Forums » Off-topic discussion » I've Been Accepted... 1 2

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  May 4, 2011 12:20 a.m. Salanis SuperDork

  To a Certified Brewmaster Program...

  ...

  In Germany.

  So umm... wow. I got accepted by VLB ("Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei in Berlin") for their 6-month program starting January 2012. I'm really excited but a bit nervous and intimidated too.

  Now I've got to put together all the logistics. I've got to scrape together funds to cover everything, which will most likely mean selling the race car and van. Apparently I get to jump through a few extra hoops getting student visa to stay for more than 3 months (which I'd only need a tourist visa for). It's also time to start brushing up on my organic chemistry and learning German.

  Still, I'm relatively young, have no family, and am recently unemployed. This is a big dream for me and I'm guessing this is one of those life chances where the stars align and I just need to dive in and take a chance. Just a month ago I made up my mind that by the end of the year I would either be working in a brewery or enrolled and on my way to brewing school. Time to make that happen

  In other brewing news, I've been approached by a local microbrewery that called my beer "outstanding" and has asked me to guest brew a couple batches for them. More details on that once I know when they'll be put on tap. I'm also eagerly anticipating how my beers are received at the CA State Fair homebrew competition.

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  May 4, 2011 12:35 a.m. GlennS Dork

  your a braver man than i.... good luck!

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  May 4, 2011 12:35 a.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

  In reply to Salanis:

  http://german.about.com/library/anfang/blanfang_inhalt.htm
  http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,2547,00.html
  http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=german+language+lesson+1&aq=5&...
  

  Will the VLB be impressed if your recipe wins the State Fair? (again, where the hell is the "thumbs up" icon?!?!)

  EDIT: fixed the formatting.

  How can it be a midlife crisis, when I've driven sportscars my entire life?

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  May 4, 2011 12:41 a.m. Luke SuperDork

  Congratulations! That sounds like a very exclusive/highly regarded course.

  As such, it's also rather bloody expensive , but you can always buy another race car! Good luck.

  "Just as a proverb says, one should always ny escort prepare for a rainy day." - GRM canoe

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  May 4, 2011 12:48 a.m. Salanis SuperDork

  friedgreencorrado wrote: Will the VLB be impressed if your recipe *wins* the State Fair? (again, where the hell is the "thumbs up" icon?!?!)

  I dunno. The beer I've made might make a German scratch their heads. I think the Belgians would appreciate it more than Germans would.

  I've got really good feelings about my New Zealand Amber (dubbed "5-Nation Army" after the White Stripes Song of similar name, and 5 countries ingredients originated from). This beer is a potential killer app. It is not weird or experimental. It's an amber ale, just under 6% abv, and is moderately hopped (comparable to Sierra Nevada but with more malt to balance). But most every beer aficionado agrees that they've never had anything like it before. It's completely unique without being radical.

  Watching videos of sportscar racing does not fully convey the experience. It's more like playing a three-way game of Speed-Chess while strapped to a chair... inside a giant beehive.

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  May 4, 2011 12:52 a.m. Salanis SuperDork

  Luke wrote: Congratulations! That sounds like a very exclusive/highly regarded course. As such, it's also rather bloody expensive , but you can always buy another race car! Good luck.

  Yep, second most expensive I've seen. I'm kind of wondering what they're doing accepting me.

  It's actually one of the better values considering that most other programs typically run for 3 months, as opposed to 6 with this one, and cost 3/4 the price. It's also the first one to get back to me. Pretty much every comparable course in the U.S. has at least a year waiting list.

  I'm figuring selling cars, scraping funds, getting help from family, and probably still getting a loan. However, I figure it's an investment and I'm taking on less debt than what most people go into for a car. I have no debt now. So I'm okay.

  Watching videos of sportscar racing does not fully convey the experience. It's more like playing a three-way game of Speed-Chess while strapped to a chair... inside a giant beehive.

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  May 4, 2011 1:02 a.m. 4eyes HalfDork

  Outstanding! By all means: BEG, BORROW, SELL , AND MOOCH, but make it happen. Life has few defining moments, here is a hint.....this is one.

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  May 4, 2011 1:04 a.m. Joshua Reader

  Congrats! I'm considering getting a home brew kit for next year, any tips/pointers/suggestions?

  What race car are you selling?

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  May 4, 2011 1:19 a.m. Salanis SuperDork

  Joshua wrote: Congrats! I'm considering getting a home brew kit for next year, any tips/pointers/suggestions? What race car are you selling?

  Easy answer: race car is a Porsche 944Spec - '89 924s.

  Longer answer: homebrew kits!
  

