Messages

1

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Yeast Storage

« on: May 08, 2013, 10:34:30 am »

Looking to harvest some yeast and wash some other yeast and was curious if you can store in plastic containers? I have several 2oz plastic breast milk (new parents) storage containers that would be perfect, just not sure if plastic will be ok? Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!

Plastic's ok for your baby's milk but YOUR beer's yeast?

2

All Grain Brewing / Re: another water question

« on: April 19, 2013, 09:09:53 am »

RDWHAH

3

Hop Growing / Re: Second Year Hops

« on: April 09, 2013, 07:16:10 pm »

Cut 'em - they'll make more.

4

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Brewing Attire

« on: April 09, 2013, 12:35:25 pm »

I need some mind bleach.

& mental floss?

5

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: My "house" bug is taking over! Sanitation help needed

« on: April 08, 2013, 10:13:37 am »

Hey folks,
I've been cultivating a "house" sour bug mix for just about two years now. It's cultured from grain, so it's probably a mix of lacto and other stuff. Anyway, I've maintained separate plastic goods (tubing, racking, bottling, etc.) but my last couple clean beers got infected. I guess the house culture is airborne? I'm not really sure how they got infected.

My main concern is how do I get rid of the bug in my brew buckets? I'd rather not buy new buckets. In the past I've used a vinegar/bleach mixed that seemed to work OK. I've thought about doing a concentrated PBW soak too. Starsan is worthless against these creatures.

Any ideas?

Don't mix vinegar & bleach.  While each has its merits, they deactivate each other.  You'd be better off using them sequentially w/a water rinse between.  You definitely need a two step, clean then sanitize.  Hot PBW for the clean.  Followed by a bleach sanitize (no bleach for stainless though).  You can use another sanitizer but follow the instructions.

6

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Brewing Attire

« on: April 07, 2013, 04:55:44 pm »

I usually use bleach as a sanitizer (I work for the country's largest bleach marketer). So I need a shirt that'll take being splashed w/bleach solutions.  That said - a few shirts have been thrown out and now I have a few "brew day" shirts.

The best one is one that was "ruined" but then bleached until it became homogeneous.

7

Hop Growing / Re: Thoughts on hops in pots

« on: April 07, 2013, 04:47:47 pm »

Put enough soil in the pots.  I put mine in 1/2 of a sawed off 55 gallon drum but didn't put enough soil in it.  If it's full of soil I think you'll be fine.  Then ask yourself why you're not putting them in the ground.

8

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: New Hop yard...any advice?

« on: April 07, 2013, 04:44:29 pm »

Get 'em into the dirt.  The sooner the better.  Sitting in the fridge is waiting for failure.  You sound like you've done the right research, now go for it!

My only advice is find the "sunniest" place SWMBO will allow them to be placed.

9

Equipment and Software / Re: Hydrometer question

« on: April 07, 2013, 04:39:32 pm »

You'll never get 10.50

10

Hop Growing / Re: What do mixture do you use for your hops?

« on: April 07, 2013, 04:36:31 pm »

I use dirt

11

Equipment and Software / Re: Conical Fermenter Size

« on: March 21, 2013, 12:44:43 pm »

I skipped getting the larger fermenter because I can fit the 7 gallon fermenter in the beer fridge.  Do you have a place for good temperature control on that big a vessel?

12

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Advice on teaching someone to brew.

« on: March 13, 2013, 03:26:07 pm »

I usually like to start a noob out w/a kit.  Then I hang around, drink beer & answer questions.  Then they feel like they can do it w/o me just by following the instructions on their next kit.  When they've made a few drinkable beers it gets to the "let's nerd out on homebrewing" phase. 

13

Equipment and Software / Re: hop rhizomes newbie

« on: March 07, 2013, 10:00:45 am »

Surfin':  what variety did you buy?

From HopsDirect, they listed two for coastal climates, Cascade and US Tettnanger, grabbed one of each.  I use about 4 pounds a year, this would maybe replace half my inventory if I'm lucky.

I'm in an area where if the sun is out and it's over 70 degrees F, that's a hot day.

I'm in the east bay.  I get a what I consider a good crop of Cascade and of Magnum (about a pound dried), and tiny amounts of my other varieties (hallertau, saaz, columbus, sterling, fuggle, northern brewer).

Drainage and sunshine seem to be the important issue for me.  The plants w/the most sun produce the most hops.  I'm moving some plants this year to see if I can up the yield on the poor producers.

14

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Calling all Chemists ~ Using old Pot Meta for Chloramine Removal

« on: February 15, 2013, 10:26:00 am »

If kept dark, dry, and away from oxygen, your Campden should be good.  The reason you'd want to get fresh every year is that it's difficult to keep dark, dry and away from oxygen.  Net, you have to make the judgement of whether or not you kept it that way.

15

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: making a yeast starter with distilled water

« on: February 13, 2013, 01:59:55 pm »

For a starter, I too wouldn't use distilled.  I think there's too much opportunity to over/under adjust.

RDWHAH