Attention Chicago Area Homebrewers

[steveh]

I stopped in at Flatlander's in Lincolnshire yesterday to see how Art's beers have been going -- he's gettin' bad-mouthed at BA and I wanted to research for myself: the beers are terrific.

In the meantime, Art told me he's having a Brew-In on Saturday, Sep. 20th.

$20 gets you 5 gallons of fresh wort in which to add your own yeast for fermentation. $15 extra for any added 5 gallons. Limit of 60 people (and 30 have already signed up).

An English Bitter will be brewed using Maris Otter malt and English hops.

Reservation only, contact Kathy at 847-323-4313. Fun starts at 10:30am, sounds like there will be other goodies too.

Tell 'em you heard it here!

S.

[Vienna Lager]

steveh, it sounds like a good idea to repair his reputation. My only suggestion would to bring his price down a bit to maybe something like $10 a carboy. Up here "in the Great Northwoods" a bag of two row is $33.75 or $6.75 for 10 pounds that would make a SG 1.050+ 5 gallon batch. A bag of Marris Otter goes for $56.16 (55lbs.) or $10.21 for a 5 gallon batch. Hops would add $1.75 (Eroica) to $1.99 (Progress) an ounce and those are retail prices. I'm sure his cost is less than $10 for a 5 gallon batch so it sound like he is trying to profit from this adventure.

If he was really worried about getting "bad-mouthed" his cost threshold should be re-evaluated.

[steveh]

VL, Art's not concerned with his reputation, he gets many accolades from his customers. This Brew-In has nothing at all to do with anything being said anywhere on the web, that was my editorial, and the event was planned long before I talked with him.

AFA the prices go, don't forget who's doing the work and whose equipment is in use. He also mentioned that there will be other "goodies" for the attendees.

Also, to be sure -- Art is only brewmaster, he has no ownership at Flatlanders, so the money doesn't go his way.

S.

[Vienna Lager]

O.K. I stand corrected.

[steveh]

No harm, no foul -- the only reason I knew about the event was because I went in to update my view of the beers because of the lame opinions at BA: people looking for in-your-face only beers and not knowing something good when they drink it.

If you ever get down to visit FL, Art is brewing some good stuff (try the Abe's Honest Ale, and watch for the Okto soon) -- and the Bitter for this event will, no doubt, be great. I imagine everyone will get a great bird's eye view of the brewing too -- Art's been home-brewing since the early 80s (maybe before?), he knows his stuff.

S.