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Homebrew Competitions / Re: Any Texas Comps?
« on: December 22, 2010, 03:03:02 PM »I want to start submitting to some competitions but more locally. Anyone know about comps in Texas?
Thanks
euge
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Other Fermentables / Re: Butterbeer anyone?
« on: November 29, 2010, 02:43:23 PM »
Our club sponsored homebrew competition this year had a soda contest. The contest was for kids and judged by kids. My son did a butter beer and it won 1st place! He used Old Fashioned cream soda extract along with butterscotch syrup with a bit of butter extract. He made several batches in two liter bottles and force carbonated them until he got the flavor he wanted. It really was pretty tasty.
http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/08-02-10-beer-rebels-unite-in-clear-lake-its-homebrew-for-one-and-all-jenga-for-some/
Had to brag on my boy a bit!
I'm not sure I would want an alcoholic version but I'm sure there is a butterscotch liquer out there!
http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/08-02-10-beer-rebels-unite-in-clear-lake-its-homebrew-for-one-and-all-jenga-for-some/
Had to brag on my boy a bit!
I'm not sure I would want an alcoholic version but I'm sure there is a butterscotch liquer out there!
3
Equipment and Software / ph Meters
« on: August 10, 2010, 01:31:43 PM »
My ph meter will not calibrate any longer and I am assuming the probe (hee, hee; I said probe) has gone out and needs replacing. The meter is an Oakton 35624 that I have had for about 5 years. I took exceptional care of it and I have gotten a lot of miles out of it. This is a discontinued model but the replacement electrode is still available from Oakton for about $60. This is the only meter I have had and I am not familiar with what is out there available. I saw another thread with a discussion on different models. Any opinion on replacing a electrode versus just getting a newer model?
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Kegging and Bottling / Re: Clarifying a cloudy IPA
« on: July 20, 2010, 02:47:52 PM »
I have used gelatin many times and I find it very easy to work with and a very good clarifying agent. I keg and force carbonate all of my beer so clarifying is easy. I chill the keg prior to carbonation. I boil a half cup of water and add 1 tsp of unflavored gelatin and mix well while boiling until completely dissolved. I take the gelatin mixture directly to the keg and pour in hot. I seal the keg and hit the liquid out post with CO2 to mix the beer and gelatin. Unhook the CO2 then release the pressure relief valve to push out any oxygen. I wait a day or so and hook the CO2 on the gas port and push a glass of beer out. It pushes out the sediment and I have crystal clear beer.
But as someones else said; who cares about clear beer?
But as someones else said; who cares about clear beer?
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Equipment and Software / Re: Ranco Controller
« on: June 17, 2010, 07:20:16 AM »
Wired myself and they worked fine for a while. The first one gets the E2 error and basically scrambles and resets to a +250F temperature. The second one has just died and has no power to it.
I'm not worrying about it; I have already switched to my analogs. I dont have time to jack with it.
I'm not worrying about it; I have already switched to my analogs. I dont have time to jack with it.
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Equipment and Software / Ranco Controller
« on: June 15, 2010, 09:31:08 AM »
Ok I have had another Ranco Controller crap out on me. I bought both about three years ago. The first one stopped working about this time last year. I replaced it with an analog controller. My first analog controller is at least 6 years old and works great.
Anyone else had issues with the Ranco controllers? Anyone know if they can be repaired?
Anyone else had issues with the Ranco controllers? Anyone know if they can be repaired?
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: AHA Big Brew 2010 YouTube Contest
« on: May 04, 2010, 06:52:00 AM »AHA Big Brew 2010 @ Saint Arnold's in Houston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JquCXeiYcq8
Or this one...
AHA Big Brew 2010 @ Saint Arnold's in Houston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JquCXeiYcq8
Is that Lonnie Mac and the original Brutus 10 in that video?
