Grant Morgan.

The Basics

Where are you from?
At this point? Utah, I suppose. I was born in Houston, and have also lived in Oklahoma and Chicago.

I’ve been a Lauter Day Brewers member:
2 years.

Do you have a homebrewing disaster you’d like to share?
My first solo brew was supposed to be a German hefeweizen and was a disaster from start to finish. I melted through my silicone hose while heating the water, so couldn’t use my pumps. I used rice hulls but still got such a badly stuck sparge that I had to move the entire mash into my boil kettle to unstick it. My conversion efficiency was terrible, and I ended up at about 1.030. I didn’t want a 3% beer, so I added a couple of pounds of honey and called it a honey wheat, a style that I hate. Happily, other people were willing to drink it.

I was brewing outside one time and the hose on my mash tun got knocked off the table and either the dogs opened the clamp or it popped open upon impact, (more likely the dogs) when I came out to give it a stir I got to find an empty mash tun, sticky wet patio, and little sticky paw prints leading off into the grass.

Do you have any pets or kids named after beer styles or ingredients?
It’s too late for the kids. Maybe a pet one day . . .

Do you have a good Homebrew club story you’d like to share

If you could serve your homebrew to someone famous, who would it be and what would you give her/him?
I have no idea who the head brewer at New Belgium is. Is that person famous? I admire their Belgians and sours, so I’d serve them some of mine and see what pointers they had for me.

List some of the names you’ve given your beers. Which is your favorite?
I try to name all my beers with the initials “DL”. Don’t Look! is a rotating single-hop pale ale. Then there’s Dark Lord Imperial Stout, Dubbel Lovin, and Damn Liberals Apricot Sour, made in true liberal fashion with free fruit from my neighbor’s tree. But my all time favorite name is Hef the Patriarchy. I’ll let you guess the style.

Have you won any homebrew competition medals? If yes, what place and for what beer(s)?
I’ve considered entering competitions a few times, but have always been too lazy to bottle beer.

Are you a BJCP Judge? If so, what is your rank and how long have you been judging??
I thought about it, but then I looked a the sample essay questions and thought, “there’s not enough time in the world.”

Brewing Experience

How long have you been homebrewing?
Two and a half years.

What was the first beer you ever brewed and how did it turn out?
See the brewing disasters section.

What is/are your favorite style(s) to brew?
IPAs, Sours/Wilds

What style(s) would you never brew?

Do you have a favorite homebrew trick or gadget that you’ve found to make your beer better/brewing easier, etc?
Taking gravity readings during the brew day is a lot easier since I bought a refractometer.

What’s the most unusual ingredient you’ve ever used in a brew?
Honey isn’t unusual, but I put an unusual amount of it into a Belgian Tripel recently: five pounds, which moves this beer into the braggot range. We’ll see how it turns out.

How I Brew

Describe Your Brew system
I have three 16-gallon kettles, which allows me to brew double batches. I use propane for heating. I have a single pump for recirculation and lautering.

How frequently do you brew?
About twice a month

Are you an indoor or outdoor brewer?
Outdoor.

Do you brew alone, with friends or with someone you live with?
Usually alone. I like company, though!

Do you have a favorite hop? If yes, what is it and why do you like it?
I’m a typical American brewer who likes typical American hops.

Do you have a favorite malt? If yes, what is it and why do you like it?
It depends on what I’m brewing. I like Maris Otter for stouts and ESBs, but don’t brew those all that often.

Do you have a favorite yeast? If yes, what is it and why do you like it?
No. I use more Wyeast Trappist High Gravity than anything, but am frequently frustrated with slow fermentation and lower-than expected attenuation. Anyone have any alternate suggestions?

Anything else?
Thanks to the leadership team. My two years with the club have been fun and educational.