Founder's Brewing Co. Tasting

Founder's Brewing Co. Tasting

Justin Jackson
BTSB Events

On February 24th we opened our doors for our first tasting event featuring brews from Founder's Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The tasting featured a range of their full-bodied, full-flavoured beers including:  PC Pils, All-Day IPA, Azacca IPA, Dirty Bastard, KBS, and Lizard of Koz.  The crowd favourite was the KBS, or Kentucky Breakfast Stout, which came as no surprise.  In this post I share my thoughts on these brews as well as some of the things I learned about Founder's Brewing in preparation for the tasting.

Brewerism - Huntington Beach, CA USA

Brewerism - Huntington Beach, CA USA

Justin Jackson
Brewerism

Since my wife hails from the "O.C." (Orange County) we find ourselves visiting regularly.  Over the years we've seen an impressive growth of craft beer in her neck of the woods.  While Huntington Beach, CA is known as "Surf City USA" and is typically a summer destination for campers, beach-goers, and surfers alike, it is also starting to build a reputation as a craft beer destination.

Brewing Thanksgiving Beers

Brewing Thanksgiving Beers

Justin Jackson
Practical Home Brewer

As an American living in Hong Kong, once you make it to November and are finally rewarded with a drop in temperature then you can't help but start thinking about the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays on the horizon.  Over the past several years my wife and I have been fortunate to host or attend Thanksgiving gatherings with friends which always include staples of turkey, breaded stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, vegetables, and pumpkin pie.  This holiday always reminds me to reflect on what I'm thankful for, and beer is definitely on that list!  In the past I've never brewed a beer for a specific holiday, but in this post I will share a few recipes that I brewed for this year's Thanksgiving celebration!

Tackling the BJCP Exam - Part Two

Tackling the BJCP Exam - Part Two

Justin Jackson
Brewing Resources

In the previous post I talked about the online entrance exam portion of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP).  If you pass that grueling 200 question exam in 60 minutes then you earn the title of "Apprentice" beer judge.  You are able to assist in BJCP-sanctioned brewing competitions as long as you are accompanied by another more senior judge.

In order to earn the level of "Recognized" judge, "Certified" judge, or "National" judge you must complete the second portion of the exam:  the tasting exam.  I was one of around 20 participants in Hong Kong's first BJCP Tasting Exam held at Second Draft in Tin Hau.  In this post I will tell you a little about my preparation for the exam and the exam itself.  At present I don't have the results so I can't tell you if my preparation paid off but this should at least give you an idea if you are considering taking this exam.

How to Make Beer Soap

How to Make Beer Soap

Justin Jackson
Crafty Brewer

After a long afternoon brewing what do you do with that leftover grain?  More importantly, what do you do about that sweaty bod?  You'd be surprised to find that making your own bar soap out of beer and spent grain isn't all that difficult.

Tackling the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Exam - Part One

Tackling the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Exam - Part One

Justin Jackson
Brewing Resources

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) has been around since the 1990s with a purpose of defining  and distinguishing between various beer styles throughout the world and providing the common vocabulary necessary to describe the differences in the taste, smell, mouthfeel, and appearance of those styles.  Thus, it provides a standard framework upon which brewing competitions may be based when comparing the quality of various beers produced by both hobbyists and professional brewers.  In this series of two posts I will discuss my experience in preparing for the BJCP exam which enables individuals to participate as qualified judges in BJCP-sanctioned brewing competitions.  In this first part I will discuss the preparation for and completion of the online portion of the exam ("Entrance Exam") and in the second part I will discuss the tasting portion of the exam.

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