Messages

196

Equipment and Software / Re: Cheapest/best wort chilling device.

« on: January 23, 2012, 02:29:27 PM »

I built a second, slightly smaller chiller. I put it in a bucket of water and in the freezer the night before a brew day. after brewing, I use the first chiller normally until I'm down to about 80-90. I then add the prechiller in line(between the hose and the first chiller in the kettle) and am down to great pitching temps in no time.

197

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!

198

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 1/20 Edition

« on: January 18, 2012, 05:58:15 PM »

bottling my first batch of the year, an all warrior ipa.

and reorganizing all my gear.

and reading more about all grain. will probably give it a try in the next couple of months as work allows.

199

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Bottle conditioning

« on: January 07, 2012, 09:19:28 AM »

i agree with one month.  i'll usually test one about two weeks in but still wait another couple of weeks before full enjoyment.  i've actually brewed a few porters that were amazing after 6-8 weeks.  though the last couple of really hoppy stuff started losing the hop kicks after about 8 weeks or so.   

i'd just try one each week for a couple of weeks and see what you like.  if your palate is super happy after 2 two weeks or 8 weeks i don't think it really matters too much.  it's your beer.

200

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/

201

Classifieds / Re: GABF tickets

« on: September 12, 2011, 03:33:50 PM »

the saturday afternoon tickets have been sold.  i still have the members only saturday night tickets.

202

Kegging and Bottling / Re: sunday night bottling

« on: September 11, 2011, 07:10:06 PM »

all things must pass.  sorry george.

203

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.

204

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Pumpkin Beer

« on: September 10, 2011, 07:11:54 PM »

never tried one i wanted to keep drinking.  this style has never made sense to me.  pumpkin belongs in pies.   

205

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.

206

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.

207

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: First extract in years

« on: September 03, 2011, 10:36:42 AM »

i want to make the jump to all grain, but don't have the time or space right now.  i've been brewing extract partial mash beers for two years and have a blast and they keep getting better. 

208

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 9/2 Edition

« on: August 31, 2011, 09:33:00 AM »

I will bottle my first pale ale and brew my first thanksgiving specific beer, a maple brown ale.

209

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: denny's favorite 1040

« on: August 29, 2011, 05:12:19 AM »

thanks. and I did mean 1450. not sure where I got 1040.

210

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.