Big Brew on Saturday

Greetings DUFF Club Members

The 2010 Big Brew is coming up on May 1st 10am at Mel's house. We are located at 3698 County Road S, two miles east of Lime Ridge or 8 miles west of the junction of State highway 23 and county S, 4 miles south of Reedsburg on 23.

Weather

I've been monitoring the weather. This morning it looked like Saturday was a sure thing, beautiful day; now tonight, the chance of showers have switched back to 30% for Saturday! I guess we need to continue to watch the weather and hope for the best. Any question about whether or not to hold the brew, call my cell 608-415-0091. I will have the garage open to accommodate some adverse weather.  The back-up brew date is Saturday May 15th (two weeks later). 

The Plan

Assuming the best, I plan to have the water hot and ready to go at 10:00am on Saturday. We'll be mashing in the 55 gallon drum. If that's not enough beer, I plan to have a second 40 gallon mash ready to use as well and enough grain for that. I have 50 lbs. of Pilsner that hasn't been crushed and other odds and ends grains. (someone should bring a mill) Anyone that wants to mash or cook their own beer is welcome to do that also. The big mash should begin between 10 - 11am. Sparging by 12- 1pm. and cooking from 1-4pm, so if you can't be here all day, feel free to stop by when you can.

For those that want to have a portion of the big brew beer, you should bring your cooking equipment or a container that you can transport the wort home to cook. I do have 5 gallon Pepsi kegs that I can lend if you need something for transporting. We'll figure the cost of inexpedience and price per gallon on Saturday. Last year's cost was only $1.00 per gallon of wort but this years cost will be based on the actual cost which should be somewhere around the same price. Jim has picked up the grains and I don't know the bill for those. 

To make beer after we mash the grain, you'll have to boil the wort and add the hops you want. I have plenty of Cascade hops if you want to use those and donate a couple bucks to the club. You'll also need yeast. Jim has some starters. I would have had more starter yeast, but encountered a problem with my stir magnets disintegrating in the starters I was making... had to dump them! So bring your cooker or a transport vessel, hops if you want something other than cascade, and have yeast ready when you get the wort home.

Accommodation 

Food: Sandy will make/pick-up some sloppy Joe's, beans, and potato salad. If you want to add anything else feel free to bring anything. Beer or wine samples are also welcome. We have empty bed rooms should anyone not be road worthy. Have fun but be safe, Don't drive drunk!

Golden Growler Judging

Bring your Golden Growler contest beer entry also. 

If you have no beer, wine, food, nor plans to make beer... feel free to come out and watch the fun anyway! We had a great time last year and made some great beer. I know there will be some new faces out here on Saturday. Invite/bring friends. The big brew is a great time to introduce new people the homebrew hobby.

See you all on Saturday

mel