M RANGE FOA RS THE FOAM RANGERS EST. 1981 BBrreewwsslleetttteerr UUrrqquueellll H O N M TO It's Before 9 A.M. Somewhere! February 2011 - Volume 31 Pints - Issue 2 EBR US EW CLUB - HO DeFalco’s Rocked In this Issue: By “Leaky Wicks” Minutes & MCAB 2 Scandal. By Bev Blackwood & Steve Moore Febrewarys DeFalco’s owner Scott Birdwell is on the Past 3 verge of ousting the Foam Rangers from the shop premises due to the influence of Glory Days 4 the”leaky wicks” scandal. The Foam Rangers, with their Many leaky wicks lead to a 9 A.M. Already? 5 preponderance of male members and major problem at DeFalco’s. the massive amounts of available outhouse!” She glares across to the at meetings often find themselves at the homebrew shop “Those boys be leakin’ on Incriminating mercy of the “one holer” bathroom. “God my doorstep and I am going to start kickin’ Evidence 6-7 forbid a woman gets in there!” Bemoans their behinds!” an unidentified Ranger, “We would all be Birdwell, in the throes of trying to move his Snowflakes & out the door!” Indeed, that seems to be the shop isn’t happy about the situation either. major issue (as it were) as Foam Rangers Plain Ol’ Flakes 9 “You know, they could cross their legs for a “leak” in (and on) the surrounding premises. bit” he gripes. “But NO...” He’s been hit with “I come in Saturday mornings after a penalties and threats of being cut off from Fred Fights For meeting” complains the hairdresser Mastercard and Visa, who are responding to Beer! 10 next door, “and it smells like my mama’s complaints from the surrounding merchants. (Continued on page 10) Braggot Buzz 11 Out (of) The Wazoo Get Listed! 12 By Kyle Jones, this day, the first thing I reached for after Grand Wazoo coming home from work was a Bigfoot or a Celebration. Now, the first thing I reach Foam Ranger for is still a cause for celebration (and a membership Celebration at times), but found in her swing increases by one! instead of my refrigerator. A new passion has taken residence in my heart, one that in February January 31, 2011. some ways is a perfect fit with homebrewing. From this day How, you say? All-grain is full of forward, my life dead time, useful for holding, burping, and Meeting: would never be the changing a two-week old baby. Mash in, same. A different wait 45 minutes. Start the boil and sanitize Friday, set of priorities, and equipment, wait 60 minutes. Time that life viewed from a used to be spent goofing off or daydreaming new perspective. I’ve always believed is now put to good use – an increase in February 18th that creating a beer is a thing of beauty, efficiency! creating a life is on another plane entirely. I’ve had nine months to prepare, but what 7:00 p.m. Now bags of grain have been replaced with could possibly prepare you for something bags of diapers, the sweet intoxication of like this? I think back to my first batch of at DeFalco’s by lack of sleep. Carboys by car homebrew, and I find some comforting seats, pediococcus by pediatricians. Before (Continued on Page 8) Page 2 The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 The Brewsletter Urquell Foam Rangers Get Rowdy... Again! Official Organ of the By loud to which we all agreed. Peter Lott, Attending Officers: Foam Rangers Homebrew Club. Scrivener Waz - Kyle, Secondary – Jamie, Scrivner

Grand Wazoo: – Pete, Was Waz – Doak, Dixie Cup Kyle “Call Me Daddy” Jones January’s meeting: coordinator Party Boy - Roland and his [email protected] Porters & Better Half Melissa. [and Competition Secondary Fermenter: were served. Coordinator & Brewsletter Editor Bev, albeit Jaime “Too Loud” Robles It was announced by a bit tardy. -Ed.] [email protected] a very LOUD Waz The Dixie Cup Theme will be: The Dixie Cup Scrivener: that we now have Goes Down... Under. Peter “Heavily Edited” Lott PayPal as a means Current volunteers are: [email protected] to pay your dues. DO John Gonzales – Graphics Purser: IT NOW! Sly Bastards – Pub Crawl Sharon “Pay Your Dues” Hayes [email protected] The first Foam Rangers Club Only Sound by Mosher Competition will start in February so you Head Steward – Will Holobowicz Competition Coordinator: Bev “Glory Days“ Blackwood II better start brewing. There is a mention of A lot of the talk centered around keeping [email protected] the club campout April 1-3 and confirmed Saint Arnold happy with the Foam Rangers

