seriously thought about moving to AZ to take a job working there and becoming a brewmaster.

        I probably wouldn’t make nearly the money I could in IT, but I wouldn’t be expected to learn new development environment/OS/Server settings/database interfaces every year…just brew new recipes and if they suck, never make them again! 🙂

        Don’t get me wrong…I love technology…but, I love to *play* with it as part of my job. Currently, I only get to write app after app. We’re currently in our role review, and I’m hoping to get my title changed to “Senior Programmer/Analyst” or “Chief Software Architect” (threw that in for humour ]:) ).

        I like to learn and explore technology…sitting doing repetition daily and customizing a piece of code to make a listbox intelligent isn’t my idea of exploration…it’s making it do something I already know how to make it do…I’d rather reprogram a listbox to…act like a masked-edit listbox or something…something creative.

        Anyway…about beer:

        I love making it, and it would be something fun that I could share with common people. I mean, how many of you could have your non-tech buddies over to the house and say “Hey man…wanna check out my new palm PC? it’s got 27% better resolution and almost half a gig of RAM!” without getting strange looks?

        I think having buddies over and saying “Hey man…check out this new stout recipe out I brewed up.” would be far more welcomed.

        But, thanks for your concern. I promise not to geek out too bad and start saying “Yeah, I reduced the Northern Brewer and Saaz hops by 0.27 less mg to get a proper flavour blend with the bitterness of the unhopped malt extract I used in the wort.”

        Whoa…did I just say that? 🙂

        • #3117832

          There’s no hope

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to becoming a beer geek

          you’ve already gone, haven’t you?

          Try combining both the technology and the brewing – (no, that does not mean forcing beer into the drive slot!) I meant, working from home! You could be tasting your brew and doing your programming at the same time……hmm….that may make life interesting. Wonder if you’ll invent some new program while half pickled by your tasters????

          😀

          GG

        • #3131395

          Actually

          by jck ·

          In reply to There’s no hope

          I work better slightly buzzed…I can relax better, and with working at home I’m able to go outside and sit for a bit on my patio if I need to get out.

          Here at the office, I can only walk outside and listen to my co-workers talking to their families on their mobile phones. No escape at the office.

          I wouldn’t mind working for less money. When I took this position, I took about a 45% or so pay cut from my consulting job (benefits not considered). But, the atmosphere here is far less pious with management. Management here are local people and because a project falls behind because of Hurricane Ivan doesn’t mean a manager gets demoted because he didn’t “manage the risks properly”.

          I’m convinced that the majority of corporations will not see me work inside their doors again, even though I have the largest grocery store chain in the SE United States wanting to interview me something fierce. They’ll have to convince me of several things…one of which is…they don’t expect humans to be robotic, non-stop workers.

          Nonetheless…I am pondering several career options at this point, including self-employment in a variety of job fields. But, I have to take the right steps and make sure that I’m secure enough before I take a venture like that.

          But, the brewmaster thing…yeah…sounds like a tasty idea 🙂

          I’ll let you know when I need helpers, GG…nothing worse than having to drink a fine drink around a bunch of sweaty, hairy men…and having women around is always nice…usually 😀

        • #3131382

          I’ll volunteer!

          by gadgetgirl ·

          In reply to Actually

          – especially if you start making your own wine! (home made gin just doesn’t do anything for me at all….Pa tried it years ago….I still have 2 bottles left, I think it’s coming up for its’ 16th birthday soon….don’t dare open it!)

          I do like real ale, though, so I wouldn’t mind at all doing some beer tasting!

          oh – that reminds me – Big Lamp Brewery! I’ll take you there in February for our joint birthday! 😀

          GG

        • #3131350

          Did I mention

          by jck ·

          In reply to I’ll volunteer!

          I do brew a mean Englishman’s Nutbrown Ale? ]:)

          Hopefully, I get to come…gotta do a financial analysis of my situation…and see if I can afford it.

          I’ll let you know in about a month. 🙂

    • #3132405

      Oatmeal Stout

      by jasoncctc ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I tried a bottle of homebrewed oatmeal stout made by my brother’s friend. I’ve been hooked ever since.

      I hope to try brewing some one day so your experiences, jck, shall be archived for when that one day happens as I am also in Florida.

      • #3130948

        it’s a cool thing to do

        by jck ·

        In reply to Oatmeal Stout

        if you’re into sorta messing with cooking, and if you like beer.

        The worst part is…the wait.

        And yeah, there is a recipe made by Mr. Beer (the company I get my supplies from) called “Sticky Wicket Oatmeal Stout” that is great…and it gets smoother the longer you let it age in the fridge.

