talking pixels

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Here at Running Pixels we get a lot of questions about computers and cameras, but also about our home brew.

Yes, the home brew is good. And you can brew too.

It’s really not that difficult and if you made it through your 6th grade science project, you can make some excellent beer at home. Its rewarding and watching the fermentation process is simply amazing.

There are many books out there, but How to Brew by John Palmer has been highly recommended. I’m sure its great in print form, but John has also published the book online.

Being able to read through the important chapters online was an important help during our very first brew. Do check your local brew shops for demo’s. The brew demo we had by Erik Knutzen of Homegrown Evolution was extremely helpful when we started out. Don’t discount how watching someone brew can take the fear out of the unknown process. Its not difficult, but it definitely helps to watch someone go through the steps before you do it solo.

There is some basic brew equipment you must invest in, but it pays for itself with the first batch or two of beer you consume. Kits tend to run $70+ but have pretty much everything you need to get started. If you can swing it, we recommend glass carboys over the plastic buckets. Mostly because you can watch the fermentation process through the glass. The plastic is safe to use, but we feel better about glass.

We purchased our starter kit from Northern Brewer, but have also purchased supplies at a local place in Los Angeles called Culver City Home Brew. They have free intro to brewing classes and offer mail order starter kits.

Do look for local home brew supplies, I bet you will be surprised what is around the corner. Here is a Local Brew Supply listing online.

Yesterday we bottled our second batch of Hefeweizen and now have a Leffe Blonde in secondary which we’ll bottle late next week. Ordered more ingredient kits today so we can keep the flow going during the summer.

Home brew. Just do it.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Home brewing has been our latest office distraction. The fermentation process is awfully enjoyable to watch. The live yeast moving about the glass carboy is almost as good as our fish tank. Well, maybe better. We don’t get to empty and drink the fish tank. We’ll shoot a bit of 5D2 Video on the next batch.

After wrapping a great Adidas shoot today with Margo Silver, we cracked open a bottle of what we labeled “40 Ton Tire”.. a Fat Tire recipe from Northern Brewer.

The photo on the label comes from our days of exploring the Mojave desert with guidance from The Center of Land Use Interpretation.

Only drawback we have found about Home Brewing so far is how fast it disappears.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Our new favorite book on Green matters is “The Urban Homestead” by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen.  

Anyone interested in being a bit more self-sufficient and eco-responsible should check it out.  Addresses everything from raising chickens in the city to installing grey water systems to redirect waste water to your landscaping.

The book pushes reconnecting with our food sources and encourages everyone to grow food.  Excellent ideas are presented for apartment dwellers as well as those lucky enough to land to cultivate.  Bread-making.  Cleaning without toxins.  Making Yogurt.  Home brewing.  Rain barrels.  There is an unbelievable taste difference between greens grown in your yard and those in a plastic bag that came from where?

An easy read with excellent graphics, diagrams and resource lists, ”The Urban Homestead” will make you think about the usefulness of everything you touch.  We must reduce what is going to landfill.  Seen Wall-E ?  Cute, but a bloody scary view of our ever expanding landfills.

Buy a copy for yourself and get three more for friends.  

Evolution starts in your home.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!