WordPress 3.5 is out…

…Now that WordPress 3.5 is out, I thought it would be a great time to get back to work on the website, brewing, and the book I had put on hold. Sometimes my ideas and reality move in different directions.

The WordPress 3.5 update broke something in the site database, and I have reverted back to the site backup. Somewhere, in the Php, the WordPress 3.5 update does not like my code, or the code of a plugin I am using. More than likely, it is a conflict within the theme I use. However, I have customized the theme to a degree that it will take me a few days to find, test, and deploy the updated code to safely update to the new WordPress 3.5. Blah!

I think I’ll just keep it as  is for now.

As for brewing, I have been working on a way to use green kale to “green” a beer for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s looking promising, although I need to do some more testing prior to actually brewing the beer. I will be brewing a low-alcohol and very lightly hopped golden ale. Then, to add the coloring, I have macerated some kale leaves and soaked them overnight. This pulls much of the color out without pulling all the bitterness from the leaves. I’m also toying with a low-heat or steam system to pull the color without the flavor.

If nothing else, it’s been a fun experiment in how to naturally color a beer for St. Patrick’s Day.

As for my hop book: I’ve been suffering from what I can only regard as the biggest writer’s block in my long history as a writer. It’s frustrating and depressing, but it is. What that means is, that when I write, the words do not make sense and I am continually deleting and re-writing. I’ve re-written a single section 27 times now, and it’s just not happening. The solution: back to basic writing exercises until I can get out of this funk.

This block started when I mistakenly deleted 3 weeks worth of writing. Ouch! Now, I’m still so mad at myself that I’ve been unable to write effectively on this book. I’ll get through it. My new goal is to have it out by Valentine’s Day. Keep your fingers crossed.

That’s all for now, I’ll be better about updating the website and staying in touch with all of you.

Oops! I almost forgot to point out the KickStarter project for the Brewery Incubator. You can check it out here: Brewery Incubator on KickStarter  This is a neat project, and where we are brewing for the time-being. Come have a DEB Ale and show your support.

If you have a moment, take a look at a great new concept brewpub in Houston, TX.

Warlocks Games and Beer

They are great friends of us here at DEBI, and we hope to brew with them for years to come.

Games, and Craft beer! Not really a ton of things I can think of that could be better!

Wil Wheaton: his loss, could be charity’s gain.

OK, I tend to make silly decisions when I cannot sleep, this entry is about one of them. However, I think we can turn this one into a very good decision. With your help, it could be a great decision.

You see a few nights ago I could not sleep, so I did the Internet equivalent of watching infomercials, I went on EBay. Yeah, I said I make silly decisions. After all is said and done, I am now the semi-proud owner of some of Wil Wheaton’s wardrobe from episode 513 of the SyFy Channel series Eureka. I do love that show, but I’m not really a collector. Sparks McGee will be disappointed, but I suppose I’ll get over it. I am a big fan of Wil Wheaton, so I’m not totally stupid.

Let’s turn my silly purchase into something useful. I propose I auction it off for charity. It will take me a bit to work out the details, and I plan to try like hell to get in touch with Wil Wheaton to see if he will certify the items.

Since October is breast cancer awareness month, and since my Mother is a breast cancer survivor along with tons of friends, family, and people I care about, I will put all of the proceeds toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. They have earned the highest rating from Charity Watch and Charity Navigator and their financials are easily accessible.

If you know Mr. Wheaton and would like to point him my way I would really appreciate it. I will do my best to reach him as well.

As a bonus, I think I’ll throw together a second package to either join this single auction, or as a separate one. For you home brewers, I’ll gather the ingredients for my super-secret Wil WheatAle, and ship them with the recipe and instructions to the winner.

I do want as much as possible of the funds raised to go to the charity so, aside from shipping charges, I will donate the items at my own expense. I may be able to donate the shipping as well, but I don’t want to commit to that just yet.

I’ll let you know more once I get the details worked out. I would like to have the auction begin in mid to late September and run for a week or so. It really depends on how long it takes me to write the auction code (I have to teach myself) or find a plugin that will run an auction.

I’ll put up more item details in a later post.

I’ve been working on the newest, and largest, addition to our website: Brew U!  Basically, I am putting together an encyclopedia of brewing resources for you home brewers, professional brewers, and beer enthusiasts out there.

You will be able to watch the progress, and begin taking advantage of this resource almost immediately. Just look for the Brew U menu and get to clicking. OK. OK. right now there are just some basic guts published, and there will not be a great deal up there in any kind of hurry. I am still knee-deep in researching and information gathering at the moment. That doesn’t mean there is nothing to do there.

Right now, and over the next few days, weeks, months, I will be working on information about hops, hop varieties, and other general goodies about the magical flower that adds so much character to beer.

Brew U is planned to be constructed in this order:

1. Hops
2. Grain
3. Adjuncts
4. Yeast
5. Water
6. Equipment
7. Brewing Processes
8. Brewing Science

Now, that order may change, but the information will be up there over time.

As I build the site, I am also compiling that same information with even greater detail into a published work for you to keep in your brewer’s library. Sure, this won’t be a free publication, but it won’t be overly expensive. I suspect each volume will be in the sub $15 range depending on the costs of production. The first volume: Hops, should be ready for release around Thanksgiving, but I am hopeful that I can complete it before then.

In the spirit of sharing, and free information, I am linking to a rather interesting paper on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance for determining alpha and beta acid levels in hops: You can read it here

That’s all for now. Check Brew U when you have a moment. If you click on the hops link you’ll see a list of some of the hops varieties I am gathering information about. There are perhaps 75 more I have not listed, and of all those listed, only 3 or so are no longer available in any quantity. Others are widely available, common, difficult to find, rare, or darn near impossible to find, but you can find them. You can find them, and you can brew with them!

The founder of Down Easy Brewing was interviewed by the great folks of BEERtainment TV recently. Here is a link to the show and their website.

Show Summary

You won’t believe this… Heineken, official Olympic beer, condemned by British politician/pub advocate! Then we play some Brew Bern audio before being joined by Jack of Down Easy Brewing. You won’t believe the new beer they are creating.

Unfortunately a Fans death puts spotlight on Comic-Con chaos, Twilight

Did you know how crazy-ninja-like Katie Holmes had to be? Turns out Katie Holmes Used Disposable Phones To Orchestrate Divorce. Apparently when you have to go to such lengths, there is something VERY ring with the religion you have chosen… Just saying you don’t need to be a rocket scientist (thank god) to see something is amiss.

Get the Audio Here Go to BEERtainment

I would like to personally thank MJ Melendez, Chad, Shane, and Dana for the fantastic time and great interview. This was my first-ever radio interview and they were more-than accommodating of my nonsensical babbling and Texas accent. True Saints of Beer!

I also recommend you follow their Facebook page to keep up with their shows as they often announce upcoming guests and have giveaway contests.

They probably Tweet as well.

So a big Thank You to BEERtainment TV from Down Easy Brewing. We wish you continued success.