Category > Hop Politely
Champaign-Urbana has a host of experts on home brewing. Knowledge abounds in groups like B.U.Z.Z., retailers like Friar Tuck and Leisure Times, and right here at Hop Politely. But where should a home brewer go for quick access to beer info? Whenever a brew goes wrong and I enter panic mode, the internet is the first place I turn. There is a vast amount of home brewing knowledge available on the web, but I have found a few websites …
Brewing is typically a fairly carefree process, requiring little more than precise temperature measurements and sterilization. There are, however, times when your home brew can turn nasty. This week I will outline some common problems and offer easy solutions. Stuck Sparge For brewers who have graduated to the all-grain method, and have subsequently built their own mash tun, a stuck sparge can be waiting just around the corner. This nuisance occurs when grains are so compacted that your mesh …
It's common knowledge that a glass of red wine at dinner is a healthy addition to an adult diet, but most people ignore the healthy aspects of wine's ugly cousin – beer. Consumed in moderation, beer can offer many nutrients the body needs. Which Beers are Healthy? Although there is nothing wrong with having a light domestic lager with dinner, they are more traditionally considered a "session beer," or beer meant for getting drunk with your friends. As …
The first step taken toward advanced home brewing is the mashing process. Beginner kits skip the mash by providing the brewer with malt extract and a small amount of grain for steeping. This is infinitely more convenient, but brewers really can’t say they have experienced a true home brew until they have made the step to all-grain brewing. The mashing process converts grain starches into sugars for fermentation. Sounds simple, but the mash is the primary place where taste, …
Brewing good beer is easy. Brewing great beer is hard. This step-by-step guide will teach you to brew a simple beer in a simple manner. The next Hop Politely will involve a more complex recipe — complete with video! In the past I have recommended getting a brewing kit for your first attempt. I am standing by this, although to most home brewers doing so is extremely un-cool. The kit will provide you with beer specific instructions, depending on …
Last week there was some confusion about my intended audience. As most people have never tried home brewing, or perhaps did not even know it was easy to do, this column is written for beginners. Eventually I will go into a more committed form of home brewing, but for now it is better to keep things simple. Home brewing may sound like a process that would get first timers anxious about the complexity of a good beer, but the …
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Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…
Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…
The second visit to Meatheads included what tasted like a stale bun. That’s the end of going to Meatheads for a while.
That seems like an odd experience to me. Basically everything you mentioned, apart from price, is contrary to what I’ve witnessed or heard about. You ate at the restaurant and the burger was cold? Seems more like the complaint of someone who took something home. And if…
Unfortunately i did not have the same experiences that some of you may have had. I went to meatheads the 2nd or 3rd night it was open and I was very disappointed. My burger was cold and soggy. I ordered one of their specialty burgers. A spicy…
Ah, I finished it weeks ago—it was figuratively on ice over the holidays… I think each has its own appeal to various consumers, but I hit Buvons/Corkscrew most frequently. The current staff is extremely friendly and has never steered me wrong for a wine pairing, even when…
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Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
just confirmed: there will be white russians served. the art abides.
big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.
There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847
Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…
I love the Guitars
I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…
Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…
Thanks for that, Louis CK.
Your call to stay pissed is precisely why global warming fanatics will fail. Emotion has no place in hard science. The problem with the issue of global warming is that is has been pumped full of emotion and politics, and the science is becoming a by-product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366.html?KEYWORDS=global+warming
Clearly the Postal Officials in favor of this cannot make an economic argument, as this saves the post office $0. What is their rationale?
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Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.