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Going Pro / Re: Unwritten rule for Pro Brewers
« on: January 20, 2012, 08:37:01 AM »Because shaving sucks.I agree, that's why I stopped a little over a month ago.
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The Pub / Re: Won't Be Long . . .
« on: January 16, 2012, 02:31:17 PM »I bought a bunch of kegs from these guys http://www.plastickegsusa.com/ - so far so good.
Sorry about dredging up this old topic, but I wanted to find out how the plastic kegs are working for you.
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: BB Sanitized. Time Limit?
« on: December 15, 2011, 08:32:14 AM »The stuff will grow mold after a while.
Huh?
Sounds like it wasn't cleaned and sanitized properly to begin with.
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Things Picking Up in the Carolinas
« on: December 15, 2011, 08:29:58 AM »That sucks if they changed their mind and decided to plant it in the carolinas. Nothing out there but huckleberry and hillbillies.
I take exception to that comment, good sir.
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Check out my homebrewing blog
« on: December 09, 2011, 01:21:01 PM »
Ah, lots of similes and colorful metaphors. I like.
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Equipment and Software / Re: Heat stick
« on: December 09, 2011, 12:48:45 PM »How did you make the stirrer?I use a "bucket heater" to heat my MT and HLT overnight. They are controlled by a RANCO thermostat so they are ready to go in the morning. (There is some heat stratification so I recirculate the water before mashing in.)This is basically what I do too, but I use a timer. For approximately 10 gallons of water, it takes 3-4 hours to go from 60F to 170F.
I do exactly the same thing on my 15gal system. My HLT has a stirrer that solves the stratification problem.
TIA, Tom
I have a motor mounted on the lid of my HLT that is connected to this SS paint stirrer:
It's on a temp controller that is daisy-chained to the HLT control. So, it only runs if the water temp is over 150F AND the HLT bucket heater is heating as well. That way it does not run all the time during the run-up to strike temp. My water is ready to go within 1 degree F when I walk into the brewhouse. That's nice when I come home from my day job and want to start brewing pronto.
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Equipment and Software / Re: Heat stick
« on: December 08, 2011, 02:49:58 PM »I use a "bucket heater" to heat my MT and HLT overnight. They are controlled by a RANCO thermostat so they are ready to go in the morning. (There is some heat stratification so I recirculate the water before mashing in.)This is basically what I do too, but I use a timer. For approximately 10 gallons of water, it takes 3-4 hours to go from 60F to 170F.
I do exactly the same thing on my 15gal system. My HLT has a stirrer that solves the stratification problem.
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Equipment and Software / Re: CFWC upgrade in the works.
« on: December 08, 2011, 01:28:00 PM »The counterflow chiller I use is 3/4" convoluted copper inside a 1 1/2" copper jacket. Works great and fast.
Impressive. How fast is fast?
Takes 15 gal from boiling to 62f in around 6 minutes. /w tap water. I'm going to try ice water tonight.
Nice.
"joy to me, woe to you"? Interesting translation of your signature line........
Well, the real family motto is :"Hooray for me, the he11 with you" or so my dad used to say when we kids were only thinking of ourselves. I'd like to think that I've grown past that. Thought the latin gave it a little more class.
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Equipment and Software / Re: CFWC upgrade in the works.
« on: December 08, 2011, 12:27:14 PM »
The counterflow chiller I use is 3/4" convoluted copper inside a 1 1/2" copper jacket. Works great and fast.
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Going Pro / Re: Unwritten rule for Pro Brewers
« on: December 06, 2011, 03:39:51 PM »Have you been to NHC before? Seems like 90+% of the men have facial hair. I think it has to do with brewing in general.
I see what you mean, although I would guess it's closer to 75%
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Going Pro / Unwritten rule for Pro Brewers
« on: December 06, 2011, 01:10:55 PM »
Is there some unwritten rule for pro brewers that they have to sport facial hair? Just seems that most do. I've stopped shaving just in case.
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Ingredients / Re: Cocoa Nibs
« on: October 20, 2011, 07:17:59 AM »
I've always soaked the nibs in grain alcohol for a few days before adding to the keg to "dry nib" them there.
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Equipment and Software / Re: Keg Conversion
« on: September 06, 2011, 07:40:33 AM »
I just started fermenting in a keg using a heated and stretched carboy cap over the keg opening. Let me tell you, transfering under pressure IS THE BOMB! (and not meaning the keg is exploding 
) I just purchased a 1/4" barb to 1/4" female NPT and connected that to a 1/4" male flare fitting and my CO2 line's female flare fitting connects to that. The barb goes into the small carboy cap tube and of course, the stainless racking cane goes into the large carboy cap tube. Both the barb and the racking cane are secured to the carboy cap with screw clamps. The tube from the racking cane connects to a ball lock disconnect, so the whole process is under CO2. 2 psi gets everything moving with the pressure relief valve left open during the process. I'll never rack again any other way! So easy!
My set-up is a lot cheaper that $80, so why am I still considering the tri-clamp solution? Well, the internal thermowell is nice. The ability to hold the racking steady is also nice. Is it $80 worth of nice? I don't know.
) I just purchased a 1/4" barb to 1/4" female NPT and connected that to a 1/4" male flare fitting and my CO2 line's female flare fitting connects to that. The barb goes into the small carboy cap tube and of course, the stainless racking cane goes into the large carboy cap tube. Both the barb and the racking cane are secured to the carboy cap with screw clamps. The tube from the racking cane connects to a ball lock disconnect, so the whole process is under CO2. 2 psi gets everything moving with the pressure relief valve left open during the process. I'll never rack again any other way! So easy!My set-up is a lot cheaper that $80, so why am I still considering the tri-clamp solution? Well, the internal thermowell is nice. The ability to hold the racking steady is also nice. Is it $80 worth of nice? I don't know.
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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: First brewing-related injury
« on: August 19, 2011, 01:19:27 PM »I've always said that when building something there must be a blood sacrifice...
+1 Scars are nature's scrapbook. Ahh, the memories...
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Equipment and Software / Re: 1 to 3 barrel systems?
« on: August 19, 2011, 07:06:02 AM »
Stout Tanks has some tanks in that range. http://conical-fermenter.com/products/