Author: Ken Carman

The Topic: it’s Toucan CAN-ned Man! (Or: A Morning Well Spent with Mo, Carl, Bailey, Steve and Jackalope

Written by Ken Carman

Ken Carman is a BJCP judge; homebrewer since 1979, club member at Escambia Bay, Clarksville Carboys and Music City Homebrewers, who has been writing on beer-related topics, and interviewing professional brewers all over the east coast, for over 15 years.

 The machinery chattered, rumbled as it twisted, turned and inserted probes. No, we’re not on some odd alien space ship with a long line production line of cows, or abductees, about to be experimented on. Instead, as beer cans moved quickly down that line, one almost expected all that was left of the Terminator to reach the end and attempt to strangle Linda Hamilton.
 No Terminator here to be feared!
  Instead, there was plenty of beer, Toucan-ers: Mo and Carl Oelker, then Master Brewer Bailey and Head Brewer Steve at the end of the behemoth; putting together six packs.
 Oh, and just to assure any concerned quaffers: no one was being strangled.
 Instead a virgin was being sacrificed.
 A beer virgin.
 Yes, I was there for the first canning of Rompo, one of the standard brews at Jackalope, and only the second Jackalope brew to be canned. The first was Thunder Ann, their pale ale.

Continue reading “Brew Biz: Werts and All, Toucan Mobile Canning and Jackalope”

Written by Ken Carman

The Topic: Finding My Purpose in Beer @ King of the Mountain

  As a visiting judge you know there’s a better than even chance you’ll wind up on Specialty, or Spice, Herb and Vegetable. Especially if you do what I do and declare I will judge whatever, wherever, I’m needed. Can’t remember ever checking a category I wouldn’t judge for any competition.
  A masochist? No, I actually enjoy Specialty, even SH&V. They’re both a challenge, and certainly better than bad taste bud burn out. More on that in a moment.
  I judged at King of the Mountain last year when I was on tour, and this year I had to head up to empty out my former tour bus. Not sure about next year. The problem is by no means KOM: it’s a grand competition. It’s because King is over 500 miles away, and without the tour bus we no longer have an easy place to stay.
  This year Millie judged too.
  So, in the morning I was on, never guess what? Yup: collapsed categories, Herb, Vegetable and Specialty. Gee, howja guess? Continue reading “A Beer Judge’s Diary: Purpose”

Written by Ken Carman

The Topic: Of Homebrew Competition Conversations and The War of the Wort 2015

  This is at least the third time we’ve driven to Starkville, Mississippi to judge at the War of the Worts. It’s certainly not convenient distance-wise. WOW is almost 300 miles away, and there’s no direct way there.
  Part of the reason we keep going is obviously amenities. Judges, and stewards, who drive long distances often have to pay for pricey motel rooms, maybe even drive when they probably shouldn’t. At the War of the Worts they have free, on the property, rooms.
  But that’s not our favorite. It’s a small competition, which we seem to prefer, and time at breakfast, dinner, lunch, then breakfast again where judges from many areas compare notes. And we have been getting to know each other over the years. Continue reading “A Beer Judge’s Diary: War of the Wort 2015”

The Topic: FastFerment Review

Written by Ken Carman

Ken Carman is a BJCP judge; homebrewer since 1979, club member at Escambia Bay, Clarksville Carboys and Music City Homebrewers, who has been writing on beer-related topics, and interviewing professional brewers all over the east coast, for over 15 years.

  I must admit as homebrewers my wife Millie, and I, are more than a bit dated. We started brewing when it was made legal in 1979. We had moved to Nashville the year before and one of my jobs was as a security guard.
  My multiple security guard assignments included the many buildings that were part of the Green Hills Mall complex, one which was also home at the time to Lil’ Ole Winemaker: the first post legalization homebrew store in Nashville.
  I had learned to love the darker, stronger, more complex beers after several visits to Canada and simply couldn’t find the kind of brews I craved in the Bud/Miller dominated 70s. So homebrewing was almost a necessity. Continue reading “Brew Biz: Werts and All”

written by Dee Gross for crazycow252

  Without intent, I have collected well over 1,000 beer bottles since the early 70s. When something finally had to be done about the cheap paneling in this old modular, I had a choice: tear down the walls while, oh, so carefully, replacing the often rotted 1X3s; OR, cover them with…

The Bottle Collection.

Written by Ken Carman

 Is it just because they stopped it after 97 then started it again in 2006, or is there something flawed with the concept? Something they changed to make it less palatable?
 I write, of course, of Sam Adams Longshot beer competition. I have a Longshot bottle on my best of shelf of a 96 winner: Hazelnut Brown. The next year I saw the 97 bottles for sale but never bought.
 I must admit: maybe I’m part of the problem?
 I write this edition, this time, to solicit opinions from those more “in the know,” more than anything else.

Continue reading “From the Bottle Collection: Longshot”

Written by Ken Carman

The Topic: On His Way to Grand Master… Tim Belczak

 A few years ago I realized, while on tour, that there was a competition down the road in Niagara Falls during the same time I was usually performing in northeast Ohio. Being a native New Yorker, who has been living in Tennessee since 1978, brewing since 79, I wanted to share my own passion for homebrewing and judging with other equally passionate folks, so I drove north to the AWOG competition: Amber Waves of Grain. I think it was at the third AWOG where I judged with Tim Belczak. A short while latter, for the first time, we met again at King of the Mountain and NY State Fair.
 You really need to stop following me, Tim. I won’t get a restraining order… yet.
 Or am I following you? I hope you don’t get a restraining order. Besides, as Millie might say, tis tough to restrain me. Bet Cheryl has NEVER said that about you.
 Well, in one way, many of us are following far behind, for in such a short time here is just part of what Tim has achieved…

Milestones:
Recognized: 1/9/2014
Certified: 4/1/2014
National: 3/18/2015
Best scores:
Written: 83
Tasting: 90
Total: 87

 Yet, despite the speed with which Tim has been ascending… did I see a hint of a halo last time we met, or was that just the rim of a competition sample glass? …most interviewers might consider interviewing a Grand Master judge, or even Master, instead. Continue reading “A Beer Judge’s Diary”

Written by Ken Carman

The Topic: Palcohol… A Brave Brew World, or Not?

Ken Carman is a BJCP judge; homebrewer since 1979, club member at Escambia Bay, Clarksville Carboys and Music City Homebrewers, who has been interviewing professional brewers all over the east coast for close to 20 years.

  Palcohol. Certainly you’ve heard of this controversial powdered form of alcohol that was, essentially banned, then recently approved.
  Yup. Looks like cocaine.
  How it’s made is proprietary, though I would guess the process may be similar to how powdered coffee creamer is made. Just a guess from the guy whose father invented the liquid form, but talked a lot about how both kinds were made.
  Alarmists have wanted to keep it off our shelves because it would encourage underage drinking. Hey guys and gals: clue… that demon seeped out of Pandora’s Box long, long ago. Underage drinkers will get alcohol however they can. Does this make it easier? Eh, maybe a tad. But totally banning only encourages them to become more creative and takes essential control out of the hands of adults.
  But how does palcohol relate to beer? Continue reading “Brew Biz: Werts and All”