Messages

1

Going Pro / Re: Cleaning chemicals

« on: May 06, 2013, 06:49:54 am »

Thirsty_Monk,

You may want to read this "White Paper"http://www.birkocorp.com/brewery/white-papers/noncaustic-cleaning-in-the-brewery/ that Dana Johnson of Birko wrote back in '96 for New Brewer.

It gives good reasons for using an Acid cycle first on the brew kettle followed immediately by a non-caustic alkaline wash, no rinse between. He has also written several other white papers on using Nitric/Phosphoric acid blends with added detergents for bright tank and keg cleaning.

I have used PBW, Bru-R-EZ, Cell-R-Mastr, etc. They all have their uses. I do prefer to use a non-caustic alkaline over caustics for safety.

Give Dana a call or E-mail. I am sure he can help you out.

2

Going Pro / Re: BrauKon?

« on: March 21, 2013, 06:13:07 pm »

BrauKon has become quite popular here in CO.

Left Hand started it off with buying one of their kettles.

Then Bristol Brewing ordered a 40 hl system  for their expansion.

Doug Odell has a 105 bbl 4-vessel system on order. They have used a BrauKon hop back system for many years.

My old brewery, Rockyard, has placed an order for a 30 hl brewhouse.

I consult with Backpocket Brewing in IA that has a 40 hl BrauKon system that they love.

Troegs, Flying Fish, Sly Fox, and St. Arnolds all use BrauKon. Most of these are steam powered, however.

3

Ingredients / Re: 2012 Citra Hops (pellets)

« on: March 07, 2013, 01:38:36 pm »

Scott,

Check out Farmhouse Brewing Supply 1 lb 2012 Citra for $21.99.

They have lots of other "rare" hops on hand.

Cheers

4

Going Pro / Re: Cans

« on: January 30, 2013, 09:49:33 am »

The fully-automated line looks like a smaller/slower version of what I've worked on at Coke/Pepsi. VERY cool stuff, but probably unnecessary unless you're the size of Oskar Blues!

The Wild Goose line is great for many breweries, but is far too small for Oskar Blues. The Wild Goose line fills between 36-40 cans a minute. Oskar Blues uses a KHS line that fills 280 12 oz cans a minute or 210 16 oz cans a minute.

Oskar Blues canning line

5

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: These guys need to clean up their act

« on: November 28, 2012, 11:12:02 am »

Benefit proposed to support Strange Brewing legal fund

6

Ingredients / Re: 2012 Hop Crop?

« on: October 19, 2012, 05:35:13 pm »

FYI:

Farmhouse Brewing has 2012 Simcoe pellets in stock. They do offer pounds for $19.00.

They also have the very rare 2012 Nelson Sauvin pellets at an almost reasonable $23.00 a pound.

I ordered both today

Farmhouse Brewing Supply hops by the pound

7

Zymurgy / Re: The Hop Squasher

« on: January 25, 2012, 07:05:29 pm »

Denny,

Perhaps you just need to go to your local Bed, Bath and Beyond and pick up a French Press coffee maker. I did this past weekend. The wife has masses of 20% off and $10.00 of one item coupons. I spent $20.00 for a 34 oz model with glass container. Far cheaper than a Randall or Hop Rocket. Pellets or leaf hops can be used.

I just picked up some Ruthless Rye. I'll try some in the Hop Squasher. Any suggestions as to what variety to use? I have q very good selection of pellets but only some home grown Cascase leaf.

8

Zymurgy / Re: The Hop Squasher

« on: January 24, 2012, 12:16:35 pm »

Denny,

This was written earlier in the thread

You do lose a little carb so its almost like a dry hopped cask ale once it hits the glass. A little more carbed than that.....What you get is great hop aroma and flavor.

I picked up a French Press this past weekend to try it out. I added about a teaspoon of Centennial pellets to 24 oz of O'Dells IPA of 5 min. It added quite a bit more aroma and flavor. I also picked up a small amount of diacetyl that I did not find in the nonSquashed beer. In the Westword article, there is a comment that someone who tried the B&B infused beer also found a bit of diacetyl.

Crazy Mountain Brewing has been serving fresh hop infused beers for the past couple of years. Here are some shots from the 2011 and 2012 Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival in Vail, CO

9

Zymurgy / Re: The Hop Squasher

« on: January 24, 2012, 09:40:50 am »

A brewpub in Denver has just started using a French Press to offer fresh hop infused beers

http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2012/01/bull_bush_offering_tableside_whole-hop_infusions.php

10

Equipment and Software / Re: "Sparge arm" with "flex" tubing?

« on: July 29, 2011, 06:59:09 am »

You might want to look at the loc-line systems.

They have quite a few items that would work for a sparge arm.

I use the 50813 kit in my mash tun. It is great for recirculation and adjusting the water flow to keep it above the grain bed.

http://www.modularhose.com/Loc-Line-12-System/12-kits/50813



Here is a photo of the way one brewer uses it



The 51837 could also be used for a sparge ring

http://www.modularhose.com/Loc-Line-12-System/12-kits/Loc-Line-51837



Very reasonable prices and quick shipping.

11

Equipment and Software / Re: Oxygenerator

« on: July 29, 2011, 06:47:14 am »

The PVC sight glass will melt with higher temps. I tried keeping it in line while I was using my CFC to cool while whirlpooling in my kettle. I now have a new one and a spare.

It serves it's purpose well to monitor the wort flow from my CFC chiller to my fermenter and to give me an idea about the flow of 02 entering the line.

All in all, well worth the money.

12

Equipment and Software / Re: Oxygenerator

« on: July 28, 2011, 08:10:30 pm »

I purchased most of the parts from bargain fittings.com

The sight glass is plastic

13

Equipment and Software / Re: Oxygenerator

« on: July 28, 2011, 07:23:10 am »

rig.

Here is a picture of mine on my rig.



A bit more of a close up.

For more information, check out this thread http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/inline-wort-aeration-build-236448/

14

Beer Recipes / Re: AHA National Homebrew Day Big Brew Kits???

« on: April 27, 2011, 05:44:38 pm »

AHA Big Brew 2011 East India Pale Ale Extract

15

Pimp My System / Re: Single tier brewframe with diverter panel

« on: May 08, 2010, 06:50:39 pm »

The whirlpool fitting was purchased from Bargain Fittings

Wayne was a great help. He bent the stainless tube to fit the curvature of my keggle. He also put together all the fittings I needed for my oxygenation system.