Bozo Head of Special Events: by Kyle so start packing. There will be so they will continue to be so kind as to Scott “Too Loud” Birdwell help needed before the campout and after allow us to store the Dixie Cup entries in [email protected] cleanup and burial of the dead. thier cold box and do First Round judging Was Waz: PAY YOUR DUES. there. Kyle thinks we (I.E. The Club) should Doak “Get Off Me Scott” Procter Erik Ribero (Pig Boy) is the Food God so take out an ad in the Houston Chronicle [email protected] give him a hand or a pig or just help. thanking St Arnold and DeFalco’s for their Brewsletter Staff and The AHA Rally at St. Arnolds is coming long time support. We have afair amount of Other Slaves: up on February 27th. For those interested money so this concept will be brought up at Editor: [or those just wishing to hum the Imperial the meeting. Bev “[-Ed.]” Blackwood March from Star Wars - Ed.] there will be Many Speakers were discussed but sooner [email protected] more information at the February meeting. or later someone has to call them? Whoever Food God: Blue Bonnet entries will be picked up at they are: Kyle?? Erik “Pig Boy” Ribeiro the February meeting by Bev. [Please have Remember the Club Competition is this Extra Articles By: your paperwork in order. -Ed.] Friday promptly (right, sure, you bet) at 7 Thomas Coburn Scott is selling Girl Scout cookies so please p.m. Buck Wyckoff see to it that the DeFalco’s heiress makes The ownership of the Houston Carboys is Ella Grace appears courtesy of: her quota. still up for discussion so if anyone wants/ Marisa and Kyle Jones The usual rants were heard at the Raffle as needs to be an investor please see Doak for Webmaster: usual; at which time the meeting fell apart in up to the minute information. Beto Zuniga [email protected] typical fashion. THE ABOVE COMMENTS MAY The Officers meeting was held in the OR MAY NOT BE AN ACCURATE Mail Guru and Unix Geek: Gingerman’s beer garden and we/Scott/ REPRESENTATION OF ACTUAL FACTS. David Cato [email protected] Allison/Jamie were told we were being too Ask Scott and Jaime; They were too loud.

