Messages

1

Kegging and Bottling / Re: keg slush

« on: June 14, 2013, 07:30:13 am »

Do you have a fan inside your keezer?  That will even things out! The only time I had a problem with freezing was when my Ranco probe fell into the water on the freezer floor.  Temp said 135deg, thermometer inside said 17.  Best/clearest pilsner EVER!

2

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Does this look like a pellicle?

« on: June 13, 2013, 01:42:23 pm »

What yeast is it?  Some top-cropping yeasts look kind of funky like that.  5 days is pretty early for a pellicle to form.

3

Equipment and Software / Re: Inline Aeration

« on: June 10, 2013, 12:36:08 pm »

I believe that the aeration stone is placed AFTER the chiller as it is going into the fermenter so there would be very little back-pressure at that point.  Put a little pressure on the O2 line before you start and you will prevent backflow.

4

Homebrew Competitions / Re: My equipment at a brewery

« on: May 24, 2013, 05:43:49 am »

It doesn't sound to me like this is a restriction on where competition wort is brewed as the (professional) quality of the gear and who owns it.  If your pro brewer friends were to do their test batches in your garage, would that disqualify you form the NHC?  I don't think so.  As long as YOU own the brewsculpture (and could move it back to your garage anytime) I would not accuse you of having an unfair advantage.

5

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Wrong?

« on: May 22, 2013, 12:40:29 pm »

I'm enjoying a nice Pilsner Urquell with Clamato. Is that a foul?

To each his own on the Clamato, but is that the only beer you had to mix it with?  Just get a six of Bud!

6

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Most and Least

« on: May 17, 2013, 06:36:25 am »

Most:
Fermentation temp control
Fermentation temp control
Fermentation temp control
Fermentation temp control
Stir Plate(s) for starters
4L and 6L flasks for starters
O2 stone & little red tanks
Martin's Bru'n Water spreadsheet
RIMS mash (note: This does not make better beer, it does help with consistency)
Least:
Sooo many things
Lagering in those 6L Tap-a-Draft bottles
Chilling to pitch temps in the kettle (Now I just chill to ground water temps and stick 'em in the temp control freezer 'til they get to pitch temps)

7

Equipment and Software / Re: Those little red cans of Oxygen

« on: May 16, 2013, 04:44:59 pm »

Whatever bubbles up to the surface is essentially wasted.  Bubbles should barely disturb the surface.  I give most beers 2 minutes and get 15-20 beers (10gal) per bottle.

8

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: 1968 in No-Crystal AIPA (Mash Temp Help)

« on: May 16, 2013, 12:36:30 pm »

If you want it THAT dry, mash at 146 for 90 min, then pitch it like a lager.  Ferment at 62-64 for 4 days then let it rise to 68-70 for 7 days.  The trick is to get it to finish before it flocks out.  Crash to 34 for 7 days and it will drop bright!

9

Equipment and Software / Re: Cleaning Beerstone

« on: May 16, 2013, 08:24:30 am »

I save my spent Starsan to use for beerstone mitigation.

10

Equipment and Software / Re: Questions you may have about March Pumps? post them here

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:27:10 am »

I have an 809 that I bought from someone retiring.  It has always run well for me.  This past weekend I had some issues with air locks causing free wheeling.  Whenever this occurred I would immediately shut the pump off.  I then would find it would not restart and I would notice the fan would pulse when the switch was turned on, but it would not turn.  The fan was magnetically held in place.  After a few minutes (potentially as the motor cooled) it would run.

Is there a potential dead spot in the motor windings or could it be overheating?

I had a similar issue with mine.  I took the head off and found that the impeller body had expanded and was binding inside the head.  Maybe time for the 815 impeller upgrade?

11

Equipment and Software / Re: 10 gallon stainless... thing?

« on: May 10, 2013, 09:07:36 am »

+1 on fermenter.  HLT if it's insulated.

12

All Grain Brewing / Re: a first - my hefe dropped clear!

« on: May 10, 2013, 08:14:34 am »

When I do a (rarely) wheat beer I put 1/2 tsp cornstarch in at the END of the boil.  Adds permanent starch haze!

13

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Looking for experience

« on: May 10, 2013, 08:11:20 am »

I have seen those, but there is no way to turn off the gas short of unscrewing the paintball tank.  I built two myself using a paintball fill adapter and some brass fittings to connect to my STD regulator.

14

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Extending the life of chest freezers question

« on: May 07, 2013, 10:48:04 am »

DO NOT GET THE RANCO PROBE WET! Ask me how I know.  I use a ranco dual stage with a thermowell that goes inside the fermenter.  That also handles the short cycling problem.  In my keezer, the probe is in a thermowell - in a 20oz plastic bottle filled with water.

15

Equipment and Software / Re: SOURCES FOR BREWING ELECTRONIC

« on: April 24, 2013, 06:53:31 pm »

www.auberins.com