Hi All -

My local brew store's website links here, and I'm impressed with how helpful folks are here. I am in the California SF Bay Area and inherited the standard homebrew kit about 15 years ago, but really started seriously doing it over the past few years.

I'm originally from the Chicago suburbs, and can't stop being a Bears fan, even though they stink.

Cheers! Let's get brewin'

Is your local homebrew store Fermentation Solutions on Winchester? I'm guessing it is. You said your from the bay area, so i'm guessing that's the one. That was my old homebrew store, and that's how I found this great fourm as well! I've since moved out of the area, but that's a great little shop and I always grab a couple recipie kits whenever i'm back in town. Nice to see someone else from that store on here, good luck in brewing!

Yep, I remember you did the seduction stout - that was a really great beer when I did it too.

Huh, do you remember that from one of my postings or did I meet you in that shop one day? It was a good beer; i'd love to give that kit another try. Another one that I got from there was their Smoking Gun Porter; that's a smoked porter kit and I love the way it turned out! Most other smoked porters i've had have been way too smokey, but this one had just a hint of the smokey flavor, so it was perfect. A few of my friends and I held a party where I brought the smoked porter and another guy brought a bunch of smoked salmon to have with it; it was truely wonderful!
I'm out of the bay area now, but i try to stop by fermentation solutions whenever i'm back down there. Good luck with your brewing and maybe see you around.