Recent content by Ottis

I stopped at a store called "Big Lots" yesterday, they had a bunch of "Rieme" sparkling Lemonade in 1L clear swing-tops for $3 each (they even take the same bale and cap as the ez-cap bottles at my LHBS) These ought to make great homemade wine bottles, I generally don't use clear bottles for my...

I'v made this a few times since I originally posted this recipe. I have only made a few minor changes, namely putting the dried spices in the jar with the sausage and then pouring the hot brine into the jar. This helps by not having to keep siring the brine to keep the spices suspended while...

Michelob Ultra Light Cider The name Michelob Ultra brings to mind hop flavored water drinks consumed by people who pretend to drink beer. I normally avoid this swill like a, like a, well, words escape me on this, but ya know what I mean... Anywho, I tried a "MU Light Cider" the other day, I...

I know it's a matter of personal taste, but I just don't see the appeal of the high ABV brews. A lot of my pale ales are only abt 3% or so, I can have a few without tripping over the patterns in the kitchen linoleum...

I have a recipe for Imperial Stout (8.7%) that calls for 2 weeks primary fermentation (ale yeast), then transfer to secondary and adding a pkg Champagne yeast to finish out the fermentation. I haven't tried it yet but it sounds good!!

I found a free video editing program and thought I'd try it out, these are some videos of us removing a steam locomotive "tire" and turning it on our 96" Niles-Bement-Pond wheel lathe. 12 of them all-together, each re-profiled and then put back on. For you Railfans out there...

I'd never seen these before; http://www.pakitproducts.com/bulkplastic6packbottlecarrierforbeer.aspx 12.4 cents each (+S&H), the trouble is this company only sells by the 1000 case. Might be good for a Brew Club or a group to buy. EDIT; Not available in an 8 bottle carrier, my mistake.

I just made another batch a few days ago, the local WallyWorld had Hillshire Farm Beef Smoked Sausage on sale. Long story short, it works even better as a Penrose clone! The meat in the sausages are coarser ground like the original Penrose was, and it seems to absorb the brine a bit better then...

Yes, they're shrunk fit onto the hubs. If you're ever around steam engines you may notice that there are "wheel wetters" pouring water onto the wheels as they go. This is to keep the "tires" from heating up due to breaking and friction in the turns. The geared Shay, Climax and Heisler steam...

It's a wear resistant steel alloy, contains manganese and chromium among other stuff.

The only way our job could be better would be if they allowed us to drink beer on the job. The cab of the 5 gets up to 130-140f in the summer, and there's no automatic stoker either, it's all hand shoveled coal. I take that back, it's probably a very good thing they don't allow Beer on the...

I do love my job, sometimes it just hits me; They PAY me to do this!!! :) ---- CSRR #2 Backin' down after helping push the Bald Knob train up the hill. Some other pics; My SWMBO and me, in Shay #5 (1905 80 ton class C)

Me at work and my SWMBO coming along for a ride.

Taking the "tires" off our 90 ton Shay steam engine, once re-profiled in our wheel lathe, they will be replaced and the engine reassembled, hopefully in time for running season 2012! Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Cass WVa We're also re-flueing our 1905 80 ton Shay 5, making new line...

Nothing a few homebrews wont fix, I was wearing my seatbelt and wasn't going very fast. What sucks is I only had liability coverage, and I'll have to borrow money against my tax return to have something to drive to work.. It was the first time I had put one upside down, it wasn't fun...