  You should look for a starter kit something like this: http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/starter-kits/better-basic-starter-kit.html

  The two things I highly recommend are to get an auto-siphon (starts the process with a few quick pumps), and get a 6-gal carboy, not 5-gal. That will allow you to have enough headspace to easily do single stage fermentation for 5-gallon batches.

  Best thing to do is to find a local home brew supply shop and get them to hook you up. Most will have a starter equipment kit with pretty similar stuff, and probably pre-measured recipe kits. Many will also have an introductory day where they do a demo batch and show you the process.

  Oh, and start saving brown glass pop-top bottles. Rinse them thoroughly and store them upside down.

  The most important thing in brewing beer is to sanitize, sanitize, sanitize.

  I can go into all kinds of more details, but I won't bore people.

  Watching videos of sportscar racing does not fully convey the experience. It's more like playing a three-way game of Speed-Chess while strapped to a chair... inside a giant beehive.

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  May 4, 2011 5:33 a.m. DrBoost SuperDork

  Congrats and I hope this all works out better than you could have wished.

  You know you are deep in boost territory when you get tire pressures and boost pressures confused

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  May 4, 2011 5:44 a.m. z31maniac SuperDork

  Congrats!

  Now hows about sending a case of that "5 Nation Army" to the middle of the country for a review!

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  May 4, 2011 5:50 a.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

  How about those of us who can do a whip around and raise a few $ for you, if that works out next time you come to the challenge bring some samples.

  Would this interest you?

  Steve

  Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax. Jackie Stewart

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  May 4, 2011 6:22 a.m. 1988RedT2 Dork

  Wow! I will celebrate your accomplishment by drinking a beer!

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  May 4, 2011 8:35 a.m. Rusted_Busted_Spit Dork

  aussiesmg wrote: How about those of us who can do a whip around and raise a few $ for you, if that works out next time you come to the challenge bring some samples. Would this interest you? Steve

  What he said. Do you have a PayPal account or something?

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  May 4, 2011 8:39 a.m. Strizzo SuperDork

  4eyes wrote: Outstanding! By all means: BEG, BORROW, SELL , AND MOOCH, but make it happen. Life has few defining moments, here is a hint.....this is one.

  "you either define the moment, or the moment defines you"

  
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  May 4, 2011 8:45 a.m. oldtin Dork

  Glückwünsche. Das ist ehrfürchtig! (congratulations - that's awesome). Let us know how we can help.

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  May 4, 2011 10:49 a.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

  4eyes wrote: Outstanding! By all means: BEG, BORROW, SELL , AND MOOCH, but make it happen. Life has few defining moments, here is a hint.....this is one.

  true. GET SOME!

  if you're gonna be a bear.... be a grizzly bear!

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  May 4, 2011 10:54 a.m. N Sperlo Reader

  Maybe we can convince you to send some goodies back to the states.

  - N. Sperlo -:-:- "Never take life seriously. No one ever gets out alive anyway." ~ ~ A strong tail wind can't hurt either...~~ K0HOF

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  May 4, 2011 11:13 a.m. Type Q Dork

  Congratulations!! I am not beer drinker, but it is thrilling to see to see you pursuing your passion.

  Tough times don't last. Tough people do.

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  May 4, 2011 11:14 a.m. dj06482 Reader

  Congrats - best of luck with this opportunity!

  '97 328is | '05 Odyssey | '06 RAV4 | '06 Dodge RAM 1500 QC

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  May 4, 2011 11:16 a.m. dollraves Reader

  Congrats!

  Definitely post details on the Porsche and the van. I'm in the Bay area and have a few friends looking for track cars right now.

  It's not about P3|\|15 or vag; it's about common sense, and let's face it, most people don't have it.

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  May 4, 2011 11:29 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

  If nothing else, it sounds like you're doing what you can to follow your dream, come hell or high water. I'm jealous of the opportunity, and I don't even drink!

  Go fast or go broke.

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  May 4, 2011 12:16 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

  Congrats!!! Sounds like an awesome adventure. Its always best to follow your dreams instead of just letting them die. Me and a buddy were just talking about that and how we always wanted to open a shop but we never followed through figuring to much competition and no money. Now we live in opposite ends of the country and are talking about that remember when idea.

  "Well, my time of not taking you seriously is coming to a middle."

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  May 4, 2011 12:18 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Congrats! Sounds like an awesome opportunity.

  Sanity is vastly overrated.

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  May 4, 2011 12:24 p.m. MitchellC Dork

  Congrats! School is expensive, but when you want it; really want it, you won't regret the expense.

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