Messages

1

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Dads Day Brew?

« on: June 16, 2013, 07:56:36 PM »

Not brewing today as we just returned from our camping trip up in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park.  Great weekend with my wife and daughter.  Back to brewing next weekend!

2

Equipment and Software / Re: Blichmann floor burner vs SP 10 revisited.

« on: June 13, 2013, 11:12:20 AM »

Congrats on your upgrade! 

3

Equipment and Software / Re: I'm ready to trash my kettle

« on: June 12, 2013, 03:13:21 PM »

If you decide to go with a new kettle and burner, I would highly suggest the Bilchmann kettle and burner.  I don't have the kettle (yet ) but do have the burner.  The burner is great and I can add it to their Top Tier Brew Stand if I decide to go that route in the future.  The people I know that own one love their Blichmann kettles.  I'm currently happy with my 8 gal kettle, however if I decide to get a larger one, I will be getting a Blichmann kettle.  I only do 3 and 5 gal batches, so I will probably go with the 10 gal kettle but it's tempting to go ahead and get the 15 for just a few more $$.

One thing I did to measure my boil volume is to make some marks w/ a sharpie on one of my ladles.  Works great and you don't have to drill into your kettle. 

4

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Basic Yeast Questions

« on: June 11, 2013, 08:08:37 PM »

I could be way off but I think I'm on target a low pitch rate causes more esters as they are a by product of the growth phase and a low pitch rate can also cause off flavors.

Take another look at the info from Clayton Cone and Neva Parker in this thread.  There's persuasive evidence that higher pitch rates create more esters.

   Just a FYI I read the links and it actually supports what I wrote about low pitch rates creating higher ester production though I was wrong abut the fusel alcohol which I thought was created with higher pitching rates.  I copied the article and will paste below

Effect of Pitch Rate on Beer Flavor

Pitch rates, in addition to strain, temperature, and gravity, make a dramatic difference in the final flavor and aroma profile of any beer.  The pitch rate will have a direct effect on the amount of cell growth during a fermentation.  Cell growth decreases as pitch rates increase. Ester production is directly related to yeast growth as are most other flavor and aroma compounds.
A low pitch rate can lead to: •Excess levels of diacetyl
•Increase in higher/fusel alcohol formation
•Increase in ester formation
•Increase in volatile sulfur compounds
•High terminal gravities
•Stuck fermentations
•Increased risk of infection
High pitch rates can lead to: •Very low ester production
•Very fast fermentations
•Thin or lacking body/mouthfeel
•Autolysis (Yeasty flavors due to lysing of cells)

This is from the Wyeast site that I linked earlier in the thread.  However, Neva Parker's presentation from last year's AHA conference (which you can find on this site) and the links above for Clayton Clone's articles show evidence of low pitch rate = lower esters and vice versa.  Who's right, I don't know.  However, as Jim states, proper pitch rates is my goal and I don't think that if you slightly under or over pitch it's going to make that big of a difference on a homebrew level...at least that's what I've been told.

5

Going Pro / Re: First Pro Competition

« on: June 11, 2013, 07:14:58 PM »

Good luck and keep us up to date w/ the results!

6

Equipment and Software / Re: Brewing Log & Calculator for iPhone/iPad

« on: June 10, 2013, 07:38:53 PM »

Thanks Mark, I just downloaded and will give it a try.

7

Ingredients / Re: General hop guidelines

« on: June 10, 2013, 06:15:20 PM »

Here's one that I've used on occasion:  http://www.homebrewing.com/reference/hop-styles.php.

As Mort mentioned above, you can use hops any way you like.  However, some hops are better for bittering than they would be as flavor/ aroma additions and vice versa.  Magnum, for example, is a great clean bittering hop that's used by many at the beginning of the boil.  Cascade, on the other hand,  is great for flavor/ aroma/ dry hop additions, but because of its lower AA%, may not be your best choice as a bitter addition at the beginning of the boil.

Beersmith is another good tool when it comes time to decide what hops to use, when to use them and how much to use.

8

Equipment and Software / Re: carboy handle

« on: June 10, 2013, 05:19:57 PM »

The plastic is not as clear as the carboys so all you can see is the level of the beer. 

9

Equipment and Software / Re: carboy handle

« on: June 10, 2013, 05:03:04 PM »

I've been using these lately and really like them. http://morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html?site_id=9

Handles are built into the sides and are real sturdy.  A little pricey compare to plastic carboys, but some great advantages as well.

I was just looking at them. Not sure how the spigot construction can be airtight though.

The lid on top and the spigot have rubber gaskets to make air tight seals.  They also come with a cap, whcih has a rubber gasket also, to use on the bottom if you didn't want to use the spigot.

10

Equipment and Software / Re: carboy handle

« on: June 10, 2013, 05:01:34 PM »

Now that looks really interesting! How easy are they to clean?

The are very easy to clean!  The opening up top is easily wide enough to reach in an clean all around the inside if you need.  All the parts of the lid and spigot come apart to clean also. 

11

Equipment and Software / Re: Plastic carboy

« on: June 10, 2013, 04:47:59 PM »

My Speidel fermenters and Better Bottle plastic carboys all hold some of the odor from the previous brews, but soaking them in some cleaner (I uses Oxiclean) overnight usually gets rid of most if not all of the odor from the previous brew.  Even if there is some odor left from a previous brew, especially from hoppy beers, I don't get any carry over into the next beer.

12

Equipment and Software / Re: carboy handle

« on: June 10, 2013, 04:40:35 PM »

I've been using these lately and really like them. http://morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html?site_id=9

Handles are built into the sides and are real sturdy.  A little pricey compare to plastic carboys, but some great advantages as well.

13

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Is this homebrew?

« on: June 10, 2013, 01:34:07 PM »

Having a 3-yr-old daughter, I know my mash is finished after two episodes of Bubble Guppies!

14

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: What should I offer this guy?

« on: June 10, 2013, 08:50:52 AM »

If he says 'make an offer' I always like to start at 1 dollar and a six pack. you can go up from there.

Maybe add in naming rights; 'The Tom Dichnherrie Memorial Fermenter'

I would love to see you do that on the "Price is Right!"   "I would like to bid $1...and a six pack."

+1 to $2,000 being a fair offer.  I'd probably start right at or just under $1850 myself. 

15

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Basic Yeast Questions

« on: June 09, 2013, 01:56:53 PM »

Thanks for the links.  Wonder why there is different opinions w/ Wyeast stating that lower pitch rates = increase ester production and others are stating the opposite.  Maybe I'll email Wyeast to explain their view and present to them some of the opposing views on this issue.