If it’s one thing that (most) homebrewers love, it’s saving a few bucks. If there’s a second thing we like, it’s keeping something unique around for as long as possible. In this episode of Chop & Brew, we walk through the steps of washing yeast for the purpose of reusing it for brewing more beer at home. This easy process should yield healthy, clean yeast that’s ready to rip into your next batch of wort. Try it with your favorite house yeast strain or the next time you have something special you want around for a few generations.
Category: beer education
Chop & Brew: New Locally Produced Homebrew Podcast
Chop AND Brew? We’re listening.
Chop & Brew is a new webcast produced by Chip Walton, former video nerd for Northern Brewer and Brewing TV. He’s now working a full-time day job at Summit Brewing Company and producing this beer and food vodcast in his free time. To learn more about the show’s mission statement, see this link for an interview with Chip by Minnesota Beer Activists’ Andrew Schmitt.
C&B is already three episodes deep so there’s some catching up to do:
Episode 01 “Two Reds are Better Than One” was the “pilot episode” and resulted in two homebrewed red ales.
Episode 03 “Brewing for 311 and Dre Day” was released this week. In it we join the C&B Crew as they homebrew three ales in tribute to the band 311 and a malt liquor that was a part of the recent Dre Day party at Triple Rock Social Club.
We’ll embed Episode 02 here because… well, beacuse they’re “Makin’ Bacon!” And bacon is goooooood. Check out Drew Flaten from the kitchen crew at Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub droppin’ some mad science on making bacon at home.
As we did with Brewing TV episodes, we’ve invited Chip to post his episodes here at MNBeer. He expects the release schedule to be every other Friday.
Chop for Chop, Brew for Brew!
Better Beer Society Spring Semester w/ Special Guest Ray Daniels
Better Beer Society University kicks off its spring semester on March 6th with a new sponsor and a special visitor. The Cicerone Certification Program is now title sponsor for Better Beer Society University and founder and director of the program, Ray Daniels, will be at the first class. Daniels is also the author of “Designing Great Beers” as well as over two dozen other books on beer and brewing.Class will begin on March 6th, and the semester will run for 12 weeks. Republic (7 Corners) will once again host the classes. The semester will include two one-hour sessions (6pm and 7:30pm). Tuition cost for BBSU spring semester will be $75 (which equates to $6 / class, or roughly the cost of a beer). Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.brownpapertickets.
Register today, space is limited.
BBSU is an educational weekly “beer school” for both the beer enthusiast, as well as the novice. Our goal is to educate students on all aspects of the beer industry (breweries, retail, hop farming, distribution, maltsters, and so forth). We also teach you how to explore your palate, cook w/ beer and create pairings.
Students are treated to some very exclusive and rare beers during certain classes (i.e. – Cantillon Fou’Foune & aged Surly Darkness) as well as special field trips and access to local breweries before they open to the general public.
KSTP (ABC) Channel 5 Eyewitness News media coverage: http://kstp.com/
BBSU in session w/ (Todd Haug, Pete Rifakes, Chip Walton):
CrossTalk Tudor Keg Party: Presentation and Beer Tasting
This should be really cool. Let your inner beer nerd meet your inner art nerd! (I’m right there with you…)
Wet your whistle and wade into beer history in this extended CrossTalk featuring Summit brewer Eric Harper and food historian Jeffrey Pilcher from 6:00-8:30pm January 31st at the Target Wing Reception Hall of The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Taste a Tudor-style ale created by Harper and brewed by Summit in honor of the MIA exhibition, “Supper with Shakespeare.” Learn about archaic beer recipes, brewing history, and the resurgence of craft brewing. Top off the evening with your own insights and questions.
$10; $5 for MIA members. To reserve tickets, call (612) 870-6323 or reserve tickets online.
Inspired Brewing in Belgium and America w/ Lanny and Ian
This is an event you probably don’t want to miss. Spots are limited (as in 25 spots – w/ a $10 ticket). Sign up now – I’m sure this will fill up. The class is called “Inspired Brewing in Belgium and America” and is hosted by Ian from The Four Firkins and Lanny Hoff. Both of these guys are great and a lot of fun.
Our next educational tasting is going to be a truly special experience, as Ian will be joined by local craft beer legend, a Certified Belgian Beer Knight, and eloquent public speaker, Lanny Hoff. Ian and Lanny will guide you through three specific Belgian beer categories and how they are executed in both Belgium and America.
They will delve into the characteristics and history of the styles, beers, and breweries with plain language and entertaining stories. Rather than focusing on comparing each country’s example in a competitive manner to see which is better, they will discuss the influence and role that inspiration and creativity play in brewing these beers. They will also discuss the impact of Belgian brewing traditions on American craft beer and the reciprocal effect that American brewers are having on Belgian beer culture.
Class will be Thursday, January 31st from 7PM to 8PM.
The goals of the class will be:
-To have fun while learning and drinking delicious beer
-To make Belgian beer more approachable to new beer drinkers
-To develop a deeper understanding of the origin and primary characteristics of certain, specific Belgian beer styles
-To gain a greater appreciation for the role that inspiration and creativity play in how certain styles become developed and interpreted
Beers that will be sampled:
Style: Tripel (Strong Golden Ale)
Belgian Example- Brewery Bosteels ‘Tripel Karmeliet’
American Example- Victory Brewery ‘Golden Monkey’
Style: Quadrupel (Strong Dark Ale)
Belgian Example- Brewery de Konigshoeven ‘La Trappe Quad’
American Example- Brewery Ommegang ‘Three Philosophers’
Style: Oak Aged Sour Ales
Belgian Example- Brewery Bockor ‘Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge’ (Flanders Red)
American Example- New Belgium ‘La Folie’ (Sour Brown Ale)
Tickets are $10 and there are only 25 spots available, so act fast! Tickets can be purchased in person at the store or over the phone during normal business hours at 952-938-2847. All levels of beer lovers are welcome and there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
You can also sign up online at:
http://thefourfirkins.com/
online-store/product-detail. php?ID=5003&CatID=3516& GroupID=3503