        Mr. Beer has basic, cheap brewkits that make good beers. You’ll probably want to get at least a 6-quart pot…large metal stirring spoon…rubber spatula…4 cup liquid measuring cup…and start collecting some 0.5, 1 or 2 liter plastic-capped soda/cola bottles (the smaller, the better…because of carbonation loss after opened).

        You can get the cooking/measuring utensils at a dollar store or Big Lots or something cheap.

        The basic Mr. Beer brew kit I think is $29.99 and can be found at http://www.mrbeer.com as the “Deluxe Brew Kit”.

        They’re a great company…everyone that works there learns to brew beer first thing (3 of the phone reps have told me so). So, anyone you talk to while making an order can give you tips and ideas. And, they’re all friendly as heck. Last time I called, I talked to one of their brewmasterrs for 40 minutes. I was never once rushed to get off the phone or hurried with making the order. They are people and have fun there.

        Let me know if you need to know anything

    • #3122442

      making fruit beer for Christmas…

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      OK…I’m making a cherry wheat pale ale…I guess it’ll be sort of like Sam Adams…sort of.

      Red beer…green salad…how Christmasy…

      Also…making more stout…I’m out, and I gotta have my fix…hehehe.

      I’ll have some 24 liters of beer sitting around at Christmas…God…I wonder what I’m gonna do…hehehehe

      God bless everyone…not just the Chinese Christians…

    • #3123512

      Has anyone had…

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      that new Budweiser Select?

      I had the Michelob Ultra when it came out…and I almost threw up.

      Just wondering if Budweiser actually made a better beer, or more of the same crap with a different label.

      • #3121527

        Reply To: I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

        by jasoncctc ·

        In reply to Has anyone had…

        Personally, I tend to avoid pseudo-beer like that and buy stuff from micro-breweries or, at least, smaller companies.

        Life is too short to waste time drinking bad beer. 🙂

        • #3125413

          don’t pass by microbrews

          by jck ·

          In reply to Reply To: I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

          I used to think the same way…then went to a place called John Harvard’s Pub in Buckhead in Atlanta.

          I was of the thought “Oh…preppie area…gotta be crap beer like Zima.”

          They actually had a nutbrown ale that was quite good at the time I was there (2001).

          It never hurts to go in a microbrewery and sample their stuff. You might actually find something enjoyable.

          As for the bad part of microbreweries: You’re not guaranteed they’ll be around when you’re 70 to keep drinking their good stuff.

          Basically, that’s why I stick with Guinness. I know it’s been around more than 200 years…it’s not going anywhere. 🙂

    • #3125411

      novacaine

      by jck ·

      In reply to I have an idea…let’s talk about beer

      I gotta give an update.

      I have been fermenting the 10 percent plus “Novacaine” recipe for 4 weeks now…so…I take the lid off the brew keg last night…put my nose down there…and BOOM!!

      God…it is going to be strong. :^O

      Bottling happens this weekend for all 3 batches I’m brewing:

      Novacaine
      Sticky Wicket Oatmeal Stout
      Tawny Honey Rose

      the latter of the 2 will be ready in time for New Years.

      Novacaine will have to lager until I get back from my trip abroad.

      • #3125405

        Tawney Honey Rose?

        by dmambo ·

        In reply to novacaine

        Sounds like a porn star!

        We’ll expect updates after New Year’s.

        • #3125262

          oh…I dunno…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Tawney Honey Rose?

          how long after new years?

          I might not be able to type for a couple of days…hahahahaa :^O

        • #3125194

          You scum-sucking degenerate mollusc…..

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to oh…I dunno…

          GOD! Am I jealous….

          Now you have whatever Christmas you want! Of all of us, YOU HAVE THE POWER!!!

          Hawe a good one, man. Don’t trash [b]too[/b] many neurones…

        • #3125190

          Thanks, Dad

          by jck ·

          In reply to You scum-sucking degenerate mollusc…..

          BTW, the papers haven’t gotten here yet… :^O

          I have applied for 4 jobs in Ireland. One is in the Sligo part of the country. Hoping since they were publically posted on the internet, they have passed the 4-week EEA public notice requirement and I might actually get an interview once I get over there.

          All my friends in Ireland and the UK are stoked. They want me over there…

          I wonder if it’s because I brew my own beer????? :^O

          You have a good Christmas too…I’m gonna stay incredibly drunk on New Years…for about 2-3 days…and forget the world and work and try to relax for the return to the office…and hell til mid-February.

          Cheers

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