The Brewsletter Urquell is published by the Foam Rangers Foam Rangers Impress at MCAB Homebrew Club, 8715 Stella Link, Houston, Texas 77025 By Bev Blackwood II ing Event, such as the Bluebonnet Brew-Off or the Dixie Cup. Of the Foam Rangers who ©2011 Foam Rangers qualified, Rolland Pate brought All articles may be reprinted with- The Foam Rangers hosted The out permission, provided proper thirteenth Masters Championship back a Gold medal for his ESB credit is given to both the author of Amateur Brewing (MCAB) at III in the English Pale cat- and the Foam Rangers and a case of really good homebrew is sent Saint Arnold Brewing Company egory and a Silver for his Wacky in tribute. on January 23rd. The entire Wheat KC in the Light Hybrid Once again, all my articles were in on time... Way to go officers! Of event was held in one day with Beer category. Bev Blackwood course, without Thomas & Buck’s 215 total entries being judged. won a Gold medal for his Belgian articles, I’d still be in a world of Golden , Brewday hurt, space wise. Thanks to them Grand Wazoo Kyle Jones headed as well! It’s amazing how busy the event with help from Foam Belgian (which was originally things can get all of a sudden and Ranger officers and members brewed for the March 2010 Foam this Brewsletter is just the start of the Foam Ranger “busy season” along with judging help from all Rangers meeting) in the Belgian that lasts until June or July. Good Houston area clubs. MCAB brewers qualify Strong Ale category. Be sure to congratu- thing there’s barleywine to keep the editor sane until then! to enter by winning first place at a Qualify- late our MCAB winners! The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Page 3 themselves at each major (club) event This keeps club cohesion in order. Other Beer of the Month This Month members are urged to promote club in Foam the humiliation through peer pressure and alcohol.” Scrivener Andy Thomas Calendar Ranger writes some drivel about erections at ✯ the January meeting and the sheriff History being a near. An article announcing the January 20th, 2012 availability of St. Arnold Cask Conditioned & By Sean Lamb, Club Amber Ale forces shouts of joy from every ★ Historian (Sorta) member who reads it. The picture pages include postcards from Florida showing February 18th, 2011 the Dixie Cup standing in for a Xmas tree 20 Years Ago: stand and partying with the Sunshine Cup Barleywine & Holiday Beer on New Year’s Eve. ✯ In the Brewsletter: Editors John and Carmen At the Meeting: Held at Steve Moore’s Donaldson beg for someone to set them free ”humble bachelor abode” Wes Woods March 18th, 2011 from the purgatory that is cranking out the is unable to keep the Fez on due to Belgian & best damn homebrew club publication on the his massive cranium. Solutions are ★ planet. [Ain’t THAT the truth! - Ed.] Grand discussed. There were many discussions Wazoo Lou Carannante begins his reign about competitions in Dallas, New April 15th, 2011 by announcing that there will be darts one Orleans and Florida, as well as the Bank night a month and that new Secondary J. D. Draft’s “Brewer For A Day” event and Homebrew! ✯ Gonzales will be casting his beer net far and some new competition at Saint Arnold wide toget not regularly found in the called the Big Batch Brew Bash that was May 20th, 2011 Houston vicinity. He encourages all beer- being run by the KGB. Help is solicited for blooded Rangers to look for beers during their the DeFalco’s move from Morningside to , Dark , peregrinations. He also pleads for someone to Robinhood. The meeting wrapped up as ★ donate a fez for the Grand Wazoo to wear at Steve’s dog Mookie took a liking to Wes’ meetings. J. D. scams words from M. Jackson leg. June 17th, 2011 to espouse the greatness of porters and Other Events:None Noted stouts. Too much crap about the Bluebonnet Wheat, Wit, Fruit & Rye ✯ Brew-off takes up too many pages. Mr. 10 Years Ago: Donaldson states that he is “saddened and July 15th, 2011 angered to be told that some scum stole In the Brewsletter: Grand Wazoo Bev a major portion of the club funds from the Blackwood has moment of enlightenment Homebrew! money box” and that Dr. Strangebrew is still when he declares “Heavy hangs the ★ unaccounted for. head that wears the Fez. But if there’s At the Meeting: Held at Harold and Judy one thing guaranteed to lighten the load, August 19th, 2011 Doty’s place out Bear Creek way on it’s barleywine,” Slipping in and out of Febrewary 15th. “There was great food, some alternate universe he also declares , & Steam ✯ great beer and much more.” A technical that Steve Moore is “Looking for help presentation was given by Wazoo Lou in running his “Go Speed Brewer Go” September 16th, 2011 Carannante on building a mash tunand a experiment for a not too distant issue of wort chiller. He displayed several versions of Zymurgy.” Scriveners Kari and Kuyler Oktoberfest & Smoked each implement. He introduced Jeff Talbott Doyle write something