Topics

1

All Grain Brewing / Ever replace the SS braid in your mashtun?

« on: November 21, 2009, 02:59:23 PM »

I seem to be losing a larger volume of water in the mash tun lately and while I"m running off it seems to be sucking air once and awhile and bubbling.      Looking at the SS braid in my cooler, its all crimped up right where it meets the hose barb.    Anyone ever replace the braid?    Or would it be better to add a slotted piece of copper tubing inside the braid to keep it open?   
Or any other solutions?   

2

General Homebrew Discussion / does anyone brew two batches at the same time?

« on: November 11, 2009, 03:19:01 PM »

Any have a dual setup, i.e. two burners, two mashtuns and two boil kettles so you can do simultaneous batches?   
I suppose I could upgrade to 20 gallon batches instead of 10, but I wouldn't care for 20 gallons of the same beer all at once.   
Aside from the initial cost, I can only see a few problems...   would splitting my garden hose into a Y to run two chillers be effective enough?   
And I'd probably have to keep good notes on what goes in which batch at what time... (I can see it now-   Oh s**t!  I just dumped 2 ounces of centennial in my german pils at flameout instead of the IPA!)   

3

General Homebrew Discussion / How long for your lagers to drop clear?

« on: November 10, 2009, 06:31:08 PM »

How long cold conditioning does it take for your lagers to drop clear?   Not necessarily "filtered" looking clear, but clear...
Usually after 2-3 weeks at 32, my ales are brilliantly clear, but my lagers tend to hold onto the haze for a bit longer.    I had a Czech pils this summer that refused to clear (until I persuaded it with gelatin)   
My Oktoberfest (with WY 2206) was brilliantly clear within 5-6 weeks.   The last German Pils (Wy 2124) I did still hung onto a tiny bit of haze even after 4-5 weeks.   
fwiw, my cooler is set at 32 (perhaps a degree or two lower-  the beer doesn't freeze, but the condensation tends to ice up on the bottom of the freezer)   

Just curious what others experiences are

4

All Things Food / treberbrot!

« on: November 09, 2009, 02:11:16 PM »

Not made with beer exactly, but with spent grains 



the recipe is on kai's page.   I've been meaning to make some all summer, but I always remember AFTER I've dumped my mash tun out.  D-oh!     
Well I remembered today!   Can't wait to slice into it....   and pour a Dunkel....

5

All Grain Brewing / pH questions regarding decoction mash

« on: November 09, 2009, 07:15:05 AM »

My Bock is mashed in at 145º.  I'm going to decoct up to 158º.   
I measured the pH (a cooled sample, using colorphast strips)   and the strip read 5.0 pH (which according to Kai's experiment is actually 5.3) 
Reading Kai's page he suggested a pH of 5.4 or higher for decoction mashes and ones using a weak enzymatic malts.    This grain bill is mostly Munich II.   If I wanted to raise the pH, what would be the easiest way?   
thanks! 

6

Other Fermentables / I need a "making cider for dummies"

« on: November 08, 2009, 03:39:59 PM »

I need a brief rundown of making cider.    There's an apple orchard up the road that sells cider (I'm assuming not pasturized, no preservatives or anything like that)    Simple as buying 5 gallons and dropping in some yeast or do I need to add apple juice too? 

7

General Homebrew Discussion / Suggest a brew for next weekend

« on: November 08, 2009, 10:41:55 AM »

I'm stumped on what to brew next weekend.  Either a 10 gallon ale or a five gallon lager.   I've already got two kegs of German pils, a keg of dunkel, and an ipa & bock that will be in carboys. 
I've got about 14 lbs of maris otter, 40 lbs of best pils, bunch of different crystals, 4 each of Munich and Vienna. For hops, magnum, hallertau and centennial.   Yeast-  wy 2124, 2206 and US 05. 
Maybe some amber ale?   Or a dortmunder?   Open to any other sugestions.  Thanks! 

8

All Grain Brewing / Length of decoction boil for bock

« on: November 07, 2009, 06:51:11 PM »

I have been doing a 30 min boil of the decoction for my marzen and dunkel.   I have a bock planned for Monday and am considering a longer decoction boil.  Any thoughts?

9

General Homebrew Discussion / G'day mates!

« on: November 07, 2009, 11:42:21 AM »

New to the site, just saying hello.   Forum looks great!