1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
With a couple of the previous Garrison competitions, we've gotten together to share the beer we brewed/submitted and chat about scoresheets after the fact, do people have any interest in that?
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Great idea! I know this is about Big Spruce, but I hope we can do this after the upcoming Garrison comp too! It would be nice to have some insight from those more experienced. Heck, it might be nice, as a noob, to sit in on one about the Big Spruce comp. Tasting beer is as much a skill as making the stuff and it might be helpful. Any chance that would be possible?chalmers wrote:With a couple of the previous Garrison competitions, we've gotten together to share the beer we brewed/submitted and chat about scoresheets after the fact, do people have any interest in that?
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Having given that some thought, scratch that. It was presumptuous even to ask. I imagine brewers would likely want (and with very good reason) to keep this sort of thing to their fellow competitors. My eagerness let me get a bit ahead of myself.redoubt wrote: Heck, it might be nice, as a noob, to sit in on one about the Big Spruce comp. Tasting beer is as much a skill as making the stuff and it might be helpful. Any chance that would be possible?

-Kirsten
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I don't think anyone here would be against sharing their beer or their feedback with others.
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
No issues here. As far as I can tell, we are all a sharing bunch!
"He was a wise man who invented beer." - Plato
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Lol... And some probably share too much!LeafMan66_67 wrote:No issues here. As far as I can tell, we are all a sharing bunch!
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I think Dec 27th is the only day that would work for this!chalmers wrote:With a couple of the previous Garrison competitions, we've gotten together to share the beer we brewed/submitted and chat about scoresheets after the fact, do people have any interest in that?
No this is not because I will be in town..

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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Alright, I stand corrected.
I guess I've spent too much time with folks who, no matter how friendly otherwise, guard their intellectual property like rabid squirrels with nuts. Glad to see it ain't so around here -- though I'd still understand if it was.
Thanks, guys. You're awesome.
-Kirsten

Thanks, guys. You're awesome.

-Kirsten
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
redoubt wrote:Alright, I stand corrected.I guess I've spent too much time with folks who, no matter how friendly otherwise, guard their intellectual property like rabid squirrels with nuts. Glad to see it ain't so around here -- though I'd still understand if it was.
Thanks, guys. You're awesome.
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-Kirsten
Award winning recipes are a good start, but the brewer and having enough happy, healthy yeast have a far bigger impact on the quality of the beer.

Andy
"Now son, you don't want to drink beer. That's for Daddies, and kids with fake IDs." - Homer J. Simpson
"Now son, you don't want to drink beer. That's for Daddies, and kids with fake IDs." - Homer J. Simpson
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
+1 to that...
Pitching the correct amount of healthy yeast, and controlling the fermentation temperature is very important.
Pitching the correct amount of healthy yeast, and controlling the fermentation temperature is very important.
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Can`t believe I missed this.
Congrats to all the winners.
Tim, my man. You must be brewing some great brews....
Congrats to all the winners.
Tim, my man. You must be brewing some great brews....
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Thanks!
Beer was brewed yesterday. Watch for it next month.
Beer was brewed yesterday. Watch for it next month.

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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Did you go down to brew it up?
At Alexander Keith's we follow the recipes first developed by the great brewmaster to the absolute letter. 

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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Some pictures of Tim's brew day from the Big Spruce Facebook page :








"He was a wise man who invented beer." - Plato
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Sweet pics! Congrats Tim.
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Tim Gregory wrote:Thanks!
Beer was brewed yesterday. Watch for it next month.
Great Pics! Any word on when and where your beer will be available Tim?
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I know it will make it's debut (or pretty close to debut) at the Local Connection's event Jan 16 at the Halifax Club. So look for it around that time.
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I finally got around to getting my score sheets. I just wanted to say that I'm impressed with the consistency of the 3 judges who scored my beer.


Electric Brewery Build
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I just got my sheets today too. Although the scores were all pretty similar (low!) there was considerably different comments leading to the scores.
On a positive note, I got to have a little sample of the winner out of the tank after its second dry hop addition. I can agree it is an amazingly great IPA!
On a positive note, I got to have a little sample of the winner out of the tank after its second dry hop addition. I can agree it is an amazingly great IPA!
Primary -
Secondary -
Bottle Conditioning -
Bottled -
On tap:
On the horizon -
Secondary -
Bottle Conditioning -
Bottled -
On tap:
On the horizon -
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I got mine as well .. They were more pleased with. My beer then I was!!
In bottle:Up the Kriek without a mash paddle, (insert Witty name)pumpkin lambic
On Tap:
Fermenting/Conditioning:
Future Projects:Chimney Sweepers Wife dark peated Scottish Heavy, Ginger bread brown, Home for the holidays spiced rum Brown Ale, Black Eye RyePA, Black Ryno Swartzbeir
Beer Laid To Rest (brewed it, drank it, loved it)Malt-n-lava AIPA, Single hop Citra pale ale, Belgian Blond, deforestation Ale Spruce Rye IPA,
On Tap:
Fermenting/Conditioning:
Future Projects:Chimney Sweepers Wife dark peated Scottish Heavy, Ginger bread brown, Home for the holidays spiced rum Brown Ale, Black Eye RyePA, Black Ryno Swartzbeir
Beer Laid To Rest (brewed it, drank it, loved it)Malt-n-lava AIPA, Single hop Citra pale ale, Belgian Blond, deforestation Ale Spruce Rye IPA,
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
From the Big Spruce Twitter Feed ...
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"He was a wise man who invented beer." - Plato
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
So was anybody out to try this the other evening?
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I hear it's in growlers in CB farm market today - hoping it's at Stillwell's this afternoon.
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
I got my score sheets just now, thanks for bringing them Chalmers and Sandy. They are interesting. It’s interesting how each judge’s opinion can be totally different. Jeff Pinhey says “no astringency” and another judge says "low astringency" and the third judge says “quite astringent”. Two of the judges said the hops were cascade, one said “good use of Cascade”, but the only hops used were Amarillo and Galaxy. I was really pleased to have my beer reviewed favorably by Jeff Pinhey. Thanks to all three judges. I was pleased with the overall impressions of all three judges. Score 37/50.
The comment sheets are useful, particularly where they agree …If three out of three people say you have chill haze, then you have chill haze. Mind you, if two people say you have cascade, doesn’t necessarily mean you have cascade
The comment sheets are useful, particularly where they agree …If three out of three people say you have chill haze, then you have chill haze. Mind you, if two people say you have cascade, doesn’t necessarily mean you have cascade

-Mark
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
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2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
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Re: 1st Annual Big Spruce Homebrew Contest
Beer was at Local Connections event, and Stillwell today. Excellent beer. Had to make a sub in the hops due to availability (subbed in Simcoe for Citra, I believe), but still excellent.
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