Messages

436

All Grain Brewing / Re: First All Grain Batch

« on: May 10, 2010, 07:34:26 am »

Without any adjuncts you have 11 gals. of 6% beer
Each lb of flaked maize adds .25%
Each lb of sugar (brown or otherwise) adds .5%
For ESB I would use light brown sugar.
For Brown Ale - dark brown.

If you are going with 7%, you probably need about 50-55 IBU to cover the alcohol warmth!

What kind of stir plate do you have?  Will it turn your stirbar in a 1 gallon jug or growler?

437

All Grain Brewing / Re: First All Grain Batch

« on: May 10, 2010, 06:43:22 am »

I would leave out the flaked maize.  Without it you still have a 6% beer.  If you want to add more alcohol, add some brown sugar, that will also give it more character and keep it more "English".  If you want it darker, use 1oz of a chocolate malt.  That will make it browner, roasted barley will make it redder, but 1/8oz won't really do anything.  Do you have a higher AA% hop available (Northdown, Northern Brewer, Target, Challenger) for bittering (90 min)? Although I got some 2009 EKG that is 7%.  I would also flip the fuggle and EKG.  Use the EKG for aroma.

Yeast :
Wyeast 1968
White labs WLP002
White Labs WLP005 (my house yeast) but use a big stater (3L for each carboy, decant and pitch slurry). Ferment at 68-70 for more fruitiness.

438

Equipment and Software / Re: Conical Fermenters

« on: May 07, 2010, 06:45:06 pm »

Thanks Dave....  I've been searching for one everywhere.  Might just try the foam and tape deal first...  And thanks to blatz too.  There is info here!

What temp controller do you have?

439

All Grain Brewing / Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?

« on: May 07, 2010, 09:40:54 am »

Moving into a condo that only allows a 5lb propane tank on the deck.  How long or how many batches can I get with this?  I'm assuming just one, but can even get that much? 

Do you really mean 5 POUND tank or a std 20# (5 gallon) grill tank?

440

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Three questions about yeasts and honey and stuff...

« on: May 07, 2010, 07:21:08 am »

+10 Temperature control.  BEST thing I ever did for my beers.

441

Equipment and Software / Re: Conical Fermenters

« on: May 06, 2010, 07:49:56 am »

Lee,
Check out http://www.stirplates.com/tWellStraight.htm

I got a thermowell from him a few months ago, works great.  I just put a small rubber stopper in the open end when sanitizing and cleaning to keep the well dry.

Dave Koenig

442

The Pub / Re: Logo Critique

« on: May 04, 2010, 05:12:54 pm »

Sort of gives new meaning to the term "getting hammered".

443

Equipment and Software / Re: Chest Freezer for Fermentation

« on: April 30, 2010, 02:08:18 pm »

My 14.7 cu ft holds 2 6.5 gallon and 2 6 gallon carboys.  I also have a 5" muffin fan inside that circulates air continuously.  I just scored a 23 cu ft for $70.  No telling how many that will hold 

444

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Dry yeast in a German pils

« on: April 30, 2010, 05:44:20 am »

I've wanted to try S-189, where can you get it?

Dave

445

Homebrew Competitions / Re: Raised glass lettering on bottle?

« on: April 29, 2010, 12:09:26 pm »

Hey, let's all go green and use recycled Sam Adams bottles!

Dave

446

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Serving suggestions for Keg

« on: April 29, 2010, 11:29:27 am »

Check this out!

http://www.maltosefalcons.com/tech/resistive-gate-draft-beer-flow-control

Dave

447

Equipment and Software / Re: Which counterflow chiller should I get?

« on: April 29, 2010, 09:53:41 am »

+10 for recirculation
I built a CFC about a year ago after I went to 12 gallon batches (25ft of 1/2" OD copper in a 3/4" hose).  Wasn't real happy with the cooling time (also tried recirculating the wort back to the kettle).  I added a recirc tube to my small IC (50 ft 3/8" in 2 concentric coils) WOW 6 gal down to 120 in 10 minutes.  Bigger is better right (size matters)?  I then built the "monster" - 50ft of 5/8" OD copper around a 12" diameter with a recirc tube, for my 20 gal kettle. Now 12gal down to 120 in 5 minutes - no DMS for me!

Dave

448

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Must be some outstanding NHC beer entries out there.

« on: April 27, 2010, 10:53:54 am »

Just for info purposes, what is the standard serving temperature when judging?

Dave

449

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Beer Bottle Storage "Racks"

« on: April 25, 2010, 09:35:50 am »

I have found that the plastic file holders sold at Staples etc. will hold 30 standard (Sam Adams, Avery ) bottles nicely.

450

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The Correct Way to Use Polyclar?

« on: April 20, 2010, 12:30:34 pm »

Skyler,
I have been using polyclar for some time now and this is what I've found.

PC will pull yeast down with it so you would need to add yeast to bottle condition.
PC works best with cold beer. 32deg/F or less (I like 29deg)
PC "dissolves" best in 140deg/F water, then let it sit for a while.  I use 1 tbs for 5 gallons dissolved in 2 oz of sterile water.
It will strip color and some flavor from red wine and beer if you use too much (Like the whole 2oz package).
Once the beer is in the keg you're good to hop, but you may get additional haze from the hop oils.

Here's what I do
After 1 week in secondary (or when its done), cold crash for a week (29 deg/F) to drop as much of the yeast and haze out as possible.
Add polyclar, mixing gently (don't splash).
Wait at least 3 days, longer can't hurt.
Rack to keg being careful not to get much of the lees into the keg.
Or wait 1 hr then filter.
Force carb as usual.
Wait 24 hrs, allowing temp to rise to serving temp, then draw a pint and toss.
You should have clear beer after that.

Dave