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The Spousal Unit and I looked at each other today, and decided to cancel all of our Scotland reservations today. Our hearts are broken. It is exceedingly unlikely that rescheduling can happen for later this year, so hopefully next year.

I joined the SMWS in ancipatoon of visiting their members rooms during our planned trip to Scotland in late April. It looks like that's right out, but I'll stick with these guys because every scotch from them has been pretty spectacular. I will wait another 2 weeks before canceling our...

Thank you, FedEx man. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (American branch) has thoughtfully waived shipping fees thru the end of March to ease the hardships of the current hysteria, and to help keep us safe by not having to go out shopping for our necessities and risk exposure. While these bottles...

Go easy especially with coriander, you can always add more but you can’t take it out once it’s in there. Adding after primary is safe, the alcohol will ****** growth of any unwanted microbes. Here, we are able to get dried orange peel from supply shops, either sweet or bitter, to add to beers...

It’s easy to spend other people’s money, I know, and maybe I’m the outlier here. But I’m shopping at a LHBS, where I know I can get parts and service, rather than sending money directly to a country who hates us, employs forced labor, and threatens to extort us by withholding medical supplies...

I would second foxy’s book list, and add Brewing Classic Styles by Palmer and Zainasheff. All recipes are explained as to style and process, and presented in extract and all grain alternatives.

The Mrs got me into this hobby with a kit many years ago, and I am reminded continuously by my friends how lucky I am. She knows all my brewing friends (and likes most of them), and knows where I am and who I’m with when I’m not home. Most of my brewing is outdoors so I no longer occupy her...

I have both and alternate between them, depending on the brew, and the season. All thing being equal, the plate chiller is generally more efficient (chills faster with less water useage). If you use whole hops you can either bag them to keep them out of the chiller, or use a boil screen in...

The hysteria over this is starting to make the wife and me think that our trip to Scotland at the end of April is in jeopardy. We’re certainly smart enough to not travel if we’re feeling ill, but we’re also not afraid of making the trip based on what we currently know. But if more countries...

I suggest caution and going slowly, or just leaving it be. The difference between a 4.5 and a 5.2 beer isn’t all that great. But adding water to reduce the ABV will also thin the beer out, which you might not like.

It looks like a nifty gadget. But not one counterpressure filler I’ve ever used is as simple and easy and effective as a Beergun. Carbonate beer well to about 12-15 lbs. and get it very cold. On bottling day sanitize all your bottles and put them in the fridge while still wet inside, for long...

My goal with a stir plate is to just keep it all moving so that the yeast is in continuous contact with food and nutrients. No whirlpool is necessary as long as the bar is still spinning (hasn’t gotten thrown off) and the entire starter is circulating.

For a 3-tier all grain brewery, I created the BrewLadder in 2004. It uses a standard wooden step-ladder which I modified by removing two of the steps and installing a folding shelf to hold the mash tun. Lots of fun to build. I brewed many a batch on it before lending it to my son, who of...

Check out bjcp.org > Competition Center, scroll down to the bottom, and the checklist scoresheet might be just what you’re looking for. Also the Beer Faults Troubleshooter is a companion guide for using the checklist score sheet.

That’s the kind of beer I would try to split into two, if you have a large enough batch to justify it, to bottle some in strong Belgian corked bottles with cages to put away for keeping, and keg the rest. Otherwise, you could always keg and carb all of it, then bottle any portion of it you’d...

I’ve been in the hobby for 25+ years (our club turns 26 this year). Our members are probably a representative sample of the general homebrewing population. We have a few of almost everything... legal and medical professionals, auto mechanics, builders, educators, computer programmers and tech...

Thanks Clint, it’s amazing the things I get away with, having a tolerant Spouse. What she doesn’t like as much, are the beer glasses scattered all over in the basement. On wire shelves and on top of fridges. Every festival, conference, brewery and tap room, need to be represented. I guess it’s...

Behind glass doors is nice. When we remodeled our kitchen two years ago we had the contractor install glass panels on the two wall cabinets where our glassware was to go. One for beer, and one for wine, cocktail, and whisky glasses.

My experiences with whirlpooling have been underwhelming. I typically do it after the wort is chilled, since I mostly use an immersion chiller and don't brew many beers that call for "whirlpool hops". So if I am diligent, create a very strong whirlpool by stirring the heck out of the wort for...

Yes! Isn't it amazing how that works? Life changing, for sure. I use quail eggs mostly for pickling, so it matters more how they look with that treatment than when making Scotch Eggs. But either way, my OCD has a much better time with soft vinegar-soaked shells. It's almost fun to peel them...