Messages

1

Hop Growing / Re: Wilting Hops

« on: June 17, 2013, 12:41:23 pm »

I'd agree with the nutrient deficiency, except that you said you used miracle gro potting soil. That usually has fertilizer added into the mix.

It looks like you may have planted in a plastic bucket. Do you have enough drainage holes in the bottom so that the roots aren't sitting in water? Most roots need air and won't do well if constantly submerged.

2

Ingredients / Re: How to Sanitize Sugar Addition

« on: May 18, 2013, 10:16:46 am »

Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it will suck in any available water. It will desiccate any bacteria or fungus that happens to land in it, so nothing grows. At worst, you would have a few spores vs. trillions(?) of yeast cells. Nothing to worry about. 

3

Ingredients / Re: Making Invert Sugar: table sugar vs. raw sugar

« on: December 19, 2012, 11:52:27 am »

 You might notice a small difference in flavor. "Sugar in the Raw" is generally just large crystal table sugar with some molasses – residual sugar cane starches, proteins, etc.  The color from invert sugar is due to caramelization – breakdown products of the sugar molecules.  At higher concentrations, you could taste the difference.

4

Ingredients / Re: Spruce Tips

« on: December 10, 2012, 09:43:21 pm »

I used sprucetips collected this spring & froze, in a recipe from Gordon Strong's "Brewing Better Beer" for "Ben Franklin's Ale." IMHO it turned out pretty good.  The recipe called for 1 quart by volume - I really prefer weights for consistency. I was a little short, maybe 8/10 of a quart. Spruce tips were added at 60 minutes in a 90 minute boil. That should have extracted all sugars and flavor.

I can't say I really taste or smell the spuce, but there is a definite after taste and tongue coating that I attribute to the spruce.

5

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: disposing of yeast cake

« on: November 24, 2012, 09:53:50 pm »

If you're sending the yeast down an indoor drain, it's no problem. The sewage treatment process is largely based on bacteria consuming organics. Any live yeast may actually help.
Sending the yeast down a curb drain may be a problem. Any newer city has separate storm and sanitary sewers. Street storm drains go to the nearest river, and a yeast slurry would be an un-natural organic load, reduce water quality, and cause areal stench if not flushed by a decent rainstorm. 

6

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Pint of Reference: A Guide To The Federal Homebrewing Exemption Statute

« on: November 14, 2012, 07:14:14 am »

In Illinois, the bill was assigned to the Rulles Committee on 11/9/12. Technically, the Rules Committee is supposed to determine where to reassign bills when it's not obvious.  Practically speaking, this is where unwanted bills go to die. Our shadow governor, Mike Madigan has full control over this process, and it's extremely unlikely to move anywhere during the short November Veto session. While there are ways around it, only legislation vetoed by the governor are worked on during the veto session. They should be working on public pensions and the budget deficit.

So, this bill and all unpassed bills die at the end of the session. It will need to be reintroduced after the new legislature is sworn in, in January.

bummer......

7

The Pub / Re: Stay off my f'ing driveway!

« on: August 09, 2012, 05:38:04 am »

There is one potential reality check on any construction plans. Whoever owns the street, city, county, state, etc, usually owns a right-of-way on either side. Your catch-22 here is that you are responsible for the upkeep, but the may object to any large structures being placed near the street.

That said, if you're old enough to remember when gas stations were not all self-serve, they all had pneumatic rubber hoses laid across the driveways to trigger bells. This would alert the "friendly & curtious" attendent to run out and pump your gas. This old tech could be used to trigger some other effects like strobes or sirens.

Alternatively, how about a large and imposing object at that isn't? I'm thinking of an inflatible Jersey barrier or K-rail. You see these as traffic barriers on road construction all the time. Most are solid concrete and weigh a ton. I've seen some made of plastic that are filled with water. Empty plastic or an air filled thick vinyl equivalent may be more than a driver is willing to risk.

8

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Homebrew Store In Evanston IL

« on: March 29, 2012, 07:52:33 pm »

You might be locating a little close to the competition. Brew & Grow Chicago, 3625 N Kezie Ave, & Brew Camp, 2039 W Belle Plaine Ave, aren't that far away. I vaguely recall reading once that a population of around a half million is necessary to support one LHBS. You might need to be further north to avoid competition for your half million.

