Messages

1216

The Pub / Re: Need some engineering help

« on: January 21, 2011, 10:20:23 am »

My plan as far as all this green stuff goes, is to buy an EV (chevy volt or Tesla model S) and then get a wind turbine to charge it. We don't do much driving because we have VERY good public transit, even out here in the boonies, so I figure it'd be a pretty good thing.

Re energy, most of France is nuclear, and our energy company is one of those that buys wind power somehow. I dunno how that works exactly...

The problem of course with all this 'green' stuff is that a lot of it (especially EVs, etc) rely on petroleum-based manufacturing. So nothing is every going to be truly green, but at least it's a start.

Sometimes I wonder how much of my current lifestyle I'd be able to maintain should there be some sort of global event that would end our ability to use current manufacturing, economic, and transportation processes. I think an investment in an EV would be good in this sort of situation, but the problem is getting replacement parts.

Sorry to ramble, it's Friday alright.

My plan on this going green stuff is to keep my 10 year old truck tuned up and drive it till it falls apart from old age.  I figure it's got 8 to 10 more years in it and nothing has had to be mined, milled, refined (except gas, lubricants and tires) to make a new one in 10 years.

Paul

1217

The Pub / Re: Need some engineering help

« on: January 21, 2011, 10:16:16 am »

You want heat? Set some magnesium on fire.

 One of the best output vs. input ratios is sugar cane to make ethanol.

 Brazil makes ethanol from sugar cane sap and then uses the leftover cane stalks to fire the boilers to run generators to power the fermenting and distillation apparatus and sells the leftover electricity back to the grid. In Brazil ethanol is basically free plus the gain.

 This crazy corn/ethanol thing in the US is STOOPID. Anyone who has used corn mash as a distillation wash ( ) will tell you that it is very low yield and takes more energy to produce than it produces...if that makes sense.

The biggest absolute waste of energy is the electric vehicle. Got to plug that thing into the grid. You telling me that my gasoline powered truck burns more fuel than the power plant that has to run full capacity just in case I might want to plug my car in?

Solar and/or nuke. That's the way to go.

 This is just the Tubercle's observation. If you want his opinion on any of the preceding subjects, just ask.
 

+100!!

I grew up on a corn/soybean/livestock farm and still have relatives out on the farm.  I have said for years that ethanol in the US is a boondoggle.  It started out as a few farmers trying to see if they could make it work and now it's just a pyramid scheme to suck money out of farmers who are trying to make a few more cents per bushel for their corn.  Once farmers stop being willing to form coops and the government stops the subsidies the ethanol industry is dead.  

Iowa will become the biggest source for used stainless steal and/or the largest producer of cheap whiskey in the world.  All they need to do is age the ethanol in oak barrels and stop adding gasoline to the storage tanks as they do this now to make it undrinkable.  Maybe they should call it Hawkeye Fire Water.

I've also been supporting nuclear and solar since the 70's during "the energy crisis".

Paul

1218

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: Advise on dry hopping

« on: January 18, 2011, 09:52:46 am »

I recommend using a cheese cloth grain bag.  I dry hopped a pilsner last fall using the "just throw the pellets in" method and every beer out of the keg has little pieces of hop floating in it.  It's kind of annoying.

You will want to weight the bag down with a stainless steel washer or something keep the hops from just floating on the surface too.

The grain bags are cheap and readily available at your LHBS.

Paul

1219

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Glass or Plastic

« on: January 16, 2011, 11:55:00 am »

I have both glass and better bottles.  I use both because I have them and am really quite a cheapskate.  I primary in 6.5g glass and typically secondary in better bottles.  If I have more than 2 beers in play I secondary  in my 5g glass bottles.  Both work with no issues so far.  Now if I drop a glass carboy and lose a hand I might change my mind.   

Paul

1220

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Question about aging.

« on: January 16, 2011, 11:48:13 am »

I've never really thought it was all about gravity.  I usually think about it more from a dark verse light decision.  I will keep dark beers like porters and stouts in starage for long periods of time because they develop very nicely over longer timeframes.  High alcohol beers will also age well but I do not keep light colored beers in storage for long periods.

Not really scientific but it has worked for me.

Paul

Some light or lighter colored beers can benefit from extended aging as well. Consider a a lager like Samiclaus or some of the Belgian styles. Gravity is one of the key factors for choosing which beers to cellar, though it's not the whole picture.

Good points and I agree completely.   I haven't really brewed beers like those (yet) so I wasn't thinking that way.

Paul

1221

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: My Wit is too clear!

« on: January 15, 2011, 05:05:40 pm »

I was going to say the same thing.  Randy Mosher, Graham Sanders, and others have suggested that by adding about 1 tablespoon of wheat flour in the boil kettle, your beer will be cloudy every time.  You might want to pre-mix it in a little cold water so that it doesn't turn into a doughball, but other than that, I'm betting it will work (I haven't tried it yet but will on my next wheat).

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has wheat beers come out crystal clear.  I've work so hard over the years to get clear beer it seems weird to complain about it being too clear.  I'll have to give the wheat flour a go on my next wheat.

Paul

1222

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Question about aging.

« on: January 15, 2011, 05:01:37 pm »

I've never really thought it was all about gravity.  I usually think about it more from a dark verse light decision.  I will keep dark beers like porters and stouts in starage for long periods of time because they develop very nicely over longer timeframes.  High alcohol beers will also age well but I do not keep light colored beers in storage for long periods.

