Lessons from Bethlehem

Last week I was in Bethlehem, and I made my regular pilgrimage to Keystone Brew Supply. Always a pleasure to see Ray. As I mentioned in the previous post, I picked up Radical Brewing, a great read.

I bought my next two beer kits as well (as long as I was there...) -- a Porter and a Nut Brown. More importantly, however, I picked up a little extra insight from Ray.

As I have mentioned, I have been struggling with what I felt were incorrect measurements on my hydrometer. Well, it turns out that the hydrometer case was never intended as a beaker to take hydrometer measurements. Besides being very easy to knock over, the walls of the vessel are too narrow. The hydrometer therefore does not have the room to float freely. Maybe surface tension sucks it to the side? Who knows. In any case, for $2 and change, I have a nice, slightly wider, infinitely more stable vessel to take those original and final gravity measurements.

Also, I may end up going over to the dark side (sooner than I expected) -- kegging. While I have no problem with working to get a good result, bottling seems like misspent energy. Why spend the better part of a day de-labeling, cleaning, sanitizing, individually filling and capping bottles when most of the beer gets drunk at home anyway?

I could see at some point going to a system where I bottle a six-pack or two per batch (for sharing, picnics), but keg the rest. Of course, I can also see going to all-grain brewing, but all in good time.

While I am on the festival circuit, maybe I should check out the Long Island Beer Festival. It would be fun to talk to the Smutty Nose guys.

Must put in the Altbier soon.