about the January ★ who had constructed a 15 gallon stainless meeting. Secondary Jimmy Paige rants steel fermenter. Tom Witanek won a 3 gallon about barleywines and holiday beers, and October 20th - 22nd, 2011 Cornelius keg during the raffle. Beer of the include a recipe for 5 gallons of “Littlefoot” Month was porters, with offerings from Anchor, barleywine using 19 pounds of grain. Bev Dixie Cup XXVII Sierra Nevada, Samuel Smiths Young’s fills at least a page with his “Watch This ✯ (Original) and GASP! Santa FeBrewing Co. Space” column about upcoming events, Other Events: None Noted. club meetings and competitions. November 18th, 2011 At the Meeting: Held at DeFalco’s I.P.A. & Ambers 15 Years Ago: on Robinhood. Grand Wazoo Bev ★ Blackwood arranges to have his wife In the Brewsletter: Grand Wazoo Wes [Actually it was the Sly Bastards being December 4th, 2011 Woods publicly revels in his newfound Bastards. - Ed.] call his cell phone in an Homebrewer’s Xmas Party powers. He demands that “at least one effort to make him seem important while member other than myself must humiliate (Continued on page 10) Page 4 The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 chooses its battles based on what’s Friends, Foes, Competitors in it for them. One day the NTHB By Bev home the past three years. We will be badasses again, just like the Blackwood II, also took home a few other awards, Austin Zealots are now and we will Competition including the Crescent City C-Cup, see them at Dixie Cup in force. I note Coordinator the Gulf Coast Homebrew Club of we don’t throw much love (in terms of the year and the Lone Star Circuit entries) the Zealots way, despite the The first time I Club of the Year. During all that time, fact they entered this past year’s Dixie ever held the we’ve been a hanging onto our own Cup very heavily. I will be looking to Bluebonnet beat up hunk of brass (the Dixie Cup) change that this year and to attend the Cup, my first and not by a small margin! We’ve Homebrew Inquisition with an eye to thought was been blessed with prolific and skilled getting them into the Lone Star Circuit. that they brewers. Heniff, Reilly, Kolacny, Paige, (Who doesn’t want an excuse to travel had screwed Pate. The list reads like the legends of to Austin?) up. We had Texas brewing (although we somehow The Circuit is ultimately what it boils been tracking missed out on some guy named down to. We have an opportunity our points throughout the awards Oberlin.) to regularly interact with the ceremony and were pretty sure we Over the years we have also made it homebrewers from Dallas, Ft. Worth, were in second place. However, easier for our members to enter. We San Antonio, Austin and Lubbock when they called me up to the did this by paying for shipping (once thanks to the Circuit. We do so dais to allegedly speak about the we paid for all shipping to MCAB by entering and attending each upcoming AHA regionals, I found events) and by hand delivering our others events, but also through the myself presented with the giant entries to the event here in Texas to friendships and rivalries we form. ceramic stein. It was a memorable be sure our beers were well cared We encourage one another to strive moment. For the first time, the Foam for. This year is no exception. Our for that first time win, be it the Dixie Rangers had won at Bluebonnet. That entries will be taken to Dallas and Cup, the Bluebonnet stein or the just didn’t happen. The Dixie Cup (by hand delivered to the sorting. In Lone Star Circuit trophy itself. The contrast) had been regularly won by this way, we assure our beers are beauty of it is that not only do we the North Texas Homebrewers and as close to perfect as we can make have a great time doing it, there’s Central Florida Homebrewers. We them before judging. Some question great beer to boot! I will be collecting didn’t win other clubs’ trophies, whether it’s worth supporting the entries for Bluebonnet at this month’s they won ours. Turns out they HAD Bluebonnet through our entries. They meeting. Please have your entries screwed up and we were officially tied look at Dixie Cup entry totals from ready to go, with proper paperwork for first place. We fixed that problem the North Texas Homebrewers and and some type of packaging. Large two years later (and for the following demand a tit-for-tat response through numbers of entries should ideally be three years after that) by winning our not entering. I understand where in well marked boxes with copies of it outright. Since then, the North they are coming from, but I would paperwork in each box. Watch the Texas Homebrewers have returned rather be known as a member of a Foam Ranger e-mail list for updates to prominence at the Bluebonnet, club that brews with passion and on judging opportunities and the keeping their big hunk of ceramic competes with a will than one that collection date for entries to the next event after Bluebonnet, the Alamo City Cerveza Fest!

