Cire, on Michael Jackson, no, you did nothing - it was entirely me. I just think I unwittingly jumped on something when I used the term; not realizing the term could have a very strong political connotation. Part and parcel of my unbridled, annoying, enthusiasm, I believe. And it was a very small part of a very long, delicious, incredible evening. The man knew everything. He quizzed me several points during the evening. At one point he brought up a certain (ancient, in relative terms) year and described in full the character of a Thomas Hardy's Old Ale.
As it turns out, he also knew my wife's great-Uncle. He was the Director of the Tartu, Estonia, brewery under Soviet times. When we got back to the States Michael sent us a pic of Heino in miserable cold, fur hat and all the rest, standing outside the gates of the brewery. A very fitting photo of being an Estonian under imperialist rule, I always thought.
Now: I seems you are a humble man, in that from another on this site it seems you have a ton of expertise and ideas in areas of great general use. Can't wait to hear them revealed over time, as you wish to let them out.
The notion of stripping out only to put back in, yes, that bums me out too. As a chef I did everything I possibly could to preserve and extend intrinsic flavor, hated "wizardry" on a plate, so it's much the same here. It kills me to basically make a Dr. Water, but I think I almost have to. Our RA is huge (224), sulfate low (21), HCO3 high (364), Alkalinity (298). I don't think I'd even stay with dark ales, with untreated water. (Cl is 19).
So I could do a 1:3 dilution with RO to at least give me some of my "native" water, but for one, these values above are an average of any of 3 wells, whose ratios of distribution change quite a bit; and we shift between winter and summer distribution as well.
Yorkshire - I cannot wait to take my family there. We were in the Cotswolds quite a bit, many nights at the Pear Tree in Hook Norton, but next has to be up North.
Thanks again, Cire, and yes, looking forward to your thoughts. I understand from this other member, you and he have discussed rousing techniques? ANYTIME you feel like spilling the beans on this intriguing subject well.....