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46

Kegging and Bottling / Aging beer in a keg

« on: January 23, 2013, 08:22:44 am »

I am curious. Why is it that bottled beer supposedly needs a month of conditioning, yet I racked from my fermenter to my keg, put it right in the cooler, and a week later had good beer? Also is there any reason I can't rack to a keg, seal it, and let it sit in room temperature for a few weeks like a secondary?

47

Kegging and Bottling / Summit Kegerator Review

« on: January 21, 2013, 08:27:07 am »

I bought the following after much research and discussion in another thread here.
http://www.beveragefactory.com/refrigerators/beer/sbc500bv.shtml
I must say I am very impressed. I drilled a small hole in a water bottle cap so that a small meat thermometer would fit solidly in it. The temperature in my kegerator has been exactly 37 degrees every time I check. And that is with the thermostat turned 1/3 of the way up. I honestly think this would freeze my beer solid 2/3s of the way up. I might add that the manual that came with it says "Sanyo" at the top.

I bought extra line but decided to try this thing out right out of the box. After a week of 10lbs on my keg at 37 degrees I got a good pour but the carbonation was a little weak. I think that might be because the first 24 hours the beer was cooling down to temperature so it hasn't had quite enough time yet. Just the same I turned it up to 11lbs and the carbonation was somewhat better.

The unit looks fantastic in my man cave.

It is significantly larger than the Magic Chef unit saw at Mennards. There is room in it for my Cornie keg and a case of beer. I did order a second keg to have on the ready when I blow the first one.

The tower is solid. In the future I may replace the faucet. I have heard that when only using the kegerator once a week faucets tend to stick unless you get one with a front valve. I am wondering if it would hurt anything to take the faucet off and run hot water through it at the end of my weekends to prevent this from happening.

The only downside I can see to this thing is the CO2 bottle is stored inside the fridge. I have read that it is better to store it outside.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Oh hell yes!

48

Beer Recipes / White Wheat Wonder (now with pictures)

« on: January 20, 2013, 01:41:58 pm »

I am taking advantage of the cold weather to brew this up today.

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: White Wheat Wonder
Brewer: Roger
Asst Brewer: Ralph The Wonderdog
Style: American Wheat or Rye Beer
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 5.70 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.20 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.048 SG
Estimated Color: 3.8 SRM
Estimated IBU: 28.3 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 72.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
6 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 66.7 %
3 lbs White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 2 33.3 %
0.25 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 3 14.7 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 4 10.6 IBUs
0.25 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 5 2.9 IBUs
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 6 -

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 9 lbs
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 12.25 qt of water at 162.7 F 152.0 F 60 min

Sparge: Batch sparge with 1 step of 168.0 F water

49

Yeast and Fermentation / Sort of a pole

« on: January 04, 2013, 08:51:11 am »

How long do you guys and gals leave a typical beer, say under 1.060 OG, in the fermenter before bottling or kegging?

50

Kegging and Bottling / Anybody ever heard of Summit Kegerators?

« on: December 15, 2012, 01:54:29 pm »

Well? Have ya?

51

Kegging and Bottling / Keg Virgin Questions

« on: December 12, 2012, 12:05:28 pm »

I am going to set up a kegerator after the first of the year and I have a number of questions. First off I took advantage of a sale on midwestsupplies and ordered a reconditioned 5 gallon ball lock keg for $25. How do I clean it? Would oxyclean free and a bottle brush work? Then when I get my kegerator exactly how do I go about kegging? Rack from my fermenter, put it under 7 lbs of pressure for a week, then enjoy? Does anybody prime their beer before kegging it? If so does that cause more sediment to be cleaned out of the bottom of the keg?

I did do a search but couldn't find any definitive answers to these questions.

52

Beer Recipes / Milk Stout

« on: December 11, 2012, 08:39:58 am »

I am working out a recipe for a milk stout. A friend of mine told me how much he likes Left Hand Milk Stout so I looked it up online and found the ingredients. I recently made a porter that I really like except it lacks the "toastieness" I like in a porter. I am going to sort of modify that recipe and I looked at how much roasted grain Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat uses. Here is what I have so far.

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Milk Stout
Brewer: Roger
Asst Brewer: Ralph the Wonderdog
Style: Sweet Stout
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 5.70 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.20 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.059 SG
Estimated Color: 54.6 SRM
Estimated IBU: 37.5 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 72.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 44.4 %
2 lbs Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 2 17.8 %
1 lbs Roasted Barley (Simpsons) (550.0 SRM) Grain 3 8.9 %
8.0 oz Barley, Flaked (1.7 SRM) Grain 4 4.4 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 5 4.4 %
8.0 oz Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 6 4.4 %
8.0 oz Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 7 4.4 %
4.0 oz Black Malt - 2-Row (Briess) (500.0 SRM) Grain 8 2.2 %
1.00 oz Fuggles [5.40 %] - First Wort 60.0 min Hop 9 22.1 IBUs
1 lbs Milk Sugar (Lactose) [Boil for 60 min](0 Sugar 10 8.9 %
1.00 oz Fuggles [5.40 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 11 15.4 IBUs
1.0 pkg SafAle English Ale (DCL/Fermentis #S-04) Yeast 12 -

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 11 lbs 4.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 13.81 qt of water at 167.4 F 156.0 F 45 min

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (0.75gal, 2.97gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
------

I have never used flaked grains before. Is 1lb of each too much? Do I crush em or just throw em in?