Past glories, from left to right: Dixie Cup, Cres- cent City C-Cup, Blue- bonnet Cup, Bluebonnet Club Awards, Gulf Coast Homebrew Club of the Year (Photo from 2004.) The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Page 5 Who Cares Where It’s 9 a.m.? think of this style as liquefying some flavors (the range is quite vast). The By Jaime of the great solid holiday desserts main difference is in the types of hops Robles – pudding, Christmas cookies, used and the emphasis on bittering Secondary gingerbread houses, pumpkin pies, hops. American barleywines obviously Fermenter fruit cake – and drinking them out of a have a resinous and/or citrusy profile bottle. Creativity, experimentation and and focus heavily on the early bittering I’m sure that self-control with spices are also key to balance the rich maltiness. British this has been ingredients for this style. Remember, versions focus on showcasing a done before more isn’t always better. deeper malt and compliment with the by a past Our club’s obsession for barleywine, more subtle flavors of English hops. Secondary but especially before 9 AM, is well- Now, do not confuse an American I will give it a founded. This can be related to Barleywine with an Imperial IPA. In a whirl anyway. I will write my article its unusually high alcohol content, barleywine, the hops are not stupidly while sipping on some barleywine. complex flavors, and side effects that extreme, the malt is richer, and the Hopefully, the quality of my writing will include drawing on your chest with body is fuller. go up as the level in my bottle goes sharpies, smashing glassware on your Holiday beers and barleywines are down. Doubtful. Here we go. head or just an overall lowering of your great digestifs and go very well with Taking a quote from our esteemed inhibitions. rich desserts. Some of the more Bozo Head of Special Events, Scott English in origin, barleywines possess pungent cheeses also pair very well Birdwell, “It’s Barleywine, bitches!”. an attractively rich malt character and with the richness and thickness of Oh yeah, and Holiday Beers. These bold hop balance that can morph into a barleywine. The carbonation of high octane elixirs are ideal for very complex ales when cellared. the beer helps scrub the tongue of consumption during the season This complexity makes it difficult to any residual oils from the cheese when the days get shorter and the confine barleywines into strict stylistic and prepares the palate for the next nights get cooler (or Icemaggedon in parameters. Creativity and a real bite. Barleywines are difficult to pair Houston). Their warming complexity understanding of the brewing process with main dishes since they tend to can be the perfect companion. is crucial when making this style; not overpower them, but leave some room Holiday specialty beers are all about just to show off your mad brewing in your stomach and liver. A goblet (or the mixture of spices and traditional skills, but also because these batches pint, if you prefer) of a barleywine may beer ingredients to create flavorful cost a pretty penny to make. Diligent be the only dessert you need. concoctions with many dimensions attention must be placed on the Special thanks to Fundrew and his and depth. Fruits, a variety of honeys yeast’s health, range of grains used friend, David Raines, for helping me and other herbs can also be used but and hop utilization. find some of these incredible potent it’s not a requirement. The spices are **Intermission to open another bottle** potables. a must, however. For this meeting, The 2008 BJCP guidelines divide I have beers that alude to Christmas barleywines into American and but you’ll also sample beers from English. Both of these are similar other holidays such as Thanksgiving from a malt perspective with a bold and seasonal releases. Just another richness and caramel, toffee-like way to spice up our meeting. HA! Traditionally, Belgian-style beers have been used as a base for holiday beers due to their high alcohol levels and phenolic, fruity characters. Their profile is already spicy to begin with so it was a logical choice. Nowadays, you can find other cleaner styles such as brown ales or bocks that have been spiced. The guidelines for this style can be a bit vague and open to a variety of interpretations (21B “Christmas/Winter Specialty”) since it’s pretty much an open-art category. While some purists believe that spices have no place in beer, it’s important to keep in mind that spicing a brew is another way to show the versatility of brewing. I sometimes Page 6 The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Beer, it’s not just for T-Shirts anymore.

