Messages

16

All Grain Brewing / Re: Topping off wort

« on: November 27, 2012, 07:57:06 am »

I heat all my water on my kitchen stove (gas range, major BTUs, close to the TV and frig). I always have an extra pot with a couple of gallons of treated (campden) hot/boiling water available to make up for any deficits in my water volumes for mashing, sparging or final volume. Before mashing, I get it to pre-mash temp; before sparging to about 170, and then boil the remainder in case I need it to top up.

17

Ingredients / Re: Favorite method for toasting oats

« on: September 25, 2012, 09:34:41 am »

Then use them right away or let them mellow for 1-2 weeks?

I've always toasted just before using, but only as a matter on convenience. I don't see any harm in storing them for a while, but I don't really see much benefit either (aside from the convenience thing).

18

Ingredients / Re: Favorite method for toasting oats

« on: September 24, 2012, 06:45:13 pm »

Spread 'em on a cookie sheet, into a 350F oven until they start to get a little color on them; maybe 15-20 minutes or so.

19

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Brew Day Results

« on: September 24, 2012, 06:39:46 am »

Hey, those aren't "mistakes", they're "innovative processes".

20

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Canning/Bottling in mason jars??

« on: September 19, 2012, 07:40:58 am »

I use 1/2 gal. plastic containers with snap on lids.  That way I don't have to worry about them bursting, which I've heard stories of with glass.  I simply sanitize them with StarSan.

I'm with Denny on this.  I use 1 liter Rubbermaid beverage containers that have a screw on lid with a spout that has a snap on lid.

I've had some of these build pressure and I wouldn't want a yeast explosion in my fridge if a glass container cracked.  Plus, the beverage containers fit perfectly on the door.

I use mason jars for my stored yeast, but I drilled a hole in the tops, inserted a grommet, and use a small, two-part bubbler to relieve any pressure. May be a "belt & suspenders" approach, but I haven't had any yeast grenades in the frig.

21

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Style Guidelines and Judging

« on: August 31, 2012, 07:10:47 am »

Good points all, but, at its core, its "judging" - using one's best judgment about a subject, according to some set of criteria (in this case, BJCP guidelines). It has to do with the Judges' perception of the beer, not its chemical makeup as determined by some sort of lab testing. The guidelines are just that - guidelines, not definitions. How you get to a brew is up to you, but a brew made according to the guidelines are more likely to be perceived by a trained judge as deserving of a good score. And judges are human; error prone to some degree and beset by the vagaries of taste, perception and preference, no matter how much they may try to be  totally objective. And my hat is off to them.

Its a flawed system, but the best around.

22

Equipment and Software / Re: Northern Brewer Stainless Growler

« on: August 23, 2012, 06:31:39 am »

I'm not sure what the point is. If you drink it fast enough, it won't have time to get warm.

It would be nice for camping, hiking, banjo festivals, band practice, relaxing on the beach, leaving in the car while you go for a surf, playing golf - pretty much any situation where you want to have a few cold homebrews but can't or don't want to bring a cooler.

Especially those places that don't allow glass containers.

23

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Unlabelled Kegs

« on: July 12, 2012, 06:38:32 am »

I just peel off the masking tape I use to label my carboys and stick it on the keg.

Style, date brewed, OG, date kegged, FG.  All the info you care to know but nobody else cares about.

I do the same, except I use small (3 by 5 inch) hanging tags. I slip them into the carboy harness, then tie them to the keg handle. I add %ABV so I can update my "now serving" menu w/o having to go back to Beersmith.

24

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Homebrewed Wedding Favors

« on: May 22, 2012, 10:27:59 am »

Very nice job!

25

Kegging and Bottling / Beer in Gas Line

« on: April 22, 2012, 09:20:36 am »

Somehow (it took some effort), I managed to get a small amount of beer into one of my gas lines - maybe a couple of drops. My options seem to be 1) RDWHAHB, 2) try to purge the line with some sanitizer, or 3) replace the line.

It seems to me that, in a chilled CO2 environment, it would be difficult for bad bugs to infest the line, so maybe option 1 is fine. But then again, a few feet of line is pretty cheap, so go with 3. No votes for 2, so far.

Recommendations?

26

Ingredients / Re: Fennel rye saison?

« on: April 15, 2012, 08:08:33 am »

I make a Rye Ale, and I've considered using fennel. I'd probably toast a teaspoon or so of the seeds, crush 'em a bit and add to secondary. I've never done it though; I'd be interested in your results, however you decide to go.

27

Ingredients / Re: elderberries / juniper berries

« on: April 04, 2012, 08:18:54 am »

"Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!"

"Holy Grail" Ale?

28

Equipment and Software / Re: Advice on converting sanke to HLT

« on: March 21, 2012, 07:14:46 am »

I bought the steps from harbor freight for $16 for a set of two.

+1 Harbor Freight; next to my LHBS, it's my favorite place to wander through (guys don't "shop").

29

Equipment and Software / Re: Brewing Software App for Droids?

« on: March 14, 2012, 07:54:09 am »

I use Beersmith to develop and refine recipes on my PC, and I like the brew-day checklist it provides. Then I email my Beersmith file to my Android phone and open it in Brewzor (the free version), and use that as a shopping list at my LHBS, and to make any recipe adjustments on the fly based on what is or isn't in stock. Works fine for me.

30

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The trouble with advice from random people on the Internet...

« on: March 07, 2012, 01:33:18 pm »

You guys do know that Star Trek isn't real.

Not to be a killer of jokes...

Sure... maybe we don't have FTL ships or transporters yet but you already have a fully functional communicator on your belt (or in your pocket) and there is tech in the labs right now that could lead to a tricorder like device.  We have 3D printers and robots either build or help build just about everything we use today.

We are already on the road to being Borg.  Eye glasses, contact lenses, replacement limbs, artificial organs and replacement joints.  I just read an article on research that has found a way to connect a replacement limb directly to our nervous systems to allow close to normal motor control and restore touch.  Sure it's a ways away from being a production model but in time it will get there.

Our computers are actually well ahead of the original Star Trek computers and much smaller.  All we really need some Vulcans and a few of those green dancing girls.

 

Paul

Live long and prosper!