Things i think about in the shower

[adm]

I love quality SciFi....it's mind expanding when done well.

What a good thread.....

I've just ordered the first two Tim Powers books you mentioned, plus First Light which I could only get second hand....but cheap

I think it's high time Neil Gaiman put something new out......I loved Anansi Boys and American Gods.

The problem I have is that I read so fast...I need 1000+ page tomes to keep me entertained for more than a few days and there's precious few of those that are any good! I just get fully immersed into a decent plot and almost feel like I've lost a friend when it ends! Big sprawling sci-fi operas work well for me - especially when they are part of trilogies or morogies.

Also, try Neil Stephenson. Some of his stuff is good, some poor. I'd recommend Cryptonomicon and the Baroque Trilogy - although neither are SciFi (like much of his other stuff), I think they're his best books. The Baroque trilogy sounds similar to Tim Powers in that it's historical fiction with a twist.

On Pet Semetary, the second time I read it, i got all the Lovecraftian references and it was a totally different story for me. So - also read Lovecraft too if you haven't already.....

[pantsmachine]

Ok, Can't resist it. I've made my own mountain of madness today



I think my disposable baking tray will live to fight another day! I've read Cryptonomicon, most excellent. SWMBO is calling me with a cup of tea. 1000+ Gary Jennings The journeyer if you've not blitzed it before.

[TC2642]

My favourite SK novels (off the top of my head) apart from DT were Tommyknockers and Dreamcatcher.

I'll go and Google Tim Powers now. Being off work for the next few weeks, I need some new reading material.

The only SK novel I ever read was 'The Stand'. Pretty bloody good.

[pantsmachine]

Anansi boys is one of my current bedside reads, enjoying it. American Gods is ace. As for The Stand, say no more. One of his best.I even tolerated the 4 part tv show and SK novels have the awful habit of turning to dust on the big screen. The Talisman and Black House are both worth a read as well. Kingsland Ale!

[oblivious]

pantsmachine have you tasted the sugar yet?

[pantsmachine]

YEs i have been chipping bits off the inside of the tray this morning. It tastes like the shell on a toffee apple. Maybe just a fraction darker taste than that. Really have to keep stirring when making as it would wreck the flavour if it was burnt at all. 1/2 hour boil got me a ruby red colour. I'm going to break up the block this morning so i'll post a couple of shots of smaller bits so you can see the colour. Off to get my 1 gallon mash on for these yeast cultures.

[dave-o]

Also, try Neil Stephenson. Some of his stuff is good, some poor. I'd recommend Cryptonomicon and the Baroque Trilogy - although neither are SciFi (like much of his other stuff), I think they're his best books. The Baroque trilogy sounds similar to Tim Powers in that it's historical fiction with a twist.

Have you read Snow Crash?

I like the baroque books, but they are sometimes pointlessly rambling, and the language used dips into modern American, which seems a bit out of place.

Snow Crash is more fun and just as well researched, IMO, and of course it's true Sci-Fi.

[pantsmachine]

My mountain of madness(Lovecraft short story) is no more. Took a hammer to it and its now 6 bags varying between 300 to 350 grmms. All in the freezer until i see if these bottle yeasts are going to go or not.






Made up a gallon and a half of 1.050 wort this morning from marris otter. Crash cooled it and used around 3 ltrs of the clean wort(huge amount of trub left behind) for these three yeast samples. Horsed them all in the demijohn so no idea which will come out on top but it will be Belgian i hope.

[pantsmachine]

Quite a long lag period on these yeasts. To be appreciated though as they have taken off well now from very small start out of the three bottles. Nice smell of bananas and pear drops from the airlock so it should be the right profile for my next beer. After starting this thread thinking about doing a really dark beer i have now switched to a light beer as i want to see how much colour the candi sugar imparts to the beer. Its going to be a duvel type. Something along these lines, going to ramp the temp up at the end big time and see what we get 5 months from now.

Deniable Duvel GSV Child Catcher
Belgian Blond Ale

Type: All Grain
Date: 14/05/2010
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Brewer: Joe Inglis
Boil Size: 6.84 gal
Boil Time: 90 min

Ingredients
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.00 kg Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 83.33 %
1.00 oz Styrian Goldings [5.40 %] (90 min) Hops 19.2 IBU
1.00 oz Saaz [4.00 %] (10 min) Hops 4.8 IBU
1.00 oz Saaz [4.00 %] (5 min) Hops 2.6 IBU
1.00 kg Candi Sugar, Amber (75.0 SRM) Sugar
Yeast Duvel & chimay mixed starter

Est Original Gravity: 1.067
Est Final Gravity: 1.016
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.70 %
Bitterness: 26.6 IBU
Est Color: ?

[oblivious]

Looks great pantsmachine

[pantsmachine]

Thank Oblivious. I'm putting off the brewing of this beer till Monday.Got an offshore mate coming round that day who showed great interest in the beer making. Going to do a brew with him and fill up his note pad! The recipe is below. I've removed the beer colour in the recipe as it'll be what is from the level of redness imparted by the boil when making it(who knows). Quite excited about this one as its 2 firsts for me. No1 is the use of homemade candi rocks and the 2nd is the use of cultured belgian yeast reclaimed from bottles. Also interested to see what sort of head retention i get with no wheat,crytal etc in the grain mix. Best past time in the world this!

Deniable Duvel GSV Child Catcher
Belgian Blond Ale

Type: All Grain
Date: 23/05/2010
Batch Size: 6 gal
Brewer: Joe Inglis
Asst Brewer: Denzil Sherrington
Boil Time: 60 min
Ingredients

4.00 kg Pale Malt (2 Row)
1.30 oz Styrian Goldings (60 min)
1.00 oz Hallertauer Hersbrucker(10 mins)
0.5 oz Styrian Goldings (0 mins)
0.5 oz Hallertauer Hersbrucker (0 mins)
1.90 kg Candi Sugar, Amber (75.0 SRM) Sugar
Yeast-Cultured Chimay and Duvel combo

Beer Profile
Original Gravity: 1.050 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.014 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 4.75 %
Bitterness: 22.4 IBU Calories: 43 cal/pint


The dark Belgian that i started this thread with in my head is still there but i'm waiting for the tail end of Summer as i have some massive fruit additions planned for that particular beer.

[pantsmachine]

Brewed the above today. Went very well and my mate really enjoyed the experience. The beer is a nice copper colour. Way weaker than Duvel which is what i'm looking for. I had no Saaz so went with Hersbrucker instead. My mates away to egypt for a 4 weeker on Wednesday and he's booked a couple of bottles of this for when he comes back. Already told me his wife will be driving!

[WishboneBrewery]

Next time just think about Soapy Tits in the shower

[pantsmachine]

Next time just think about Soapy Tits in the shower

Fell off my chair when i read this! Guess what i'll be thinking about all day today!

[WishboneBrewery]

Could be worse stuff to think about like how little money I have in the bank right now!