Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them.
— James Madison

Scott Alfter

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Beer Stuff

I've been making beer since 2002. I started making extract beers, but started doing all-grain after a little more than a year. It's been a bit cumbersome at times due to the lack of space I have at home, but I think I've found a workable solution: the heatstick. It's high-powered electric brewing that anybody can use without having to put in permanent wiring, so even an apartment dweller can use it. All it needs is 240-volt 30-amp service somewhere in your home; an electric clothes dryer or an electric stove can provide this.

I've been cataloging the beers I've had since some point in 2007, starting first with a text file within my Treo before migrating to a web-based setup that you can take a look at here. It's mostly just what, who makes it, and where I had it, with occasional links to BeerAdvocate for more info when I remember to throw them in. If a beer really impresses me, I might throw in a short writeup, but this isn't intended to be a review site. It's more for my information, so when I'm out and about, I can tell if a beer on offer someplace is something I've had before. (The look-and-feel is very plain...kinda like Craigslist, so it loads quickly over a cellphone data connection.)

You'll find some of my recipes over at the SNAFU website, in the recipe section.