Brew Year's Resolutions

Resolutions for 2013:

Rosemary/Brett saison

Delicious IPA

Decide what to make for my 1000th gallon of homebrew

Set up a thermostat for the HLT without breaking the bank

Hanauma Bay

Rainy day but cleared right up.

No, but you'll still look like an idiot: Google testing heads-up display glasses in public, won't make you look like Robocop

Note how they're worn by an attractive young lady and not a dweeb...

Google testing heads-up display glasses in public, won't make you look like Robocop:

The good news: Google has started testing those augmented reality glasses we heard about earlier in the year. The bad news: if the artsy shots of the test units are to be believed, they won't make you look like some '80s cinematic anti-hero. In fact, the things wouldn't look too out of place in a New York Times style story. The software giant let it be known that, while it hasn't quite got a sale date on the wearables, it's ready to test ProjectGlass amongst the non-augmented public. The company is also looking for feedback on the project, writing in a post today, "we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input." Want some idea of what ProjectGlass might offer the public? Sure, it's not quite as good as strapping a pair on your own eyes, but interested parties can check out a video of Google's vision after the break.

Continue reading Google testing heads-up display glasses in public, won't make you look like Robocop

Google testing heads-up display glasses in public, won't make you look like Robocop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Noisy ASCO valves

Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm a little concerned something may be wrong.

Thanks.

Online/cloud financial software with sync...

In 2012 we ought to be able to do this:

iPhone/Android financial software + Cloud platform for entering transactions from desktop computers anywhere. Why can't we? Let's review the contenders:

Mint.com - I still cannot figure out how to enter transactions and get them to consistently reconcile correctly. Anybody know how to? Feel free to post below. Otherwise, it's a lovely platform to keep track of things.

Clearcheckbook.com - They have a great online interface, support import/export in a variety of formats, but their iPhone client is garbage - very crashy and unstable. Look at the app rating - two stars at the time of this writing. I've also used their Android app and it's a bit better. Overall, the whole platform is usable on Android, but unusable on iPhone.

iReconcile - This is what I'm currently using, but the online interface is SLOOOOOOOW. Lacks import/export features. No support for your memorized transactions on the iPhone via the web interface. Clunky (and again, SLOOOOOOOW interface).

Also (added later) - toshl.com - tracks expenses, but can't split things up into accounts (weird).

Loyal reader (singular) what are you using?

Sports: Saints figure out how to turn the ball over while on defense

Exploiting a little-known NFL rule, they hope to increase future turnovers by focusing on all 3 phases of the game.

Quick review: Bazooka Screens and their ilk

Recently purchased this. Short version is that it works, but it gets clogged when using it in the boiler. I have not tried it in the mash tun.

Long version is that for beers with highly-converted malts and low/no adjuncts and (probably leaf hops) it performs well. For adjuncts, less converted malts, and pellet hops, it has to constantly be scraped off with a spoon or paddle.

Previously, I just ran from a 1/2" NPT nipple to a 90 degree elbow in the pot and just used a stainless scrubber/sponge stuck on the nipple to strain. This is cheaper, but can still clog.

I remain unsure of the proper answer. I really don't want to spend the time and energy and (lotsa) money to setup some kind of whirlpool. However, when the kettle gets stuck and the wort is coming out of the counter-flow slowly life sucks.

Anybody have a cheap and easy setup that works?

Recipe review: Trappist Crappist

I based this off of a reciped found here. With the exception of software screwups (I usually brew 10 gallon batches and wasn't paying attention to the volumes I was being handed...)

Tasting notes will follow.

Batch 1 of Trappist Crappist

Dates

Date Brewed:	1 Jan 2012	Date Racked:	1 Jan 2012
Date Packaged:	1 Jan 2012	Date Ready:	1 Jan 2012

Selected Style and BJCP Guidelines

18B-Belgian Strong Ale-Belgian Dubbel

Minimum OG:	1.062 SG	Maximum OG:	1.075 SG
Minimum FG:	1.008 SG	Maximum FG:	1.018 SG
Minimum IBU:	15 IBU	Maximum IBU:	25 IBU
Minimum Color:	10.0 SRM	Maximum Color:	17.0 SRM

Recipe Overview

Target Wort Volume Before Boil:	24.30 qts	Actual Wort Volume Before Boil:	24.30 qts
Target Wort Volume After Boil:	21.13 qts	Actual Wort Volume After Boil:	21.13 qts
Target Volume Transferred:	21.13 qts	Actual Volume Transferred:	21.13 qts
Target Volume At Pitching:	21.13 qts	Actual Volume At Pitching:	21.13 qts
Target Volume Of Finished Beer:	20.08 qts	Actual Volume Of Finished Beer:	20.08 qts
Target Pre-Boil Gravity:	1.064 SG	Actual Pre-Boil Gravity:	-No Record-
Target OG:	1.074 SG	Actual OG:	-No Record-
Target FG:	1.010 SG	Actual FG:	-No Record-
Target Apparent Attenuation::	85.5 %	Actual Apparent Attenuation:	0.0 %
Target ABV:	8.5 %	Actual ABV:	0.0 %
Target ABW:	6.7 %	Actual ABW:	0.0 %
Target IBU (using Tinseth):	19.0 IBU	Actual IBU:	33.9 IBU
Target Color (using Morey):	37.8 SRM	Actual Color:	37.8 SRM
Target Mash Efficiency:	65.0 %	Actual Mash Efficiency:	0.0 %
Target Fermentation Temp:	64 degF	Actual Fermentation Temp:	64 degF

Fermentables

Ingredient	Amount	%	MCU	When
US Pilsen Malt	12.00 lb	73.8 %	2.3	In Mash/Steeped
German CaraMunich I	2.00 lb	12.3 %	13.2	In Mash/Steeped
Sugar - Candi Sugar Dark	1.00 lb	6.2 %	52.1	In Mash/Steeped
Belgian Special B	1.00 lb	6.2 %	27.8	In Mash/Steeped
German Carafa I	0.25 lb	1.5 %	15.9	In Mash/Steeped

Hops

Variety	Alpha	Amount	IBU	Form	When
Slovenian Styrian Goldings	4.5 %	1.00 oz	12.9	Bagged Pellet Hops	60 Min From End
German Hallertauer Hersbrucker	3.5 %	1.00 oz	6.1	Bagged Pellet Hops	20 Min From End

Other Ingredients

Ingredient

Amount

When

Yeast

White Labs WLP550-Belgian Ale

Water Profile

Target Profile:	No Water Profile Chosen
Mash pH:	5.2
pH Adjusted with:	Unadjusted

Total Calcium (ppm):	0	Total Magnesium (ppm):	0
Total Sodium (ppm):	0	Total Sulfate (ppm):	0
Total Chloride(ppm):	0	Total Bicarbonate (ppm):	0

Mash Schedule

Mash Type:	Full Mash
Schedule Name:	CAP (50-66C/122-149F)

Step Type	Temperature	Duration
Rest at	122 degF	15
Raise by infusion to	151 degF	1
Rest at	151 degF	60

Mash Notes

Boil Notes

Fermentation Notes

Packaging Notes

Tasting Notes