| Project by KnotCurser | posted 527 days ago | 2786 views | 3 times favorited | 18 comments |  |
 |
So, where to begin…............. Around two months ago I made a Mash Paddle for a good friend of mine after he won a fairly large Amateur Beer Brewer’s Competition.
He happened to be showing it off at a local beer brewing event in Baltimore, MD to a bunch of his friends and who should happen by to take a look at it? Sam Calagione, the founder and President of Dogfish Head Beer located in Milton, Delaware – MY Favorite Beer! Sam was also the star of Discovery Channel’s Prime Time Series “BrewMasters“
A minor miracle happened when Sam contacted me for a custom Mash Paddle – one big enough to stir a 7BBL Mash Tun – that’s around 260 GALLONS (980 Liters) of beer!!!!! He wanted it to use on a weekly basis in the test brewery he has on display in his restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
While my standard, home-brewer’s paddles stand around 36 inches high, this one is 55 inches. I also obtained permission to cut the DogFish Head Logo into the face of the paddle. It is made of 1 1/4” solid Cherry with a walnut detail in the handle.
I used a bandsaw and sander to shape the paddle itself and a scrollsaw to (very slowly) cut the images into the thick cherry. Finish was a single coat of food-safe mineral oil as they will be boiling it prior to actual use.
The paddle was finished a few weeks ago, but I was asked to wait until yesterday, when Beer Advocate Magazine held an event at the restaurant and Sam wanted to show off the paddle to everyone at the party as well as the entire restaurant!
Besides having a FANTASTIC evening with Sam and his family, Beer Advocate’s owners and staff and two good friends who were with us, Sam also set me up with three large bottles of his finest beer, two other pints from other breweries, a hat and a tote bag.
Pic one: Sam (holding the paddle), Me in the middle and the owner of Beer Advocate Magazine.
Pic two: Sam showing off the paddle and reading my business card to the entire place.
Pic Three: My paddle already being used in the brewery
Pic Four: Closeup of the paddle
Pic Five: Beer Score!!!!!
Enjoy – I know I did! :-)
-bob
-- Man is a tool-using Animal. Nowhere do you find him without tools; without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all. - Thomas Carlyle http://www.ffrf.org
| Pin It |
18 comments so far
SPalm
home | projects | blog
4108 posts in 2049 days
#1 posted 527 days ago
Sweet. Good on you.
You deserve it man. What a fine story.
Nice paddle too.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
degoose
home | projects | blog
6590 posts in 1522 days
#2 posted 527 days ago
Absolutely fabulous mate… good onya..
-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
87054 posts in 1745 days
#3 posted 527 days ago
Very cool Bob
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
flintbone
home | projects | blog
165 posts in 1324 days
#4 posted 526 days ago
Congrats Bob on a job well done. I always thought you would hit big time status.
Looks like you are on the path. Keep up the good work.
flint
-- If I had only known, I would have been a locksmith. - Albert Einstein
Roger
home | projects | blog
9191 posts in 971 days
#5 posted 526 days ago
oh yes.. I’ll raise a tall Guinness to your success
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
Woodbutchery
home | projects | blog
228 posts in 1753 days
#6 posted 526 days ago
That’s a grand paddle, and a grander story.
Thanks for sharing.
-- Making scrap with zen-like precision - Woodbutchery
Pete Jansen
home | projects | blog
239 posts in 1089 days
#7 posted 526 days ago
How cool is that? I love the BrewMasters show too. That is super cool that you got to do all that.
I’m so proud of my Lumber Jocks buddy! Sweet!
-- Lovin' sawdust in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado
Jim Jakosh
home | projects | blog
7257 posts in 1273 days
#8 posted 526 days ago
Great paddle- how fitting!!
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!
woodworkerscott
home | projects | blog
326 posts in 981 days
#9 posted 526 days ago
Good for you! Very Cool. Thanks for posting.
-- " 'woodworker'.....it's a good word, an honest word." - Sam Maloof
Eagle1
home | projects | blog
2041 posts in 1232 days
#10 posted 526 days ago
Very cool paddle and story. Thanks for sharing..
-- Tim, Missouri ....Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the heck happened
Bluepine38
home | projects | blog
2090 posts in 1253 days
#11 posted 526 days ago
Great woodworking, good beer, good friends, man you have it made. Congratulations on you woodworking
and beer, thank you for sharing.
-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter
racerglen
home | projects | blog
1693 posts in 948 days
#12 posted 526 days ago
MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm !
BEEEER !!
Very nice, and the recognition apears well earned !
;-)
-- Glen, Vernon B.C. Canada
sras
home | projects | blog
3240 posts in 1297 days
#13 posted 526 days ago
Awesome! Cool paddle & story to go with it. AND – a great way to get paid!!!
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
Brrman
home | projects | blog
57 posts in 840 days
#14 posted 525 days ago
DFH is great beer! I brew beer and haven’t even made myself a mash paddle. I feel so ashamed.
-- "Being a perfectionist does not make one perfect..."
Tommy
home | projects | blog
120 posts in 996 days
#15 posted 520 days ago
Could it POSSIBLY feel any better as a woodworker than to make something that YOU would love to make and to make it for someone who really wants and appreciates it. We’ll each probably only get to do that a handful of times. Savor the moment buddy, happy for you!
-- Tommy, ---- It's Never Crowded On the Extra Mile.
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 18 comments
Have your say...