Where the hell is Scott?

You want some “light Don’t mind my reach... beer?” Hold on a sec...

I’m the Waz and I say we have stout NOW!

Foam Ranger I’m Wazoo and I get all the beer I want, dammit! So are you sure this is Foto Pages! ALL I have to do to get in the Brewsletter?

It’s okay dear, just tell uncle Steve ALL Fish pie? Anyone? about it... The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Page 7 Hey, how come all her tickets have an “x?”

Thanks, you Bastards!

More stout? Yes, please! Foam Ranger Charles starts picking some winners... Foto Pages!

Wow, I really CAN see your tassle! Wait, Sean! It’s not August yet!

Well, it’s not big around, but it sure is short!

I just wanted to feel the power between my legs... The Waz ditches us. Page 8 The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 (Wazoo - continued from page 1) must be OK. Ella is back. The tests Club happenings parallels. I blindly bought some are OK. I bottled my first batch and The MCAB XIII finals were a grand ingredients based on some vague waited patiently for it to carbonate. success. Twenty people attended the suggestions from a graduate school I tasted the first bottle and it was beer fault course at the Flying Saucer professor. I blindly bought a bunch of overwhelmingly…BITTER. It slowly on Saturday, where we went through baby stuff from a list cobbled together dawned on me that perhaps my at least 20 pitchers of beer. Brock from store employees, parents, and a professor hadn’t meant for me to put Wagner stopped by and gave an birthing class instructor. I combined all 5 oz of hops in for the entire 60 excellent 45 minute talk on brewhouse the ingredients in an order that minutes. Maybe there was a better QC. BJCP judges who attended will seemed logical, partly based on the way to distribute the hops throughout be receiving CEP credit. Judging on advice of some the boil. But it Sunday was a blast, and a big thank stranger who wrote was mine. I had you to everyone who came out and a book. When Ella made it, from judged. We had judges from the cries, I try things that basic ingredients, Redstick Brewmasters, Bay Area seem reasonable, fermented it, Mashtronauts, KGB, Foam Rangers, and usually in bottled it. And Brew Bayou, CIA, and other clubs. some semblance I was proud. We had just enough judges to be able of order – burp her, Strangers and to divide the entries into reasonable change her diaper, friends alike flights. The BOS panel was one of find her mom to often comment the most entertaining I have ever feed her. And if on how calm and seen, deliberating for over an hour this doesn’t work, I serene Ella is. But before finally agreeing on the winners. turn to some book Our newest occasionally she According to John Peed, the event we written by someone cries and screams, hosted received a 95/100 in the MCAB I don’t even know. Foam Ranger, Ella Grace. her face reddens evaluation system, a phenomenal After the ingredients were combined, and turns blotchy, and she writhes score. We also ended up making I added some yeast, did the best I in frustration. But she is mine, a about $500 for the club in the process, could to “control” the temperature, and product of my love for my wife. And money that will be put to good use waited. I had no idea what was going I am proud. After that first batch, I this year, more to come on this later. to happen. The anticipation was was hooked. I strived to be a better Thanks to everyone who worked hard intense. In the hospital, Ella would brewer, to learn, to educate myself. to make this happen, and a big thank be wheeled to the nursery every so I invested my time, energy and you to DeFalco’s for putting up with often for tests, or placed under a resources into my hobby, because the entries at the shop and to Saint warmer to control her temperature. to me it was worth it. And now, once Arnold for allowing us to sort, store, I waited anxiously each and every again, I am hooked. I strive to be a and judge at the . time. I had no idea what was going good father, to educate my daughter, The Texas Homebrewers’ Campout is on. The wort in the carboy was soon to invest in her my time, energy, and back this year, April 1-3, 2011. Check bubbling, the airlock popping. This resources. Because she is worth it. out http://www.texashomebrewersca mpout.com/ for all the details on this event. Thanks to Sarah Gonzales, George West, Jonathan Goudy, and Robert Chan for working hard to get the event together. They still need volunteers for all the tasks that come along with hosting the campout, so please check the website and contact one of them if you are willing to help. Finally, we have a theme for Dixie Cup this year! This year’s theme will be “The Dixie Cup Goes Down Under”. Thanks to our Secondary Fermenter for that one. Stay tuned for more information from Rolland Pate, our DCC this year. Don’t forget to bring your bottle for the club competition at the February meeting! All you have to do is drop it off by 7 pm and tell us which category and subcategory you are entering. Now let’s drink some barleywine! The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Page 9 Is Every Homebrew A Snowflake? Get Real! By Thomas Coburn results? My quick and short answer temperatures and sanitation. All of was yes. Which he followed up with which are reasonable to control in I was originally going to talk about the statement, “other homebrewers the home brewing environment, So The Series Of Five, a project I took I asked said that there is great I guess my question still remains upon myself, to show the differences difficulty in doing so.” Now while I why do homebrewers believe they achieved when using only two grains agree brewing in the home provides create snowflake beers? Perhaps I and modifying the weights used of variables that are sometimes difficult am blessed that I have been able to each, while using it in a hybrid , to control, I don’t believe that these replicate time after time some of my the braggot. That will have to wait as variables are out of the homebrewers favorites, and I am sure you have a more important issue crossed my control to achieve identical results if your favorite house beer as well, so brewing path this month which kind careful planning and execution are perhaps it comes down to having faith of irked me a tad as I have always followed. Which lead me to think in your skills and confidence in your felt that homebrewers should be able what variables have the greatest product and always ask questions if to achieve results that commercial influence on flavor? My answer really you need help improving. Until next brewers achieve only at a smaller came down to a few select items that month when I divulge more about my scale. For those who saw the calling, brewers could vary and thus altering series, relax and have a homebrew. a gentleman is writing an article on their brew assuming all other variables brewing and the homebrewers that such as grain bill and yeast choice do it. As I am interested in sharing remain the same. They were mash our craft I volunteered my time for temperature control, length of boil and an interview. One of the questions hop addition, sparge temperature, asked during the interview was do yeast pitching rates, fermentation you believe that homebrewers can achieve identical brews in their homes, meaning can you repeat a recipe Feb. Brew-In & over and over and achieve the same

