Messages

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General Homebrew Discussion / My First Sour - Saison Experiment

« on: June 15, 2013, 10:24:44 am »

I made a 3 gallon batch of Saison, (pils,wheat,cara, and saaz hops).  My OG was 1.032.  I pitched a pack of wyeast 3711 with no starter.   

I racked into 3 separate one gallon jugs at 1.013 two weeks later:

Gallon A: wood chips I soaked in JD
Gallon B: 20oz Raspberries (half a pack of wyeast 3763 Roeselare - no starter)
Gallon C: 20oz Peaches (the other half of the wyeast 3763 Roeselare - no starter)

Just one week later:
Not too much happening with gallon A, but still very nice flavor/complexity.  But with B & C, I already have a lot of sourness.  I wanted it to be more on the 'tart' side and I feel that I've already achieved that in one week!?  Is that possible? Also, I feel that the complexity of the beer has gone down a lot. I get a lot of sour and peach/raspberry flavor and that's about it, it's really 'in your face'.  (Maybe saison is too light for this yeast?)

When it comes to bottling; How and When?  I feel like I'm lost with how much sugar is in the jugs and how much still needs to be eaten by the yeasties.. How long do I wait for fruit sugars to be consumed and if I bottle too early will I have bombs?  Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 Thanks

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All Grain Brewing / Re: Switching to All Grain

« on: March 15, 2013, 11:08:11 am »

My best friend works in a research lab and I must say that plastic scares me too!  After all I've heard my general consensus in regards to plastic is: You can put lipstick on a pig but its still a pig. No matter what they say the plastic is made of or what # it is...  My logic is; it will still contain a ton of endocrine disruptors whether measurable or not...  However, I'm a hypocrite because my buddies all use igloos, I drink it all the time and it's damn good beer..  I myself prefer stainless steel BIAB. my .02

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: acetone smell (ethyl acetate?) in my barrel

« on: March 01, 2013, 09:29:04 am »

I rinsed and sanitized after I used it. But thats about it... I cant say it was 100% dry when i stored it again.  I put the original bung lightly on top too.  Any recommendations of cleaners I should use?  And if the smell does come back, when should I expect it? 1 week, 1 day later?

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General Homebrew Discussion / acetone smell (ethyl acetate?) in my barrel

« on: March 01, 2013, 09:11:01 am »

My 15 gallon barrel just started smelling like acetone (nail polish remover).  I've only done 1 beer in it and it turned out great. My guess is I didn't clean it well enough afterward(?) Anyway, it smells like acetone now: did I just acquire some pricey firewood?  Or could I still use it as a souring barrel? Or even save it?

I don't really understand the ethyl acetate affect on homebrew.  I've searched and found mostly horror stories but I've also seen some good things associated with ethyl acetate.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Infection, what's this?

« on: February 20, 2013, 09:59:49 pm »

It's funny that you mentioned filling up the barrel to the airlock.  We filled it up and said "Is that close enough? Ahhhh yeah that's fine".. In reality it's probably a 1.5 - 2 inch gap from the airlock to the top of the beer.  I think it will break into sheets once all the little film peices unite!  I think I'm in the early stages... 

So what should I do?  Top off with my extra brown, or just go ahead and keg it?  Also, do you have any ideas of a specific name of the "film"? 

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General Homebrew Discussion / Infection, what's this?

« on: February 20, 2013, 08:45:42 pm »

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mweitekamp/8494294078/in/photostream


After 2 weeks in the barrel I saw a white powdery/film on top of the beer. I scooped a little off the top and this is what I got..  Smells and Tastes fine (the beer), but I'm a bit hesitant to drink anymore.. Please let me know!

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All Grain Brewing / Re: First two BIAB batches low efficency (55-60%). Top reasons for low?

« on: January 21, 2013, 09:10:06 pm »

I have only done BIAB in my short brewing career (maybe 20+ BIAB batches) I don't sparge and I am a dead 70% efficiency every time..(It's not great, but not bad either)

I agree with above..

1. Ask your LHBS to run it twice through the mill.  Usually it doesn't do much, but if their machine hasn't been calibrated lately, it can make a difference.

2. I always squeeze the bag!  And to be honest I've noticed an increase in efficiency from this alone.

3. For what its worth I have a buddy doing all grain (not BIAB) he had gotten horrible efficiency on his last few batches, I brought over some pH strips and sure enough he was way high... Maybe someone else can go into further detail about this.

4. What are you doing with your water?

That's my .02!

