So lately I've been bored and wanted a new hobby or something. I've thought about ferrets but I'm not sure I'll be able to play with them enough so I think I'm going to hold off for a while. I did get another idea though. I really love good beer so I think its time to try and make my own just out of boredom. I read up on Beer Advocate, some other websites, and went to the only liquor store that sells homebrew stuff for like 80 miles. I saw nothing and asked and a guy led me to the basement with everything. I didn't really want to get a kit with plastic, wing capper, etc but that was pretty much all they had at a reasonable price so I got it to get started. Total cost was about $90-100 for the kit and the supplies to make 5 gallons of India Pale Ale. I've since went out to buy a large pot to brew in and a thermometer too.
I have the first batch in the fermenter and already know quite a bit I'll do differently on the next batch. I'm going to deviate a bit from the instructions and do a secondary fermentation this time too. That adds two more weeks to the ferementation stage which kinda sucks since I'll be many week off drinking it. Ahhh well hopefully it will be worth the wait and won't taste like ass. If its good though I can see this as being something I would do more often. Bottling could still be too much of a pain though....we'll see. The none too exciting pictures so far are also in the gallery.
Spring break is also over which saddens me....at least its the halfway point in the semester. I can't wait to be done even though I have no idea what I will be doing afterwards or even want to be doing. I do wish someone would sign the lease for my apartment already I'm tired of people coming by to look at it. I really will hate to move out the most since I'll miss my personal space if I wind up at home for a while.
I've felt like crap this week and haven't made it to work near as often as I should. Hopefully tomorrow I'll make up for that or I'll be really broke on payday. I need some new challenges really I think.
Unreal Tournament 2004 is in stores this week and I'm tempted to pick up a copy. I tried the demo and it was really fun and its priced reasonably. Especially with the mail in rebate offer for having a copy of the pile of crap known as UT2003. But I think I'm just going to save my money and hold onto hope that Half Life 2 will be out soon. I don't even remember how long I got the coupon for it with my ATI video card. I'm glad its not being rushed, but anytime now would be great. Doom 3 might be fun but I'm in no rush there. Counter Strike shall continue to hold me over with its like 5 year old great play.
Enough for now I think its time to read for a while.
Posted by johnm at March 18, 2004 10:51 PM