9

The Pub / Re: Micropile foundations

« on: December 12, 2011, 08:28:54 am »

I found this:
Micropiles are small diameter piles that can be installed in a variety of soils from non-cohesive, poorly-graded granular soils, to cohesive plastic clays. Also known as minipiles, pin piles, needle piles or root piles, micropiles can offer a viable alternative to conventional piling techniques, particularly in restricted access or low headroom situations. A micropile foundation system may be advantageous in areas where large boulders are sporadic in the subsurface, as the small diameter micropiles may be able to be installed around such boulders. Micropiles are installed using water flush rotary drilling or rotary percussion drilling techniques. Measuring between 6 and 12 inches in diameter, micropiles consistently achieve capacities of 20 to 100 tons, with special installations up to 200 tons. Micropile drilling methods generate minimal disturbance or vibration to adjacent structures, making micropiles an excellent underpinning alternative.

I'd say that you can forget about a basement. The property probably has a high watertable and at best you'd wind up with an indoor swimming pool. Also have the contractor or civil engineer look at upstream development. A little more drainage from upstream properties can increase downstream flooding. I'm in the NW suburbs of Chicago and flooding happens more frequently to people living near the local Des Plaines river due to upstrem urbanization.

10

All Grain Brewing / Re: Belgian Candy Sugar

« on: May 23, 2011, 12:24:27 pm »

Brown sugar is plain white sugar with molasses added back in. That's probably not the flavor you are looking for. I've made my own invert sugar from plain white (Sucrose) by boiling 1# of sugar with 1 pint of water and 1 tsp. acid (citric, ascorbic or tartaric) The heat splits the sugar into fructose and glucose. The solution turns amber-brown as it boils down - Carmelization, I suppose. Scale this up to 36# and you're ready to go.
Good luck!

11

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Plastic bottles?

« on: May 02, 2011, 07:41:32 pm »

I have a couple of reused root beer bottles that I use to monitor the progress of bottle carbonation.
It's no real work getting rid of the residual root beer aroma - you just let them sit open and dry for about a year.

12

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Growing Hops, Which bines?

« on: January 24, 2011, 07:32:42 am »

You want a really big pot, otherwise they will become root bound after the first or second year. 

Someone mentions 5-gallon above - will that do? Or should I go higher? Do I need to get any special plants to help with drainage?

Also, here's another question, somewhat related. I wanted to grow the vines up along the side of my deck, but after that I wanted to train them to go horizontally to form a sort of canopy over the deck. Is this possible?

I think that even a 5 gal is too small - You should think about a half barrel. This fall I transplanted 3 (Sterling, Willamette & Newport) 3 year old rhizomes. The main root masses were the size of softballs and there were roots running out 6-8 feet.

13

The Pub / Re: "No refusal" DUI checkpoints could be coming to Tamp

« on: December 31, 2010, 03:16:50 pm »

It's a lot longer than the news article, but here's the actual law:
316.1932 Tests for alcohol, chemical substances, or controlled substances; implied consent; refusal.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.1932.html

*Florida law explictly states that a Florida drivers license or th act driving in Florida implies consent to breath/blood/urine tests when arrested for impaired driving. (Several states have this provision on their books.)   
*It seems that a police officer must be making an arrest in order to request the breath/blood/urine test.
*Blood tests can only be done at a medical facility or in an ambulance or similar emergency vehicle.
*Only a physician, certified paramedic, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, other personnel authorized by a hospital to draw blood can actually draw blood.

I guess that the key question is: Do you trust police to honestly enforce the law?[/li][/list]

14

Kegging and Bottling / Re: beer label...stuck!

« on: December 08, 2010, 09:59:49 am »

I've found that most labels will come off after soaking in an alkaline cleaner and a quick scrub - automatic dishwasher detergent works for me. Two Brothers Brewery west of Chicago uses a mylar plastic type label. Those will come off if you heat up the bottle, but I need to use acetone or lacquer thinner toget the remaining adhesive off.

15

Equipment and Software / Re: Heating a Fermentation Fridge

« on: October 22, 2010, 08:17:29 am »

If you are really set up to screw in a light bulb as a heat source for your box, you could substitute an Infrared emmiter used for keeping pet snakes and turtles warm. e.g. http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/2533/product.web.

There are also heating pads and "hotrocks" but at that point you're better off with a carboy heater and t-shirts.