Spartans in New York

No. Not this time anyway….

Tried a kit from here that my Mom (Patty and Bill?) got me for my birthday.

A couple weeks ago I brewed my first batch of beer.  Northface Nutbrown from Homebrewers Outpost.  Then I decided to make a fermentation chiller.  (Plans)  This morning we bottled the batch.  In a couple weeks we’ll have carbonated beer!

Below are some pictures of the build and also the brew. 

2 Weeks in the primary fermentor and I’ll leave it in the bottles to condition for 3 weeks.  I’ll probably sneak a few here and there though before that.

Now we just need a name for our brewing company.  Any suggestions?

Detail

Wine Pourer

I came up with (what I thought was ) a unique invention for a no drip spout for pouring wine that also returns the drips to the bottle.  I designed it in SolidWorks and made a 3D model of it.  I based the fitment end of it the same as an old wine pourer I’ve got here at the house.  That way I could use the rubber gasket to make a water tight seal to the plastic model I’d be making.  The result does a pretty good job.  The wine flows out the inner spout and clears the outer rim, any drips after the bottled is righted fall into the collection channel and then flow back into the bottle.

I told my boss about it at work and he promptly told me to cease and desist and directed me to his patent for a dripless spout for laundry detergent.  I say since I didn’t know it existed, and mine’s for wine, I’m not breaking any laws right?  Here’s more shots of it in real life…

Tonight we made penne alla vodka for the first time.  I’d say we found a new favorite!

• Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Onions
• Creme
• VODKA

What more do you need?

Well this hurt.  Last week I decided it was time to start training for the adventure race I was planning on doing with a buddy of mine.  Out on nowhere a car cut me off as I was on my way home from a quick run.

It’s been a week and the pain is gone (mostly) and the PT is just begining.  I’ve lost a good deal of range on my elbow.  We’ll see how much I get back.  Click Read for a gross picture. Continue reading »