Category Archives: Beer

To those attending IBM ConnectED, a humble request…

I’m president of a local homebrew (beer) club, and we are looking for 4-6 bottles of Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter direct from its homeland… If anyone could bring some over, we could trade for 4-6 bottles (or a growler) of fine craft beer from Michigan (home of Bell’s and Founders Breweries among others).
In fact, if you have any porters (or other ‘great but hard to get in the US’ beers) you would be interested in parting with or trading, let me know! Thanks!

MWLUG 2014 Sessions and Workshops announced – What’s in it for you?

mwlug2014_banner As Richard Moy posted yesterday on his blog, the sessions and workshops for MWLUG 2014 have been announced. I am fortunate to speak with my manager, Dr. Tom Bilan, at this year’s event. This is our session:

Homebrew your own Metrics: An IBM Domino Administrator’s Guide to SNMP It’s important as an IBM Domino administrator to get metrics on your servers so that you know what’s going on in your “Brewhouse”. There are also many ways to obtain this very valuable information, like 3rd party tools and even the IBM Domino Administrator client. What many don’t know is that there is also another way to capture this very valuable information. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is an Internet-standard protocol for managing devices on IP networks. In this session, you will learn more about it, what it can give you, how to set it up, and ways to ‘drink in’ or monitor the information. With proper configuration, administrators not familiar with IBM Domino can obtain and use key IBM Domino server metrics. Homebrew your own metrics by attending this session!

If you haven’t registered to attend this event in beautiful Grand Rapids, Michigan (selected for two years as Beer City USA and recent city to host the National Homebrewers Conference), you need to stop reading this and go register! For only $50, you get over 47 hours of technical and business training, plus the chance to network (collaborate) with some of the best and brightest in our industry!

Have you registered yet? No? Here… let me give you the link: http://www.mwlug.com/mwlug/mwlug2014.nsf/Register.xsp

Did you know that Kramer Reeves, the Director of Product Management for Collaboration Solutions at IBM, is the MWLUG 2014 Opening General Session Speaker? There also going to be some GREAT sponsors there, anxiously waiting to tell you about there products (and maybe give away an item or two).

NOW you want to attend, right? SO GO REGISTER!

Done? Good! Don’t forget to get yourself a place to stay, because you’re not staying with me!

Did I mention that there might be a beer or two there?

Looking forward to see you all there!!!

Introducing… You Drink Some, You Brew Some

Like many of my IT brethren that are going out and following their individual passions (also known as ‘things that keep them happy and sane’), I am also following their lead and getting more into the hobby of making my own beer, wine and spirits (also known as zymurgy). I wanted to keep track of the things I see, do and taste, so of course, I’m going to blog it.

Because I didn’t want to change this blog, or add content that might not be technologically related, I created a new blog, so I proudly introduce to you…

You Drink Some, You Brew Some – http://www.drinksomebrewsome.com

As I stated on my first blog post,

My goal for this blog is to take my passion and share it with the world. I want to do product reviews, book reviews, recipes, stories, beer tastings and anything else I can do, but only about beer.

Of course, as I get more into wine and spirits, I’ll add to that as well.

Why am I doing this now? Tomorrow I leave for Grand Rapids to attend the National Homebrewers Conference. I’m hoping to learn a lot, see a lot, drink a bit, and most importantly, share it all with you (on my new blog).

Who knows where this may lead me, but so far, I’m loving the journey…

Cheers!

Heading to MWLUG 2013? Don’t forget your best homebrew or favorite local brewery’s beer!

It’s not too late to sign up for MWLUG 2013, the Midwest ‘Lotus’ User Group Conference, in Indianapolis. Register HERE now!!!

One of my ‘brothers in beer’, Gregg Eldred, was scheduled to coordinate a new event this year, but due to scheduling/work conflicts, it’s been passed along to me. This gives you an opportunity to show your homebrewing skills! You don’t make your own beer? Why not? Seriously, if you have a beer from a microbrewery/brewpub by your house that you think is awesome, that will count also! Bring some to MWLUG 2o13 and compete. Here is the information from the website:

MWLUG 2013 Charity Brewfest Competition

04:00 PM – 06:00 PM – Conrad Room

Do you think you have created a great home brew or wine!!! Do you think your local micro-brewery beer is out of this world!!! Then bring them with you to MWLUG 2013 and lets find out.

We are happy to announce the MWLUG 2013 Charity Brewfest Competition. It will be held on Wednesday August 21, 2013 4:00 PM just before the MWLUG Wednesday Exhibitor Showcase Reception. This competition is open for all attendees. We would like to thank our sponsor CDW for making this event possible.

Ray Bilyk and his panel of experienced judges will taste the different entries and select the winners of this competition. [Original organizer] Gregg [Eldred] has selected some interesting prizes for this competition.

In order to participate in this competition, the submission fee is $10 with all proceeds benefiting the MWLUG Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund. You can submit as many entries as you would like. For each entry, please bring at least two 12 ounce bottles. All competitors will need to sign a waiver. All nationally distributed micro-brewery beer do not qualify. Registration for this event will be on Wednesday.

For every dollar that we raise in this event, our sponsor Phora Group will match a dollar. We are working with other sponsors for additional matching funds that will all benefit the Oklahoma residences that have been devastated by the recent horrific tornadoes.

Thank you to CDW and Phora Group for sponsoring and matching funds raised from this event! Thank you also to organizer Richard Moy for trusting me with this. I hope to live up to the high standards that Gregg set. Thanks also to Gregg Eldred for getting the prize for the big winner.

Hope to see you all there… Cheers!