Friday night as I was swilling down campfire Porter like there was no tomorrow at Hydro Street Brewery a "shall remain nameless" individual whispered into my ear that I should drive north of town and check out a pro-Walker sign.
I don't want to get all like political or anything but I find it interesting that Walker is lawyering up with big name lawyers and "voluntarily" meeting with the Milwaukee County DA in charge with the John Dow investigation.
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This last week I have been obsessing over the water in Columbus. Not the bad things but I was interested in the flavor minerals in the water and how they help/hinder brewing. What I found is that Columbus water is very very close to Dublin Ireland. A little more sodium is the only real difference. This also means that it's REALLY hard to make a wonderful IPA because the minerals reject hops in lighter color beer, HOWEVER this also means our water is WONDERFUL for Stouts and Porters.
It's so freaking hard is crazy 7.7PH out of the tap but we don't care about that. It's the PH in the mash that we need to bring down which is crazy hard to do (Ale Asylum let's there water sit overnight before brewing.
I'll give this report to Cbus Water and Light for their records, it's something they do not test. Here are the results of the main things brewers look for. While you can make beer with normal water, award winning brews need help.
Sodium 106ppm - this much sodium will accentuate the sweetness in the malt. It's not a bad number.
Calcium(Ca) 19ppm - horribly low for brewing, Calcium promotes clarity and flavor in beer and yeast need calcium. 50ppm is the bottom end for brewing.
Magnesium(Mg) 11ppm - like calcium 11ppm is fine.
Ca and Mg will give you the Effective Hardness of your water.
Using the above numbers you can find the Alkalinity and yada yada - I used the below chart for finding what has top be done and frankly - it's a lost cause for making incredible lighter color brews.
HOWEVER - there is all of that Chlorine. We all know that chlorine can be boiled off. However in brewing, unless you boil the water BEFORE you mash the wort (soak the malt in 150 degree water) the Chlorine will produce Chlorophenols which is a serious defect in the beer giving beer a band-aid like flavor or that "home brew" taste.
Another problem with Chlorine is that it attacks Stainless Steel and will corrode it like saltwater on iron. VERY VERY bad for Stainless Steel.
Bottom line - if you are a brewer stay away from all chlorine and use a water filter that get's it out of your water.
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Super Bowl half time. I thought Madonna was great. Well done and who cares that M.I.A gave the finger (did anyone actually see it??). But think about the future - in 20 years who will be the half time show. Steven Tyler is like 83 right but who knows.
What 30 year old rock band will be on stage for Super Bowl LXVI . . .Nickleback? I can't stand seeing acts like the The Who and Roger Daltry with reading glasses and a cane "rocking out".
The best advertisement it seems was the Clint Eastwood ad. There were funnier ones but the one where everyone just sort of stops and listens was Clint. This was a +7 million dollar ad.
http://youtu.be/hRZ6rKlw65A
But there are a group of ad's that I have not seen. They are by Subaru and I love every one.
http://youtu.be/UwnCujrTCRA
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