53

Kegging and Bottling / I am thinking about buying a keg

« on: November 28, 2012, 11:38:28 pm »

Is there some type of equipment, or kit, I should buy for cleaning it?

54

Beer Recipes / To dry hop or not to dry hop. That is the question.

« on: November 28, 2012, 11:20:41 am »

I am not a big IPA guy so this is only the second one I have done. My first one I did with citra and cascade. It tasted a bit too much like fruit for my taste. This time I single hopped with cascade. They have a fruity, but not overbearingly so, flavor. My recipe is as follows:

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Ralph's Wag Your Tail Pale Ale
Brewer: Roger
Asst Brewer: Ralph the Wonderdog
Style: American IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 5.70 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.20 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.064 SG
Estimated Color: 8.0 SRM
Estimated IBU: 59.9 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 72.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
9 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 73.5 %
2 lbs Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 2 16.3 %
12.0 oz Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 3 6.1 %
8.0 oz White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 4 4.1 %
1.00 oz Cascade [7.50 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 5 16.3 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [7.50 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 13.4 IBUs
2.00 oz Cascade [7.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 7 19.5 IBUs
2.00 oz Cascade [7.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 8 10.7 IBUs
1.0 pkg Nottingham (Danstar #-) [23.66 ml] Yeast 9 -

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 12 lbs 4.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 16.31 qt of water at 162.9 F 152.0 F 60 min

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (0.37gal, 2.98gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
------

Created with BeerSmith 2 - http://www.beersmith.com

My question is will this have a nice hop aroma if I don't dry hop? Or should I drop a couple of ounces in this weekend?

55

The Pub / THANKYOU VETERANS

« on: November 11, 2012, 09:06:40 am »

From the bottom of my heart.

56

General Homebrew Discussion / Whirfloc question

« on: October 31, 2012, 10:24:07 am »

I tried whirfloc in the last batch of beer I made. I used S 04 yeast and it had the shortest lag time I have ever experienced with that yeast. Does whirfloc also act as a yeast nutrient? Or was this just a coincidence?

57

Ingredients / black malt question

« on: October 29, 2012, 07:42:22 am »

I bought a pound of what I thought was Black Roasted Barley. I got to looking at it and it is Black Malt. It is Briess if that makes any difference. Would this be the same thing as black patent?

58

General Homebrew Discussion / FWH question

« on: October 24, 2012, 07:41:28 am »

Just exactly what does First Wort Hopping do? Does it add a tad bit of hop flavor to the beer?

59

The Pub / Dark Shadows

« on: October 15, 2012, 08:34:10 am »

I remember when I was a kid everybody wanted to get home as fast as we could so we could watch the series Dark Shadows. It was a "soap opera" type series. The acting was awful but it had a vampire, a werewolf and various other creatures so we loved it.

I just rented the new movie with Johny Depp. It was hilarious. The actors were all playing their parts badly just like in the original series. They bring you up to speed on who everybody is as they are introduced. But I don't know if someone who didn't watch the series would get a lot of the subtle humor poked at how the show was originally presented. We all took it very seriously when I was a kid. The series ran from 1966 to 1971.

This is the first comedy I have seen in a long time that I would actually go out and buy.

60

The Pub / Battleship

« on: October 09, 2012, 08:27:36 pm »

Has anybody seen this movie? A couple of weeks ago I was looking through Red Box and saw it. I know it didn't get very good reviews but it looked like a fun watch while drinking home brews so I dropped a buck and a half and brought it home.

I was very surprised. I thought it was actually very well done. Superb special effects, good story, great action. And even featured a bunch of WWII Navy Vets.

I liked it because the Aliens weren't insurmountable foes. Their weapons weren't that far advanced over ours.

So I went to our local Family Video tonight to see if they had any used copies. They wanted $12.95 for used blu rays. I did some quick shopping on my phone and discovered Best Buy has brand new ones for $19.99. For $7 more I went that route.

I figure going to the theater I would drop $12 on admission, then if I wanted any snacks they would really gouge me. At home I can drink beer while watching, pause the movie if I have to go to the bathroom, I don't have annoying people around me, and I don't have to worry about getting bed bugs from the theater seat

And I get to watch the movie as many times as I want.

Gotta love my big screen tv and surround sound system.

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