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General Homebrew Discussion / Riddle me this.. Gas Lines Questions

« on: December 31, 2012, 03:50:02 pm »

I took my two pvc tubing gas lines off of the regulator. I've never cleaned them nor taken my co2 system apart, so I figured why not.. I've had some infected beer, and I figured it wouldn't hurt.  Anyway.. I took the two lines off and I'm looking at the ends where the Gas Disconnects go and one I can see down perfectly, and the other is pitch black... What am I missing?  Does one have a check valve?  Is there a cute little mouse living in there?  I'm avoiding taking them apart... but it may be my next step. Ideas?

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Infection Because of Chamber Mold?

« on: December 10, 2012, 09:15:09 am »

I would fill up your fermenters with hot water and 2 cups of bleach and let them soak for a day with as much of your equipment that can fit.  Submerge the hoses so they fill up as well as your siphon.  You'll be good to go.
Edit:  Still using my original siphon tubing and blow off hoses using this method.  Zero infections....

Wow, and no rinsing issues after a day in bleach?  **Plus new note that I thought of last night, pondering this infection mystery... I've been using a really cheap funnel that isn't food grade plastic and I always use it to pour my wort into my carboys.. I think I may just buy the funnels with the screen at the LHBS, always wanted one anyway..

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Infection Because of Chamber Mold?

« on: December 09, 2012, 09:22:12 pm »

Eh, so very true. Great point... Maybe I squeak out a 1 gallon AG batch because I'm such a cheapO.  For a strange reason, I think it may be my auto siphon and/or it's hose.  Any particular reason why you mentioned that? Is it common? Thanks

it's hard to get the tubing really clean. I like to replace my tubing every 10 or so batches just because you can never get IN there to really clean stuff up.

I'm probably 15+beers on my "newest" auto siphon tubing... I'm most likely well over due.  As for the siphon itself, the plastic (i'm no expert) is much harder and seems less vulnerable to penetrate it, but at the same time more susceptible to cracks/scratches.  Go ahead and replace it too?  Sorry for the ignorance..

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Infection Because of Chamber Mold?

« on: December 09, 2012, 09:08:15 pm »

Eh, so very true. Great point... Maybe I squeak out a 1 gallon AG batch because I'm such a cheapO.  For a strange reason, I think it may be my auto siphon and/or it's hose.  Any particular reason why you mentioned that? Is it common? Thanks

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Infection Because of Chamber Mold?

« on: December 09, 2012, 08:56:10 pm »

OK, I think that will be my next step, not worrying too much about the airlock.  After reading some online today, I think I've got to be honest with myself.. I don't clean my equipment as well as I should AFTER a brew day.  I'm going to give all my equipment a good bath.  Maybe really warm Oxiclean? Then Soak/Sanitize? I know it was suggested to rid my plastics.. but I just don't know if I can do that.. seems a little pricey and wasteful.  Although I do understand it may come down to that?  Does anyone have a favorite soaking or bath they like to give their plastic equipment if they think they may have an issue?  Thanks for replies

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Infection Because of Chamber Mold?

« on: December 09, 2012, 03:36:00 pm »

I'm using three piece.  It won't fit with S type unless I'm using a 3 gallon carboy.. What do you mean about the foil, u skip the airlock all together, throughout the entire fermentation??

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Infection Because of Chamber Mold?

« on: December 09, 2012, 12:52:08 pm »

Thank you for reply. Acetobacter, is what the gentlemen said!  What about a plastic auto-siphon?  Little pricey and I rather not toss that.. but I guess if I need to I will. And is bleach OK? (is that chlorine dioxide  ?)

Also, I feel like I don't over fill that airlock and I still get issues. In fact, I feel I'm a little anal about hitting that line. Thanks again

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General Homebrew Discussion / Infection Because of Chamber Mold?

« on: December 09, 2012, 12:26:54 pm »

I had a couple guys taste my beer, and they all had a common denominator: Infection.  There is a slight sourness at the finish of all three. 1. Rye Ipa 2. Amber 3. Vienna/Saaz SMaSH.

Anyway, after a good while I've been trying to figure out what it could be.. I figured out all three beers had two things in common after the boil.  Same siphon hose AND fermentation chamber. The siphon house was exposed to brett awhile ago, however, I've made beers and haven't noticed it.  Also, my sanitation I feel is very sound. 

Secondly, and what I think may be the culprit is; mold in my chamber... and I had suck back on all three, I always do (doh!) Can mold spores exist in a starsan solution in my airlock?  And can that small suckback create an infection in my beer?  Suckback is happening when I lift airlocks off and before fermentation begins.  Also, there is a small amount of water around the carboy stopper that may drop inside if I don't lift exactly straight up!

*I can't keep up with the mold killing.  I've used baking soda to slow it down, but eventually it always arrives.  What does everyone do that may have mold spores floating around?? I feel like I cant be the only one with this issue..  Is cheap vodka the answer?  Advice please!  Thank You
-mw