How long have you been homebrewing? I have been homebrewing since about 1996 when I started brewing cans of Coopers. I was hoping for something that tasted like a molson product and ended up with an ale with a strong banana ester. I hated it, but I packed up the 4 cases of my "banana" beer when I moved to Calgary. It was there that I discovered what real beer was supposed to taste like, and my beer wasn't that bad. So I kept at it on and off over the years. Last year I read Palmers "how to brew" bought a cooler, and went all grain.
How long have you been an ALES member? I joined last fall (2009).
What do you enjoy about the hobby? The club? I like finding and making the equipment, the brewing, the fermenting and especially the drinking - I could do without the bottlling. The club? People as obsessed with brewing as I am, and willing to exchange beer geek talk. I also like tasting the samples. Also the competitions are a new and fun aspect of the hobby.
How much/often do you brew in a year? I try to brew about one or maybe two batchs of beer a month - but the summer is just too hot in my house to brew - but I am getting a fridge and my temperature controller is on order.
What is your favourite style(s) to brew and drink? Why? Belgian Witbier Why? The first all grain beer I brewed that actually worked was a belgian wit - It has become my first "house" beer.
Is there a particular beer that you are most proud of brewing? My totally kickass vanilla stout.
What is the craziest beer you brewed? How did it turn out? I tried lagering a dopplebock in my apartment refrigerator. I used tons of malt extract and pitched a liquid lager yeast without any sort of starter. I took all the food out of my fridge (and shelves) and put my entire glass carboy in the fridge for like three months. It was total crap. Cloyingly sweet, you had to slam it to drink it - otherwise a gag reflex would set in
Can you briefly describe your brewing setup? Picnic cooler mash tun, lobster boiler for a kettle, and the crappiest immersion chiller you have ever seen.
What would be your desert island beer? An American IPA, crisp bitter and refreshing - yum.
What else do you do when you aren’t brewing (or drinking) beer? I am a graphics production designer for a busy busy sign shop.
