Messages

1

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: blending beers

« on: May 08, 2013, 06:54:38 pm »

I once had a batch that didn't quite live up to what I wanted. Debated dumping it. Then I decided to just put it into bottles. When someone came over I opened one up and said try this. First two said not to their taste. However, the third person just was coco over it. When they were ready to leave that night I asked them to help me carry something out to their car. After a few "No Way!" and "Really?" I got a big hug.
I still here about the great beer that I just gave them.
One man's trash.

2

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: AHA Membership

« on: May 03, 2013, 05:34:12 pm »

After being on these board for a few months, I put up the funds. Can't wait for the first issue of Zymurgy.

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Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Starter Boil Duration

« on: May 01, 2013, 07:07:38 am »

I agree with zimaclone, and would add anything over 145* will make it safe. So if you think about the amount of time it takes to get it from that to boiling and then back down below you should be good to go.

4

Hop Growing / Re: Thoughts on hops in pots

« on: April 28, 2013, 04:53:58 pm »

I have all but one of my plants in half wine barrels. This is year three for three of them and year two for three others. I have one in the ground that is five years old.
I find that the one in the ground is harder to control then the potted plants. I have to keep a close eye on the runners. They will pop up a long way away from where it is planted.
The three year old are doing well. The runners get to the barrel edge and then up. Easy to cut off or pull up and have replanted a couple. (Don't know why. Don't need any more )
However, I did notice that the drain holes that I drilled in the bottom of the barrel now has roots into the ground. I decided that if I ever move I may want to take these plants with me (that is if the buyers don't wish to have them) so I will have to some how get under and cut these anchors.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Birthday Beer Awesomness

« on: April 28, 2013, 04:08:03 pm »

All my family live in different states. So we don't get together to do birthdays. Some send Amazon gift cards. I use them to buy brew gear. Last birthday was a 10 gal igloo and false bottom. It replaces my 5 gal that I now use for sparg water. I think I will drop hints that my LHBS would be better choice. I like supporting local.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 4/28 Edition

« on: April 25, 2013, 10:57:01 am »

I am going to try my hand at a Guinness clone. I have been wanting to do this for a long time. It will only be a half batch so I can tweek and try again. Hope to capture what I remember drinking when I was in London.
I also will be doing my old favorite Plain Pale Ale. Never tried to do two brews in the same day.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Favorite beer you've ever brewed?

« on: March 23, 2013, 11:17:15 am »

The last batch 

I have people ask me to redo two every time I see them. One was a red ale, dry hopped with oak. The second is a Nut Brown. Can't keep that one around for long.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Brewing over Two days

« on: March 19, 2013, 05:38:07 pm »

The other option would be to mash in overnight?

OK. I hadn't thought of that. I mash in a 10 gal igloo. If my start temp is 154* and I let it sit for 20-24 hours the temp will fall to an unknown. Probably room temp of 65*. What is that going to do for conversion? Kind of a reverse step mash? Does that work to go from high to low for converting?

9

Kegging and Bottling / Re: keg lube

« on: March 18, 2013, 06:58:23 pm »

I try to use keg lube as little as possible, because I can't stand it when it gets on my hands.  Very hard to get off.

I too hate the stuff on my hands. I put on a set of disposable gloves and apply after cleaning every time I wash out between brews.

10

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Brewing over Two days

« on: March 18, 2013, 06:51:38 pm »

A nice boil kills the bad guys. proceed.

This is what I thought. But sometimes you over look something and I didn't want to waste time and materials.

11

General Homebrew Discussion / Brewing over Two days

« on: March 18, 2013, 02:09:39 pm »

I "need" to brew a pale ale that I do on a regular basis. I don't have the time to do it all in one day as I normally would. So I am thinking of breaking it up over two days. First day get through the sparge and hold the the wert in a couple of containers until I can do the boil. The next day or two later.
My question is, can you think of any reason this should not be done?
For some reason I need to validate the process to be sure I am not over looking something.
Thanks.
John

12

Equipment and Software / Re: deck planter box for hop rhizome

« on: January 13, 2013, 01:26:45 pm »

Size matters.
I have many plants going. One in the ground. Two in half wine barells. And four others in containers about your size. I get very little action out of the small containers. The roots will be shooting out the bottom after the first year.
The wine barells are good but again the roots will try to run out the bottom. But I get a good crop from them (both are Cascade).

13

Kegging and Bottling / Re: co2 tank filling

« on: December 31, 2012, 05:36:36 pm »

I like my AirGas place. What I like best is they don't fill the tank, they trade it out for a full one. This insures that the tank is within DOT testing and no waiting. I think I paid $13-$14 for my last fill/tank.

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Dryhopping in bags: Am I Oxidizing?

« on: December 03, 2012, 03:03:14 pm »

I had a problem finding something to sink the bag in my fermetnter. My solution was to take a bottle and fill it with sand, add water and cap. I put the bottle in the gain bag and the hops (whole leaf) aroung the bottle.
So far it has worked well.
John

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Uncorking White House Honey Pale Ale for election party!

« on: November 06, 2012, 05:21:26 pm »

I did an all grain of the Honey Porter. Can't wait to get home, tap the keg and watch the people go nuts on the TV over what color the state is going to be. 
(I would post the stats on it but I don't have them with me)