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Kegging and Bottling / Re: Force Carbonation and Volumes CO2
« on: May 03, 2010, 08:58:14 AM »http://www.hbd.org/carboy/kegpresstester.htm
Sweet set-up. My intention was to build a much better gauge than I have but I just keep procrastinating! Northern Brewer sells basically the same thing for about $25. I built mine out of parts I already had.
Using a gauge while force carbonating really helps!
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: AHA Big Brew 2010 YouTube Contest
« on: May 02, 2010, 08:06:17 PM »10
Equipment and Software / Re: Glass or plastic?
« on: April 30, 2010, 11:06:57 AM »
A lot of people are moving towards the Better Bottles for safety and convenience of their weight. I have gotten rid of all my carboys except one 7.5 gallon and two 3 gallons I use for wines and meads. A few years back I bought two 10 gallon cornies and have used them exclusively for beer. They are expensive and hard to fine but they can be used as fermenters, serving kegs and I use them to store filtered water when not used as fermenters.
They are awesome!
They are awesome!
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Kegging and Bottling / Re: Force Carbonation and Volumes CO2
« on: April 30, 2010, 08:42:49 AM »
I built a little pressure gauge to help monitor my kegs during carbonation. I chill the beer down then hit the keg with CO2. I generally crank the pressure up as high as it will go. This makes sure the keg seals as well. I then check the pressure gauge every 12 hours. I hit the keg with CO2 if needed. I stop adding CO2 when the pressure stabilizes at my desired PSI for the specific temperature. I generally only have to add CO2 twice over a 24 hour period if the keg is sealed well. The beer always comes out carbonated perfectly.
Here is the gauge I made.
Here is the gauge I made.
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Kegging and Bottling / Re: Kegging Advice - Am I crazy for offering?
« on: March 03, 2010, 01:46:31 PM »
This sounds like a golden opportunity to get into kegging even if the couple doesnt need/want your beer. You can always blame them for you spending the money. At least you can try to sell that to your wife! You were being the noble gentleman trying to help out a bride and save money for her special day!
Kegging is the only way to go in my opinion. The intial expense is rough but if you take care of the stuff you can always sell it later if need be. I'm always looking for equipment from guys who give up the hobby. I have purchased all of my equipment that way.
Good luck!
Kegging is the only way to go in my opinion. The intial expense is rough but if you take care of the stuff you can always sell it later if need be. I'm always looking for equipment from guys who give up the hobby. I have purchased all of my equipment that way.
Good luck!
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Pimp My System / Re: New Kegerator Build
« on: February 09, 2010, 12:01:24 PM »Yeah, cedar. It just looked so good with a clear stain and poly. Last item to install will be two PC fans to keep air circulating inside to cut down on moisture.
I would like to know how the fans work out for you. I see you use the Damprid. I go through that stuff like crazy. If the fans help; I just may give it a try. I thought about getting a small dehumidifier and rigging the tank to a hose and get the moisture to drip out of the freezer.
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Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Shiner Frost
« on: February 05, 2010, 01:52:59 PM »
I thought is wasnt too bad. As with all of Shiners beer; they are looking for a large target market and their beer are always lite for each style. Shiner Bock was the brewers interpretation of a German Bock with what they could get in Shiner Texas in the early 1900's.
It may be my imagination but Shiner Bock seems even lighter in body and flavor than it did in the 1980's before it was widely available.
The Frost was pretty good though!
It may be my imagination but Shiner Bock seems even lighter in body and flavor than it did in the 1980's before it was widely available.
The Frost was pretty good though!
15
Beer Travel / Re: St Arnold Brewing in Houston
« on: February 05, 2010, 07:48:43 AM »Anyone in Houston planning on going to the AHA rally on the 28th? I may fly down there for it.
Since it is a short rally it would be easy for me. I would love to meet up with forum folks...
There is a good chance I will be there. I know there will be folks from my club (Bay Area Mashtronauts) at S.A. You will get to see the new brewery. Maybe we can talk Lonnie Mac (Mr. Brutus 10) to show up!