Messages

1006

The Pub / Re: Lazy Saturday (for once)

« on: April 07, 2011, 08:24:56 AM »

You aren't by chance an Engineer are you?    You've already got a lot on your plate for a guy that's planning to do "nothing".  That said I like what I would suggest you approach as a proposed outline for your day; dink around in the yard, put a screw in the deck and call it good, eat well, enjoy that stogie take a nap and drink your beer. Let the day come to you if you can stand to, it will go faster than you think. Enjoy. Cheers.

1007

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 4/8 Edition

« on: April 06, 2011, 01:53:01 PM »

Planting Hops:
Cascade
Columbus (Zeus)
Mt. Hood

1008

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Keg reconditioning

« on: April 06, 2011, 11:25:29 AM »

I don't know that I've seen just the tiny o-rings on the poppets; I just usually replace the whole thing.  You should have some of these on hand anyway if you keg.  If you develop a leak, you don't want to be ordering supplies.  You want to be able to fix it from your stock.  I keep some of those around along with the pressure relief valves for the top.  Save one batch of beer from going off and you more than paid for your supplies.

++1 on that!
Last weekend we had a batch ready to keg and I had just picked up a couple of new Cornies that were holding pressure from the HBS test. Well, post cleaning/sanitizing the one I wanted to use wouldn't seal on the outpost and I had to frankenstein parts from the other keg to get it to work. Tragedy narrowly averted. Needless to say this week one Corny is going back to the shop and Pinski is coming home with at least a couple of each spare parts for future repairs and maintenance.  I had extra gaskets, but like you I had a cracked and broken poppet gasket and the threads of the out-post were fouled so I would not seat fully.  Pain in the ass but good practice I suppose.

1009

Equipment and Software / Re: Best material to build potable water hose?

« on: April 06, 2011, 10:26:15 AM »

From looking into this more around the net I've seen some systems where guys are using the "white HD or Lowes" RV & Boat medical grade potable water hose ($12.00) and slapping a Whirlpool House filter on it.  I like this idea.  Think what I'll do is this; when I get to the brewery I'll hook up the RV & Boat hose that I bought (still in the packaging) and fill a nice frosty glass full and take a taste.  If it tastes fine, no worries; proceed as planned.  If it's just a little bit funky, I'll invest in the filter.

1010

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: can i brew beer and bake bread in the same house?

« on: April 06, 2011, 12:16:18 AM »

Its kind of become a tradition for us on brew day. We use some of the spent grain from the mash and use a bit of cooled wort to wake up the bread yeast. It's like making your beer and eating it too! Go for it!

1011

Equipment and Software / Re: Best material to build potable water hose?

« on: April 05, 2011, 10:17:54 AM »

OK, let's be more specific.  When you say RV hose, was said hose medical/food grade vinyl?  I'm assuming there are various grades of "RV hose" but I'm concerned about this issue as well. Tempted to find 3/4 or 5/8" silicone hose build my own dammit.

1012

The Pub / Re: Patricks Law

« on: April 04, 2011, 08:07:57 PM »

My dad and I rescued a female lab years ago and when we first got Sierra she would let anyone but dad and I come near her.  The two exceptions were my stepmom and my girlfriend and it was odd how she didn't even need to be coaxed she just knew they were OK right off the bat. Sierra was incredibly intelligent, sweet and a fierce retriever absolutely lived to have anything thrown for her. She calmed over the years and was a great mentor for my knucklheaded but lovable black lab Cedar. Miss those two something fierce.

1013

Equipment and Software / Re: Keezer built!

« on: April 04, 2011, 03:00:15 PM »

Oh man, I'm really like the magnetic business card sized dry erase label idea!  But; I am done with the carpentry for a while and putting my brewers cap back on... gearing up for my first all grain. Can't wait!

1014

Equipment and Software / Re: Keezer built!

« on: April 04, 2011, 02:04:54 PM »

Thanks and none taken!  Yeah, the white is a bit stark but hey, it chills and serves my beer. I think the addition of a drip tray large enough to accomodate the four taps and pint glasses below will soften the look some. Throw some rails and cork on the lid and maybe she'll be ready to take to the dance.

1015

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Conical fermenter HELP

« on: April 04, 2011, 01:57:31 PM »

THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON to use a stainless conical over a glass carboy is the improved safety.  I really like my Blichman conical. But does it make better beer?  Probably not.  But I don't have to worry about severing a limb.

Wait. What?  Have there been reasonable glass carboy brewers that have sacrificed limb for their craft?  

1016

Equipment and Software / Re: Keezer built!

« on: April 04, 2011, 12:25:34 PM »

Curious about cool & creative ideas you guys have seen for labelling the taps.

1017

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: have you had a chemay?

« on: April 04, 2011, 09:00:41 AM »

I had the blue label over the weekend and really liked it.  My expectations were low as there was a LOT of yeast on the bottom of the bottle  (bottom inch is more like it) not dense mind you but rising into suspension.  It didn't have the pucker factor I have come to associate with Belgians and I was suprprised to read the alcohol was about 9% because it was so smooth, easy drinking and tasty.  Clearly, I'm really green in my experience with Belgians. However, the Chimay Blue label made we want to keep exploring. The red I found drinkable but I kind of had to "get over" the flavor I described above. Cheers!

1018

Equipment and Software / Re: Keezer built!

« on: April 04, 2011, 07:56:33 AM »

Thanks guys... and it is fully functional. The wood is Sapele, and African hardwood that reminds me of mahogany with stripes.

1019

Equipment and Software / Keezer built!

« on: April 04, 2011, 12:18:26 AM »

Here is my version of the BillyBrew keezer collar model.
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/50225248@N05/sets/72157626424875484/

1020

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What does oxidized beer taste like?

« on: April 03, 2011, 09:51:31 AM »

Follow the directions on the stone or the O2 bottle?
What should I expect to spend for this handy little o2 system?