Topics

1

All Grain Brewing / Collecting Cooling Water for Future Brews

« on: May 18, 2013, 08:32:05 PM »

Does anyone collect and save the water they use to cool their worts and use that water for the mash and/or sparge for future brews?  If so, how do you collect and save your water?  Is there any negatives in doing this? 

I currently don't do an treatments to my water and just use the good ole' tap water here in Aurora, CO.  One day I'll get around to getting my water analyzed and adjusting my water where needed. 

2

General Homebrew Discussion / Aging Commercial Beer

« on: December 15, 2012, 08:29:29 PM »

So I'm taking a few bottles of some commercial winter warmers and barley wines and going to age them a year. So far I've got two bottles left from a 6-pack of Great Divide Hibernation and a couple of Avery Old Jubilation, a special whisky barrel aged barley wine release from Dry Dock and Stone's Vertical Epic 12.12.12.  What's the best way to store these till next year.  My basement is 60-63 and will get to 70 or so in the Summer.  Right now I've got them in the fridge.  Should I move them in the basement or keep them in the fridge?  Thanks!

3

The Pub / Connecticut Elementary School Shooting

« on: December 14, 2012, 11:24:24 AM »

I'm not sure if I should post this and please delete if needed.  Sitting here playing w/ my 3-yr-old daughter and news of the Conn. elementary school shooting is running across the TV.  Reports of 26 dead including 18 children.  Very, very heavy heart today and prayers go out to all those families and that community.  I just can't imagine...

4

Equipment and Software / Speidel Plastic Fermenters

« on: October 02, 2012, 01:23:26 PM »

Has anyone used these? 

http://morebeer.com/view_product/12094/104258/Speidel_Plastic_Fermenter_-_30L_79_gal

I use glass carboys, better bottles, and buckets.  Thought I may give one of these a try.  They seem like a ported better bottle, but with a larger opening, more volume and about the same price. 

Thanks for any feedback!

5

General Homebrew Discussion / Nitro Issues

« on: September 12, 2012, 04:04:20 PM »

So this is my first attempt at pouring my coconut milk stout on my new (used) nitro set up.  My pours have too much head and it takes a lot longer for the cascade effect to finish.  I think I may have over carbed the beer before I put it on nitro.  Please take a look at my method and suggest how I should change my method and fix the issue I have now.

1.  Racked beer to keg and set keg on 12psi @ 40 degrees for 3 1/2 days. 
2.  Connected keg to nitro (75/25 beer gas) @ 32 psi.

I tried a couple of different settings on nitro, 25 and 30 psi, but it still comes out w/ too much head and cascades too slow.

Thanks!

6

General Homebrew Discussion / Youtube Videos

« on: September 07, 2012, 08:43:47 PM »

I didn't see a thread about this on the forum, but does anyone have a youtube video showing their brewing process?  I've read so many threads about how to brew, cool, ferment, etc... and just thought it would be cool for people to post their youtube vids up here so we can see.  So if you got a video, please share your link for all to see

7

General Homebrew Discussion / 1ST Time Washing Yeast

« on: August 22, 2012, 03:17:13 PM »

So I brewed up a simple Amber that turned out nice.  This was my first attempt at washing yeast and the picture shows what I ended up with.  Basically three mason jars w/ about 25-30ml of yeast. 



So I have a question about using this washed yeast.  I currently do three gallon batches and Mr. Malty states that I should use 66ml of yeast (the two sliders were left in the default position) for the next beer.  Next beer will be the same amber, but w/ a little victory added to it (I've never brewed w/ victory so this will give me a good chance to see what it adds to the amber).  OG for this beer is targeted for 1.054 and will also be 3.25 gallons.  The washed yeast will be a week old, counting from the day I washed the yeast.

So should I:

1.  Just decant all three mason jars and pitch.
2.  Just use one mason jar and make a starter.  What size starter (I've never made a starter since all my brews have been 3 gallons < 1.060).

As always, thanks for your advice and expert opinions.

