Topics

31

Yeast and Fermentation / mr malty question

« on: February 11, 2012, 07:43:10 pm »

so I've plugged in my numbers for a 1.060 5.25 gallon batch.

I'm using my stir plate for the first time.

malty is telling me i need two packs(which i have) with the starter and 1 liter of starter.

does this mean i put both packs into a 1 liter starter or both packs into a 2 liter starter and need a total of 1 liter to pitch?

my growth factor is all the way left at 2.0, since i'm using 2 packs.

cheers and thanks.

32

All Grain Brewing / how recent should a water report be?

« on: February 05, 2012, 01:51:12 pm »

the ladwp has a water report online for easy access.

the only trouble seems to be that it is from 2010.

is this too old to be looking at for jumping into water chemistry?

what beers are los angeles based brewer's having best luck with?

cheers and thanks.

33

The Pub / alabama shakes

« on: January 29, 2012, 08:41:08 pm »

nothing beer related.  sorry.

I've listened to this set maybe 50 times over the last several days.  they rock.  small new band.  discovered thanks to npr. 

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb120124alabama_shakes?searchterm=alabama+

i missed them in la because i was at a wilco show.  if they are coming to your city and you like to rock, see them please.

34

General Homebrew Discussion / fermenter beer loss

« on: January 28, 2012, 03:37:22 pm »

so today i am calibrating my new kettle(various water levels to the quarter gallon and boil off tests) in preparation of brewing in the morning. 

anyway, to the point.  i'm going to be refining my new system pieces over the next few weeks.  however, i wanted to get some opinions/thoughts on how much beer people are losing for 5 gallon batches after fermenting.

i thought i would start with half a gallon and see where i am after a couple brews.

so, how much are you fellas and ladies leaving behind in the fermenter after bottling a 5 gallon batch with a siphon/racking cane?

thanks and cheers.

ryan   

35

General Homebrew Discussion / hop bag vs. hop spider vs. free hop pellets

« on: January 20, 2012, 12:13:06 pm »

in a lot of my recent readings(across the entire interwebs), it seems that some people agree hop bags and spiders can contribute to lost hop utilization. others report no decreased utilization.

how are you fellas using your hop pellets and what are your feelings with these methods?

I haven't been able to find any sort of way to calculate any lost hop utilization so I'm wondering how this lost utilization is taken into account. is it individual by palate perception? is the beer not tasting bitter enough? is the beer not smelling hoppy enough? or both?

I've used bags and have also just tossed pellets into the boil freely. I've been happy with both results. though I liked the bags because of the no hassle removal of hop matter from the wort.

I'm going to build a hop spider this weekend to give that a try and have just been thinking a lot about hops in general.

cheers and thanks!

36

General Homebrew Discussion / great beer article

« on: September 19, 2011, 08:26:13 am »

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thepourfool/2011/09/14/why-i-dont-drink-budweiser-and-why-im-not-alone/

37

Kegging and Bottling / sunday night bottling

« on: September 11, 2011, 07:06:32 pm »

i know lots of people keg because it's quick and simple.

i still bottle.  i'm prepping stuff now.  george harrison's all thing shall pass is spinning on the turntable.  i'm sipping a home brew(a wheat porter one been working on).  i'm smiling.  i'm enjoying.  call me crazy, but i like the bottling process.

that is all.

a wonderful week to you all, keep on brewing.

38

Classifieds / GABF tickets

« on: September 09, 2011, 09:38:41 am »

looking for saturday session tickets?

i've got two tickets to both saturday sessions.  i was just booked on a feature in new orleans and can't go now.  maybe next year.

39

General Homebrew Discussion / safale wb-06

« on: September 03, 2011, 10:41:30 am »

i used this once in my first batch of beer(a wheat porter).

any recommendations or thoughts for a comparable strain from white labs or wyeast? i have been using mostly wyeast 1056 for just about everything but was thinking about trying this recipe again.  i am unfamiliar with wheat yeasts. 

thanks.

40

Yeast and Fermentation / denny's favorite 1040

« on: August 28, 2011, 08:15:08 pm »

is this your yeast denny?

maybe this has already been talked about but I've only been here for three months.

tell me about it.  if it is.  i usually use 1056.  I'm curious about other strains. 

41

General Homebrew Discussion / star san disposal

« on: August 28, 2011, 08:52:06 am »

after the ph gets too high to use any more, what do i do with the five gallon mixture i've got?  is it safe to dump down the sink?

42

General Homebrew Discussion / beer science

« on: August 22, 2011, 06:17:09 pm »

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-beer-yeast-20110823,0,5421077.story

43

General Homebrew Discussion / maple beer

« on: August 17, 2011, 02:46:17 pm »

starting to think about a thanksgiving beer.  i'd like to try something with a nice, not over the top maple flavor. 

anyone have thoughts about brewing with maple syrup?  or advice?

i'm sorta thinking brown ale into porter range.  they seem like the most forward recipes that would go well with maple.

44

Ingredients / hops for a porter

« on: August 11, 2011, 10:38:15 am »

I've been working on a porter recipe and was wondering what hops people are using for theirs. 

45

Equipment and Software / blichmann burners

« on: August 03, 2011, 09:48:08 am »

thoughts on these burners? I'd like to upgrade and am beginning my research.