Messages

766

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 1/28 Edition

« on: January 27, 2011, 03:19:25 pm »

No brewing. I need to finish framing my basement, and more importantly, the bar area. I did get a starter going today for a brew day Monday or Tuesday though. I'm planning an old ale.

767

The Pub / Re: Babalu

« on: January 26, 2011, 08:40:37 pm »

Cheers Jeff! Keep it up!

768

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Not Pretty, but mine

« on: January 26, 2011, 02:24:35 pm »

I am certainly not going to post pictures of mine.  I have 8 c-kegs all crammed into a chest freezer, each one with a picnic tap attached.  Not all pretty like yours is.

The sheer number of kegs makes it pretty.

769

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Bottle sterilization question

« on: January 26, 2011, 08:27:34 am »

Agree with hokerer, just rinse the bottles immediately and they should not any more cleaning. Just sanitize them. I just run the bottles through my home dishwasher on its sanitizing rinse cycle, no detergent or rinse aid. I have not had any problems with this method.

^^^^
I simply prepped the last two batches' bottles with the "sanitize" feature my dishwasher has and crossed my fingers. No signs of infection though I cannot vouch for long term. 

This is what I do as well. Then bottle on the open door of the dishwasher to catch the inevitable mess I make.

770

All Grain Brewing / Re: A simple model for pH buffers

« on: January 25, 2011, 07:26:57 am »

Very well done. Thank you for putting that together.

771

The Pub / Re: Found the cure for a cough

« on: January 24, 2011, 05:49:21 pm »

You got a bad cough? I have the 100% guaranteed cure for a persistent cough.

10 Ex-Lax in the morning.

You'll be to afraid to cough ever again.

Just be sure to refill the magazine rack in the bathroom before you do this. And invest in the Costco-sized toilet paper.

772

The Pub / Re: Going back in for surgery in a week.

« on: January 22, 2011, 06:06:20 am »

Good luck! I'll bet that will be the best stout you've ever had.

773

Zymurgy / Re: Charlie's gluten free recipe....

« on: January 21, 2011, 04:03:07 pm »

Yup, my bud is willing to try, and if after the first few it turns out it's a no go......well, I'll sacrifice myself and drink it.

You sir, are a true gentleman. 

774

All Grain Brewing / Re: Topping Up with water...

« on: January 21, 2011, 03:57:35 pm »

I've done it many times with no ill effects. I brew outside, so sometimes it's tough to nail down the boil-off rate. For example, today, I added half a gallon at the end. I just use regular tap water through the sprayer for more oxygenation.

775

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Frigid Weather Brewing

« on: January 21, 2011, 08:44:20 am »

Well, just started the timer on my boil on the back patio. Thermometer outside is reading -6 degrees F. At least the sun is out  

776

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Frigid Weather Brewing

« on: January 20, 2011, 09:55:52 am »

I mash in a cooler in the kitchen, then conduct the boil outside. I set up my burner on my back patio so I can watch it from inside.  I'm brewing tomorrow morning with temps in the single digits. I don't think it really takes any longer to get a boil, but your boil-off rate will be a bit higher. I store my hoses in the basement and don't bring them outside to hook up to the chiller until I'm close to flame-out. Cooling definitely goes much faster in the winter!

777

The Pub / Re: Who ya got?

« on: January 20, 2011, 08:17:17 am »

Bears and Jets, Bears take it. Ditka has another heart attack but survives by ressucitating himself with a polish sausage. BEAR DOWN!

Da Coach! Go Bears!

778

Equipment and Software / Re: Sight Gauge

« on: January 19, 2011, 05:42:56 am »

After exhaustive research I found the best deal HERE.

So far so good.

Did you buy this? If so, how'd you like it? Unfortunately they don't ship internationally ("too much paperwork" is always a super lame excuse in my opinion) so before I have it shipped twice (to my dad, then he sends it to me) I wanna make sure it's a good solution. Does it seem like it'd fit any size kettle? I'd probably order the sight glass/thermometer combo, as it seems neat.

I have two of these, one for a converted keg and one for a 10 gal kettle. Both fit great and are top notch quality.

779

All Grain Brewing / Re: First AG batch......

« on: January 18, 2011, 04:22:57 pm »

I brewed this morning and measured the runoff times. For the record, I have the 70-qt Xtreme with a stainless steel braid, and use a single batch sparge. Both the first runnings and the sparge runoff each took 6 minutes. I usually give it a minute or two with the valve about halfway open, then let it fly full blast.

780

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: I think I messed up???

« on: January 18, 2011, 09:23:07 am »

Take it as a lesson-learned, drink it all up quickly, and start your next batch.

I'd change up the order there slightly... Take it as a lesson-learned, start you next batch, and drink the first batch all up quickly 

Absolutely correct!