8

General Homebrew Discussion / Nitro Setup

« on: August 13, 2012, 07:47:00 PM »

I just purchased a nitro setup (20lb nitro tank, nitro faucet, nitro regulator, etc...) off CL.  I currently have a 3 tap CO2 system set up with a fridge in the garage.  This is my first go w/ nitro, so I would sincerely appreciate any tips on setting up, carbing and dispensing the nitro.  My first beer to be served w/ this new system will be my coconut milk stout.  Thanks!

9

General Homebrew Discussion / Reasons for doing a 90 minute boil instead of 60 min?

« on: August 04, 2012, 01:31:05 PM »

Just wondering why you would do a 90 minute boil?  I'm brewing my first Saison and saw that many of the recipes called for 90 min boil times.  I recall seeing on this board that Belgian Pils needed 90 min boils to reduce DMS.  Not sure if I read that wrong or recalled that wrong.  I've got American 2-row and using that instead of Pils for this Saison, so would a 90 min boil make any difference?  Thanks.

10

General Homebrew Discussion / Craigslist Blowing Up for GABF Tickets

« on: August 02, 2012, 03:41:12 PM »

CL here in Denver is going crazy since GABF tickets sold out:

http://denver.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=13&subAreaID=&query=gabf&catAbb=sss

Luckily I got my tickets for Friday night and Saturday member's session, cause I don't think I'd pay what some people are asking/ willing to pay for tickets. 

11

General Homebrew Discussion / GABF Members Only Line

« on: August 01, 2012, 06:13:25 PM »

Ok, so I was lucky and got my tickets for Saturday noon members session, which I'm very excited about.  I also got 4 tickets for Friday night and each ticket does say "Member" on them, but they also say "General Admissn."  Does this mean that my Friday tickets I get to go through the Members line or do I have to use the "regular" line?  Thanks.

12

General Homebrew Discussion / Spent Coconut/ Fruit

« on: July 14, 2012, 08:56:25 AM »

So I just racked my coconut milk stout to the keg and this time I fermented in a bucket and put my coconut in a sanatized bag to keep the coconut from clogging my siphon and getting into the keg.  So I was thinking of what I could do with the "spent" coconut...well, that was until I tasted it.  Let's just say my wife got a good laugh at my reaction as I tasted the coconut.  So, just out of curiosity, what do the rest of you do w/ any fruit, coconut, etc... that you've added to the fermenter?  After tasting the coconut, I can only imagine that you just throw it away, but I've been surprised at what homebrewers can come up with!

13

General Homebrew Discussion / Imperial Bourbon Stout

« on: July 07, 2012, 07:53:53 PM »

I had my first Imperial Bourbon Stout...well sort of I guess.  I was @ Oskar Blues today and the crew brought out some of their Ten Fidy Imperial Stout which they had aging in an oak barrel from Jim Beam for us to try.  I asked how much bourbon they added to it and they said none, the bourbon flavor was actually coming from the barrel.  This was my first beer w/ any bourbon flavor in it and it was freakin' awesome!  This was a small batch that they do not package and sell. So, what are some good bourbon beers that are out there that I should try, or should I just attempt to make my own?  I may have to give Denny's Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter a try!  I haven't brewed a beer that I've aged so this may be a good one to start with.

14

General Homebrew Discussion / Plate Chiller or Whirlpool

« on: June 23, 2012, 07:00:24 PM »

I've been doing 3 gallon batches, but I'm moving towards doing 5 gallon batches and getting the equipment to do so  (Got a larger brew pot w/ ball valve & thermometor and burner).  I have been cooling my three gallon boils in an ice bath and using my basic wort chiller to cool down, but w/ the new brew pot, setting it in an ice bath is not possible. 

So what cooling methods do you prefer?  Plate chiller or whirlpool?  I've already got a wort chiller and it would be cheap and easy to make/get the whirlpool attachment.  Yet, if the plate chiller is best, then I'll go that route.  I'll be getting a pump soon to complete the setup.

Thanks.

15

General Homebrew Discussion / Barley Crusher

« on: June 22, 2012, 11:04:14 AM »

Thanks for all the advice in a previous thread regarding grain mills.  I decided to get the 7lb Barley Crusher. 

The factory setting for the gap is set at .39 thousands of an inch (1mm).  Does most leave it at this setting or do you change it?  If you change it, what the gap space that you use?

Thanks.