First Sunday! “Hold me Doak... Never let me go!

Say WHAT? Waitin’ on my Foamies...

Brew day done!

Soon to be enjoyed at a Foam Ranger meeting! Page 10 The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Beer And Loathing In Houston, Texas by Buck Wyckoff What I find most interesting about this historical excerpt is what has Dixie Cup IV was held in DeFalco’s transpired since and the beer parking lot October, 1987. This was renaissance we currently enjoy. Elma when DeFalco’s was next to the just expressed what most people Gingerman. Not that daFlaco’s parking thought at the time. Fred was a lot didn’t have it’s own charm, but prophet. Elma was an infidel. We’ve we brought in bales of hay to give come a long way baby! (16 taps at the the illusion that you were sitting on Gingerman? Whoo-hoo!!) something other than asphalt. (Leaks - continued from page 1) and the interview began…. DeFalcos.com has also experienced EB: Um….I think about, or hear about outages as the landlords have at wine tasting, making wine is a more times cut off internet access due to the refined kind of hobby. Nobody ever urinary excess. thinks about making beer. Is that an One Foam Ranger drunkenly summed exception? up the problem. “Urine wants to FE: But beer is much more be free!” He slurred, “We are just complicated. Anybody can make a providing the free flow that nature wine because the ingredients are intends, what’s wrong with that?” more or less cut and dried. You take your grapes and ah, nurse them along (History - continued from page 3) We were so desperate….I mean, it and pretty soon you have wine. You conducting club business. Scott went so well the Dixie Cup was held can’t do that with beer. Beer has too Birdwell announced that DeFalco’s in this very parking lot a second time, many variables. Too much….too many would be moving on March 10th and sans hay. possibilities. And you have much that all hands would be appreciated While putting up a flier at Pier One wider range of beer. Beer is varietal in helping with the move. Beer of the Imports in The Village advertising and seasonal whereas wine is simply month was barleywines and holiday upcoming said Dixie Cup, I ran into varietal. beers, but no list remains extant. Felicia Jeter, news anchor for KHOU, EB: Beer drinkers make me think Other Events: The first First Sunday who showed interest in the event. of people who have red necks and visit happened at Two Rows on Several days of not holding my breath pickup trucks and you know….a… February 4th. later, Elma Barrera shows up with .don’t do a lot but drink beer and have cameraman in tow. pot bellies. Is that a terrible, terrible 5 Years Ago: perception? In the Brewsletter: The headline FE: Not a….it’s not a genteel way to article explores the phenomon of St. look at it. Arnold appearing in the head of a EB: Okay….tell me then….if you were glass of stout duirng the January club to be able say one thing in a story meeting. Grand Wazoo Rob Kolacny about beer making, what would it be? encourages all club emembers to FE: It’s….beer is the coming enter and attend the Blue Bonnet beverage. Beer is the beverage that’s brew-off. Secondary Titanic Bob going to beat wine out. And there’s Daugherty explains barleywines and going to be more variety of it. And strong beer, including providing it’s going to be the one people are tips on making good homebrewed looking for. You just need to go a… versions. Scrivener Sean Lamb .some…the place next door here….got covers the January Porter and Stout 16 different draft beers and he has meeting. She, on the other hand, is so not another place with twenty different At the Meeting:Held at DeFalco’s happy to be there. That she thought draft beers. on Stella Link. 73 barleywines, this assignment sucked was written all EB: I think it has too many calories in old ales and christmas beers were over her face. I can only imagine she it. It will never make it. consumed. Old timer Andy Thomas spent most of her stay dwelling on the FE: There’s less calories in beer per and departee Colby Sheridan both juicy assignment that other reporter ounce than almost anything else. Fruit showed up. The meeting ended after got to go on. jelly has more calories than beer. Wine 3AM on Saturday. But being a professional, she soldiered has more calories than beer. Milk Other Events: The First Sunday visit on. At some point, she was put in front probably has more calories than beer