Quick Introduction

I wanted to introduce myself.

I started home brewing back in 2000 when my wife bought me a starter kit and equipment for my birthday. After about a year of extract kits, moved to partial mash for 3-5 batches, then onto all grain.

I took time off for several years while I worked on my doctorate, then another 2 years off because of starting a new (and challenging) job. Srtarted back a few months ago.

I brew mainly ales, especially like Belgian ales, and have done some lagers in the past. I entered a schwartzbier in a competition a while ago and got a 39 on it. That is encouragement enough and yesterday I bought a chest freezer so I can better control my fermentation temperature. I am becoming more interested in sour beers and I am looking forward to venturing into this style sometime in the future.

As a note---although I have been reading posts on the forum for 6-8 months, I usually don't post much. I like to take in the knowledge and add when I might have something unique to contribute.

I look forward to having everyone add to my knowledge.

riceral

You sound a lot like me. I love Belgian beers, Schwartzbier and sour beers as well. I entered a Schwartzbier in a Pro Am comp for GABF back in 2009 and won the category but did not get to brew the Pro Am batch because I live in Iowa and the contest was in Washington. I did go to GABF that year though and had a beer that was made at Baron? in CA. It was a smoked sour dopplebock. It had to be one of the best beers I have ever tasted. One of these days I will get around to making one. Tasted like a good sour ale and bacon. Good beer.

I am becoming more interested in sours. Waiting on Michael Tonsmeire's book American Sour Beer, due on Amazon on April 7th.

The best beer store in town had a sour/rare beer tasting a couple of Mondays ago. Good stuff. Different and quite enjoyable. Not something to drink 2 or 3 when I get home after work but something I would enjoy on a hot afternoon.

The funny thing about that smoked sour dopplebock was that no one at GABF liked it I guess because there was no line at all but, I went back over and over. Then..... we went to a tap house called Fire Creek and they had it and several others on tap that night. They were doing some sort of special on sour beers. It was a great night.