National Homebrew Competition

Every year, the American Homebrewer's Association sponsors the biggest beer competion in the world - The National Homebrew Competition will culminate this summer in Oakland, CA. Over 5600 beers were entered last year. This year, there is also an entry off of the Front Porch - a Chocolate Stout recipe I've been brewing for years. This year's batch came in at 9.5% ABV and is quite tasty, if I may be so bold.

My beer has to be in Atlanta, GA by April 8th for first round of regional judging. Final judging takes place in Oakland at the National Hombrewer's Conference. I'm hoping someone I know in that area will leave a light on for me should I make it that far.

So keep an eye out for entry ID 418 in a winner's circle near you! Until then...cheers!

Krewe of Barataria

Babs and I were invited to our first Krewe party last night. At this particualr event for this Krewe, the Dukes, Duchesses, Queen and King were introduced. Apparently, there are hundreds of Krewes throughout Louisiana currently celebrating Mardi Gras. Everybody in attendance is required to be in costume, and there is a theme for each royal person who invites you. We were invited as patients of Nicole, the Duchess of the Red Cross. There were probably a couple of hundred people in attendance, all of them having a Louisiana Mardi Gras good time.

We're not entirely sure what this Krewe business is all about, but one thing is for sure: these people know how to party. Enjoy.

Dr. Pheel-u-ups, Nurse Pheelgood, and a bottle of Abita Christmas Ale

Our Emcee. Check out his beads.

Here is the entry of the first Duke. This sort of thing went on for an hour...

The arrival of the second duke

This guy knows how to rock. You can hear what a good time Babs is having...

Here's our Duchess, surrounded by her naughty nurses and "exposed" patients...

All hail the King of Krewe Barataria

And the Queen....

And the King and Queen togther

Check out the robes

And finally...the entire royal Krewe toasting their subjects.

After this, there was much more loud music, drinking, eating and dancing until 1:00AM.

And the parades haven't even started yet.... Like I said, these people know how to party.

I'm managing a 5-week turnaround starting next weekend, so I'll talk to you again in March.

Until then...cheers!

The Ultimate Farkle Roll

Rolled by Babs on Friday night January 30, 2009.

The Meaning of Life

I've been kind of busy for a month or two, and this has nothing to do with beer, but sometimes you just have to slow down and realize that the hokie pokie does hold one of the true reasons for living...

My Bottlecap Collection

I save all of my bottlecaps. I don't know why I do that. I suppose its like my History Channel for beer drinking. My granddaughter loves to play in the caps. I reckon there's a couple of hundred in there. I'm hoping to have the bucket filled someday. My kegerator slows my progress, however.

Here's my bottle opener above the cap bucket.

Black Yeast

You've all seen my video of my airlock bubbling while my yeasty friends do their thing. In case you missed it, here's what happy yeast looks like outside of the fermentation vessel

But under the lid, that's where the action is. Check out the yeast action under the lid of my Black Chocolate Stout while at the high krausen stage. Oh, if only you could scratch and sniff...

My target gravity was a little low at 1.080 (I had hoped for 1.090) but I'm still hopeful that I can get 10% ABV out of this batch. Try to get that in your Louisiana Coors Lite!

Stay tuned for final gravity results.

Hey Ralph - how was your interaction with the man?

Next Brew

I ordered my materials to brew a batch of Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout next weekend. If I was Ralph, I'd be camping at Garrett Oliver's doorstep every day, begging him until he brought me some of his sure-to-be-delicious 2008 vintage. You can't buy it here in Louisiana. As a matter of fact, I'm probably the only one in the state who has ever tried it. That will change in a month or so. Stay tuned for more...

Cheers!