Not really scientific but it has worked for me.

Paul

1223

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: I've lost my marbles...

« on: January 13, 2011, 12:28:29 pm »

You can get decorative glass marble in any craft store like Michael's.  Or in flower shops.  They come in bags of 100 or so for $3 or $4.

Paul

1224

The Pub / Re: Science Project for my 5 year old

« on: January 13, 2011, 12:17:14 pm »

Here's something I remember doing as a kid...

Raw materials required:

Matches or lighter
4 empty, opened cans of same size (average size, like the normal canned corn can)
Wire Hanger
Duct Tape
rubbing alcohol
Tennis ball

The tennis ball should fit moderately snugly in one of the cans.

First take three of the cans...drill a largish hole (maybe 1 1/2"?) in the base of the can.  This will leave a baffle ring around the edges, this is fine.  Take the fourth can, and drill a small hole (maybe 1/8") in the side of the can near the base.  Then duct tape them tightly together, with the fourth can as the base, the others on top.

Bend the wire hanger so it constitutes a nice stand...mold the main hanger to prop the "cannon" up, and bend the hook straight so it sticks in the ground steadily.

Load the tennis ball into the end of the cannon, it should fit down into that first can.  Using an eyedropper, shoot a couple squirts (I really don't remember how much) of rubbing alcohol into the hole in the base.  Roll it around for 30 seconds or so, so it covers surfaces on the inside.  It will start evaporating within the cannon.  With the cannon facing a safe direction in the stand, touch a lighted match or lighter to the hole in the base.  

Boom!  I had a lot of fun with this when I was younger.

Hah! Cool! But remember, You'll put an eye out! How's that larger hole figure in to everything? Can this be used to annoy squirrels?

Look up Potato Cannon or Spud Gun.

1225

Equipment and Software / Re: Brewery lighting

« on: January 06, 2011, 12:22:18 pm »

to get all that you're going to have to spend the $$ on LED.

+1

I have cheap shop lights in my brewing area and plan on installing LED lighting once it finally comes down in price.  For now I just use soft white fluorescent tubes and put old dress shirts on my carboys to keep the light out.

Incandescent lights (plain old light bulbs put out better light than any of the fluorescent types.  The down side on these though is about to be availability.  The last US plant making them (and any other light bulb in the US for that matter) is closing down this year.

Paul

1226

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Label your keggerator/keezer taps.....

« on: January 04, 2011, 02:07:14 pm »

Here's a pic.  I use a stainless steel mud pan attached with magnets for the drip pan.

I love the drip pan idea!

But....stainless shouldn't be attracted by magnetism.....
With the help of google I find that some stainless can be magnetic, but usually not.  So what is that shiny drip tray?

Cheap Stainless Steel I guess 'cause it's on there tight & the manufacturer said it stainless.  I bought it @ Menards for ~$10. Cheers!!!

I mounted mine with heavy duty Velcro.  It's self adhesive and works like a champ.  Magnets wouldn't work on the drywall mud pan I have.

Paul

1227

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Best outdoor all-weather serving method?

« on: January 04, 2011, 10:53:41 am »

Personally I ignore it.  My friends and family don't really care if the beer pours perfectly they just care that beer comes out. 

A bit more seriously, people are generally used to keg beer at an outdoor party being ice cold and not having much of a head so no one really notices.  I don't do competitions and I don't serve in a commercial setting.

As with any other facet of this hobby how much detail you worry about is up to you.  I make the best beer I can, roll in with a keg and then go throw horseshoes.   

Paul

1228

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Best outdoor all-weather serving method?

« on: January 04, 2011, 10:32:50 am »

I built a portable kegerator out of a Ice Cube rolling cooler.  It wasn't my idea, I stole it from here and other sites.

The build is easy, just cut a keg sized hole in the lid of the cooler, insert keg, remove lid and add ice then reinstall lid.  We use a 2.5lb. CO2 tank and a cobra tap to serve.

I did fill the lid with expanding foam to make it hold the cold longer.  One big load of ice will last 2 to 3 days which is usually longer than the keg does.

Paul

1229

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Label your keggerator/keezer taps.....

« on: January 04, 2011, 10:26:44 am »

Here's a pic.  I use a stainless steel mud pan attached with magnets for the drip pan.

I love the drip pan idea!

I do the same thing for my drip pan.  The problem I've had with it is it isn't quite wide enough (front to back) to catch everything all the time.  Some day I am going to add a board of some kind to push it a bit further away from the front of the fridge.

Back to the topic... I use business card magnets and print a business card sized label for each beer.  I stick them to the top of the chest freezer behind the tap handles.  This usually keeps them dry (ink jet printer so it smears if wet) and lets your creativity show.  You can get business card forms at Staples, Office Depot, Office Max or anywhere Avery Labels are sold.  They normally carry the magnets too.

Paul

Paul

1230

Equipment and Software / Re: Blow off tube

« on: January 02, 2011, 04:26:02 pm »

I had a broken plastic racking cane lying around, so I cut a short piece of it off and stuck that in a standard bung.  Then I put a short piece of racking tubing on the top end of the cane piece.  Works like a champ and when the major fireworks are done I just remove the cane and insert a 3 piece fermentation lock.

I used to just put a piece of racking tubing on the inner pipe of the airlock but it still plugged up once in a while.  The bootom of the airlocks I've got have a 4 branch screen type thing on them that would get gunked up.

Paul