Messages

241

Equipment and Software / Re: Malt Mill

« on: February 12, 2011, 04:37:55 pm »

+1 on the Monster Mill.....It is adjustable but I have never run it other than on the pre-set gap....works beautifully.....buying 2 row in 50 lb sacks rather than by the pound alone is paying for the upgrade.  Not to mention the time (and Money) saved not hanging around the LHBS.

242

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Too much foam

« on: February 12, 2011, 04:30:55 pm »

Well, serving at a high pressure would do it if you didn't have hose lengths to balance it....also the temperature of your beer.could be a factor....did you open the keggerator a lot?  I had problems with my system foaming above 40 degrees...also my first half pint is usually foamy until the shank and faucet are cooled to the temp of the beer deep in the freezer.

243

Equipment and Software / Re: My arm got tired......

« on: February 11, 2011, 08:35:58 pm »

I use a drill..garage sale cheap.....but this seems just so much more.....manly.  Bravo....Man....Bravo!

244

All Grain Brewing / Re: Mystery Box?????

« on: February 08, 2011, 10:39:42 pm »

+1 on Suzuki methods applied to brewing and brewing....and then to drinking, and drinking, and drinking.

I am told it aids with brain development....and makes me better looking.

245

Equipment and Software / Re: Going All Grain & Have Equipment Questions...

« on: February 08, 2011, 07:31:50 am »

Equipment for all grain is much of a personal preference and the types of beers you brew.  I am in 1/2 bbl converted kegs for my mash tun and boil kettle...and now have a super fancy HLT from Stout Tanks.  I have never used a cooler.  I do 10-12 gallon batches, but I don't often do big beers (above 1.085), nor use a lot of sticky adjuncts, so I don't have problems with stuck mashes and low efficiencies....I can direct fire any of my tanks and mostly interchange them if I ever needed (in case of failure).

I started with one keg kettle and a 5 gallon pot for my HLT and always needed extra water for sparging and was always transfering wort all around my brewery.  Built my system one piece at a time (well after it was painfully evident that I needed the next piece of equipment).  In this manner, I was able to save for good equipment and over buy (bigger and slightly better than I deserve) and look for deals....but it is as I said, a personal preference.  Good beer can be made from the most simple of equipment...and really bad beer can be made anywhere.

good luck!

246

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Recommendations for buying a keg setup

« on: February 07, 2011, 08:59:45 pm »

I just completed my first round of initial purchases....(you know, you never really finish)....and my advice in three words.

Craigslist, craigslist, craigslist.

It takes longer, but boy oh boy is it satisfying.  l purchased a chest freezer last year, and bought the love controller from McMaster Carr.  The controller costs as much as the freezer, but I used that as a fermentation chamber for a year.

I found an awesome deal on craigslist for a keggerator that had a 1930's fridge.  Old guy an hour out of town was selling it for $100.  Fridge, 20# co2 tank (still certified) half full, regulator, empty keg shell, sanke tap, faucet and fittings.  I sold the fridge for $50.  I found an ad on craigslist for someone wanting to trade a corny for a sanke 1/2 bbl keg and bought a second keg from the guy for $30 (so $30 plus an old Coors keg for two ball lock cornys).  I also bought a keg from the LHBS ($45) and all new fittings and hoses (spent $100 there with the co2 manifold).

But, if I had to do it again, I would do it all the same, except maybe not buy the lhbs keg and fittings.

Also, buying used cornys from other homebrewers mean that they are likely clean and ready to go (your milage may vary), but when you buy used from a homebrew shop, they smell and have soda syrup in them....most homebrewers even ones giving up on the hobby have decent habits.

Oh, and I found that Austin Homebrew has Perlicks on sale for $22 as well.....I have been putting this purchase off, I need to buy them, unless a deal comes on craigslist.

So, good luck, and if you can, be patient.

247

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Looking for priming sugar

« on: February 04, 2011, 07:16:34 am »

old habits die hard with me, but I have used table sugar when I have run out or low.  The difference is that corn sugar has about 8% moisture content, or more depending on how it is stored (and where you live).  Cane sugar doesn't absorb the moisture as readily (something in the order of 1%) that is why they are different.  The reason it is better to use weight over volume is that you can shake down a measure of sugar and the crystals will all align and compact.

248

Equipment and Software / Re: Complete Home Brewery Kit

« on: February 01, 2011, 08:22:39 pm »

Williams supplied my first brew kit way back in 1994....I remember, I had to save and save for it and I drooled over their color catalog...it all seems so funny...and finally, finally my wife got sick of me obsessing and told me to buy it already....it cost around $100.  Oh, and while most of the things have been replaced or worn out, I still used the capper for half of my last batch....and I just sold most of the other stuff to a brand new homebrewer for a song.

Ahh good times.

249

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Keg Fridge

« on: January 30, 2011, 04:55:18 pm »

Cleaning: Oxyclean, PBW,
Remove Smell of soda: replace o-rings...nothing else does it.
sanitize: star san

fill: beer works best 

250

Zymurgy / Re: Charlie's gluten free recipe....

« on: January 29, 2011, 11:07:07 am »

So what do you think of it from a perspective of a regular gluten consumer....is it worth drinking or making for the hell of it?

251

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Not Pretty, but mine

« on: January 25, 2011, 12:31:13 pm »

I was thinking that I would run the excess line down the side of the freezer in contact with the walls with the coils, or connect the shank to the wall with some copper, just to conduct cold from down low to the metal shank.  Alternately, a small fan to move cold air up into the top....the fan would take some purchase and more wiring....I think I will try the first idea (but my line may freeze when the keezer is running).  The situation may also improve with the addition of more kegs (thermal mass)....more beer is always the answer, isn't it?

252

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Not Pretty, but mine

« on: January 25, 2011, 09:35:30 am »

Thanks.  I think that the answer is that when I was trying to post pictures I didn't yet have them on my blog...I will try again soon with other stuff you all may be interested in.

Also, question:  I know what too short of a beer line does to the pour (foam), what does slightly too long do?  I can live with it taking some extra time, but does it affect the quality or create foam problems?  How do I know my 8 ft. of line is perfect?

I have a problem with the first pour of the day....(the beer in the faucet, shank, and hose).  That pour is always foamy.  The second pour (if done in succession) is much, much better, and the third is nearly perfect.  Any suggestions from the more experienced peanut gallery?

Many Thanks.

253

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Not Pretty, but mine

« on: January 25, 2011, 06:19:46 am »

If you quote this post, you'll see the img tags and how they're used . . .

Thanks for posting this for me Tom....but I still don't get how to insert the image between the img thingys and don't see it included above....everything I try doesn't do the trick...as in drag in or copy or copy the url in....

254

Kegging and Bottling / Not Pretty, but mine

« on: January 24, 2011, 10:46:57 pm »

Finished my keezer this week.  It isn't all fancy like some on this forum, but it was cheap.  Many thanks to Breckenridge Brewery for supplying the 10% AHA Discount on the 1st keg.
I can't figure out how to post a photo here, but I guess you can see it on my blog at www.onbeer.blogspot.com....sorry to plug my sorry assed blog here, but I am just pretty proud of my efforts.

255

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Keg Fridge

« on: January 24, 2011, 05:58:08 am »

$85 is only a good price if they are brand new kegs.  You can buy them refurbished from any of the national hbs and have them shipped to your house and back for less than that amount.