happened at BJ’s in Willowbrook on of Fred Eckhart per, per ounce. Febrewery 13th. The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Page 11 Braggot: Honey & Beer With Barleywine’s Buzz By Thomas Coburn have... extract or all-grain brewing with yeasts tend to ferment above the ale the simplicity and complexity of mead temperature range, to develop some While this month’s meeting is focused vinting, Vinting is technically what of their complex fl avors (think .) on Barleywine, I’d like to talk about is being done in a “pure” mead as As this will produce fusel , its cousin, Braggot. Pronounced no “tea” is being made of the honey. aging will be required to mellow out like “bracket,” I prefer not to use Generally, I prefer to do a simple one the mead. Corking rather than capping this pronunciation (entering Thom’s step infusion mash with my grain is recommended. distorted world of history, some bill resting at 154° F for one hour. Braggot can be still, sparkling, hopped facts may be true) insteade I use Although a stepped decoction mash or unhopped. It has a wide range with a soft “a” therefore it comes off as can be used, I fi nd the time involved is a multitude of nuances but perhaps it perhaps some womans’ brassiere: not worth the extra hassle as the taste is the beverage you want to try next, bra-ggot. My feeling is the Scottish difference is really not noticeable in as the cold winter months drag on. needed something to compete with the end product. At the end of the boil Now on to some recipes: the English’s barleywine and as I add your honey and cool to pitching For 5 gallons: can attest, the Scottish nights in the temps. 10 pounds clover or similar light honey lowlands and highlands are cold. The The grain bill can be slight as as a 6 pounds 2 row Scots had raided an English village pound, on up to a full on beer, my 2 pounds Special B or similar specialty to prove they were the hearty ones of typical style. Just remember gravity grain the island and during their raid they will also be extremely high if you’re Hops of your choice or no hops. “borrowed” the English’s beer for doing a full on beer and then adding Montrechet starter analytical purposes. Upon consuming 10-15 pounds of honey. Thus, all This recipe produces a braggot of the barleywine beverage, the Scots standard beer yeasts are out and barleywine strength, with notes of soon realized that their wee-heavy it is time to step into wine yeasts. plum, raisin, dates and a fi nish of was a bit wee-limp, in comparison to With a braggot you want strength blackstrap molasses, I prefer it still. a strong English barleywine. What but you don’t want it completely to do, what to do. Ah, like a good dry. I personally prefer Montechet, Scotsman they devised a plan, they with a proper starter. “What did you would make a sack mead, and then say? Make a starter with dry yeast?” toss in the ingredients to a strong Yes, your mead has a lot of sugar to beer, and with a bit of bagpipe fanfare, process and it is going to need help, braggot was born. (end of Thom’s and I don’t buy the garbage that the distorted history.) Now you can see yeast have the proper balance in the how I would prefer my pronunciation packet to start an active fermentation as mead defi nitely can be traced to with a mead. Mead is notorious for Scotland and the Scots with their stuck or slow fermentations, so giving deep brogue would never say bracket, your yeast a healthy start is a must. an evil English pronunciation no Then for good measure add some doubt chosen to insult the Scots for yeast nutrient to your batch. Wine developing something as strong as their barleywine. So, now to the real meat as they say. Braggot is a hybrid of beer and mead, which can be mixed in various proportions, but generally to be considered a Braggot the honey proportion needs to be stronger than the malt proportion, although I have tasted braggots with equal proportions and they are excellent. Due to the amount of sugars added some braggots can reach or exceed strengths achieved in barleywines. But unlike barleywines, honey is the star, and balancing the honey with malt is a true art form. I fi nd Braggot is a good cross over for homebrewers into the mead category as it incorporates skills they already Page 12 The Brewsletter Urquell - Volume 31, Number 2 - February 2011 Got E-Mail? Get On The Foam Rangers Lists! 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