10 replies to this topic

[TxBrewer]

It looks like I am moving to Iowa soon and will be in an apartment for awhile which will really put an end to my brewing until I can get a house. I know you can do extract and partial boils in an apartment but I am more worried about the smell of the process with the neighbors since I will be in a corporate unit.Does anyone know of any brew clubs in the Des Moines area? Maybe that do group brew days?

[Brewski]

It looks like I am moving to Iowa soon and will be in an apartment for awhile which will really put an end to my brewing until I can get a house. I know you can do extract and partial boils in an apartment but I am more worried about the smell of the process with the neighbors since I will be in a corporate unit.Does anyone know of any brew clubs in the Des Moines area? Maybe that do group brew days?

I'd think if you had a good range hood, and did partial mashes of 3# or less, you could do it in a 2-3 gal pot.I've been adding my extract at 10min, and just bringing it to a quick boil, then done. So, you could do that without creating a lot of fuss.

[djinkc]

There's at least one club. One of our KCBM members moved there and joined.

[TxBrewer]

I'd think if you had a good range hood, and did partial mashes of 3# or less, you could do it in a 2-3 gal pot.I've been adding my extract at 10min, and just bringing it to a quick boil, then done. So, you could do that without creating a lot of fuss.

Adding the extract with 10 min left in the boil or 10 min into the boil?ETA - Thanks for the suggestion, I have always boiled outside and did my brewing in the garage so wasn't sure if it would be an issue.

[EWW]

Adding the extract with 10 min left in the boil or 10 min into the boil?ETA - Thanks for the suggestion, I have always boiled outside and did my brewing in the garage so wasn't sure if it would be an issue.

He's talking about the late extract addition method. Add it with 10-15 minutes left in the boil. You'll have to adjust your hopping a bit since you will get more bitterness in a wort with less disolved sugar. Worth a try. I did a google search and it shows at least 1 lhbs ... Doesn't get great reviews and their site is not up to date. Best of luck.

[dondewey]

I was in the club in Ames for a while; good group of guys; mixed between older dudes and college kids (mostly grad students). I know at least a few of the members drove up from Des Moines.

[TxBrewer]

He's talking about the late extract addition method. Add it with 10-15 minutes left in the boil. You'll have to adjust your hopping a bit since you will get more bitterness in a wort with less disolved sugar. Worth a try. I did a google search and it shows at least 1 lhbs ... Doesn't get great reviews and their site is not up to date. Best of luck.

makes sense, gets the sugars in, sanitize in the boil without as much of the smell. I would really like to be able to brew while I am up there.

[MyaCullen]

makes sense, gets the sugars in, sanitize in the boil without as much of the smell. I would really like to be able to brew while I am up there.

it does wonders for exract brewing, much better results IMO

[Brownbeard]

Iowa Brewers Union (IBU) is a great club. They are very active, and a good bunch of guys. Meetings are open to the public and are held the third Monday of every month at 7:00pm at the Holiday Inn on Merle Hay Road in Urbandale, Iowa, just off I-35/80. They also do a thing called Jimmy Carter happy hour at El Bait Shop. The bar allows them to bring in a couple of kegs of homebrew and pour it for the crowd.

[TxBrewer]

Iowa Brewers Union (IBU) is a great club. They are very active, and a good bunch of guys. Meetings are open to the public and are held the third Monday of every month at 7:00pm at the Holiday Inn on Merle Hay Road in Urbandale, Iowa, just off I-35/80. They also do a thing called Jimmy Carter happy hour at El Bait Shop. The bar allows them to bring in a couple of kegs of homebrew and pour it for the crowd.

I have been to the Bait Shop a few times while up on business and have heard of the Carter happy hour. does the club have a website? when I google them I get a domain but no site.

[Brownbeard]

I have been to the Bait Shop a few times while up on business and have heard of the Carter happy hour. does the club have a website? when I google them I get a domain but no site.

Their site must be down. I don't know off the top of my head how to contact them. But I know some of the guys in my Cedar Rapids club will have contact info. I know on the sunday of labor day weekend, the IBY guys will be coming to Amana for the festival of Iowa beers. My club will have a booth there pouring beer.