Messages

1

All Grain Brewing / Re: Rather than doing a decoction...

« on: Today at 11:39:12 AM »

Ok thanks for the info. I won't worry about it so there's one less thing to screw up.

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2

All Grain Brewing / Rather than doing a decoction...

« on: June 17, 2013, 09:02:43 PM »

Would I achieve a similar flavor by pulling a gallon or so of first runnings and boiling down to, say, 50% volume? (like some people do with wee heavies)

3

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Dads Day Brew?

« on: June 16, 2013, 02:19:28 PM »

Yep this is my second annual father's day parti gyle brew. Last year I said I would never do it again. But I guess it's like having kids, you forget what a pain in the arse they are and want more.

First runnings is an imperial oatmeal stout using cold steeped dark grains. Second runnings will be an English bitter. Heating up the water now for the bitter.

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4

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Stupid noob question - gas vs liquid posts

« on: June 10, 2013, 07:09:09 AM »

Thanks for all the info. Will definitely pay attention next time.

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5

Kegging and Bottling / Stupid noob question - gas vs liquid posts

« on: June 08, 2013, 10:15:26 AM »

Are these really different? When I took my keg apart to clean I never bothered to note which post went where. Now I see that these are sold as gas or liquid side. Did I just get lucky when I put it back together?

6

Beer Recipes / Re: Session IpA recipe critque

« on: June 06, 2013, 08:44:33 PM »

I like ISA - India Session Ale.

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7

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Re pitching chico/1056 from local brewery

« on: June 05, 2013, 05:06:50 PM »

I vaguely recall from a podcast that had some of the White Labs people on it, they said that overpitching isn't a big deal as long as you don't harvest the yeast afterward. I don't recall the reason, I think it had to do with the amount of dead yeast that were starved from not enough resources.

I do not thing that this is correct.

OK, I found where I heard that. Wrong about the reason, but right about it being ok as long as you don't harvest it.

If you go to the 2012 BJCP seminars (http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/lets-brew/homebrewing-seminars/2012) and listen to Neva Parker's talk about "Fermentation Mythbusters", skip to about 28:20 in and she mentions why you shouldn't use too much yeast. Not because they are dead or starved for resources, something about yeast growth and new yeast generation for subsequent generations. So, as long as it's the last time you use the yeast you can over pitch, but don't harvest that yeast when done.

8

All Grain Brewing / Re: Loss of mash efficiency in higher gravity beers

« on: June 04, 2013, 05:41:33 PM »

Well it's spiffy all the same. Thanks for the link!

9

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Bourbon barrel porter

« on: June 04, 2013, 01:12:00 PM »

My only experience was adding 2 oz chips to 5 gallons for 12 days. Aged better than I ever expected.

Also I added 100ml whiskey to the chips and some water and microwaved for a minute or so to kill critters. A few people noticed the whiskey but really I think they were just tasting the oak.

Medium toast french oak gave a nice vanilla character to the beer.

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10

All Grain Brewing / Re: Loss of mash efficiency in higher gravity beers

« on: June 04, 2013, 01:06:31 PM »

Cool thanks.

I realized later that I messed up the calculations even more by cold steeping the dark grains and adding them in near the end of the boil. I never measured the gravity of what I cold steeped so my OG was off from that as well. Beer rocked though!

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11

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Gelatin fining and FC Question

« on: June 04, 2013, 01:01:13 PM »

So the gelatin was put into the keg? If it was used in the fermenter instead then it would be left on the bottom, right?

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12

All Grain Brewing / Loss of mash efficiency in higher gravity beers

« on: June 04, 2013, 12:50:21 PM »

Last year when I brewed an imperial stout my efficiency dropped to 53%. I'm about to brew the same beer and I was wondering if there was a way to predict this change in efficiency?

I am crushing my own grain this time and get around 72% with a 1.063 gravity beer. If I'm shooting for 1.100 is there a formula I can use to estimate the lower gravity?

I am making this with first runnings if that makes any difference.

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13

Equipment and Software / Re: Re: Vacuum Sealers? Can I get some recommendations-Need to seal hops

« on: June 04, 2013, 10:22:08 AM »

My Seal-a-meal by Rival promptly failed after a couple uses. I've had it's replacement (Foodsaver) for 5 years now.

I love my Foodsaver...I bought it in 1991 (or thereabouts) and have used it for both food and brewing stuff. It still pulls as good a vacuum as ever.  I've had sero issues with it. The only maintenance I've had to perform is to run an ounce or two of a warm, diluted vinegar solution through it to clean it.  One of the best appliance purchases I've ever made.

This is exactly what I was worried about and why I want a FoodSaver. I would rather not buy it twice. As my mom says, only rich people can afford to buy cheap things.

On the other hand, everything is made in China these days and a higher price doesn't necessarily mean quality.  You're going to find bad reviews for almost everything out there if you search for it.  It's cheaper for the manufacturers to offer better warranties and replace lemons than to build something that lasts.

http://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-Vacuum-Sealer-SmartSeal-Technology/product-reviews/B001E42R8O/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0

http://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-Advanced-Design-Vacuum-Sealer/product-reviews/B000F9PNF8/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0

Stop using evidence to back up your arguments.

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14

Kegging and Bottling / 5 gallon plastic kegs

« on: June 04, 2013, 10:12:47 AM »

LHBS has these for $60 (before 10% club discount)

Anyone have experience with them? They use sanke connection.
From the outside:


Unscrew lid and giant plastic bottle is inside:


Obviously not as sturdy as corny kegs. What would be the benefits?

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15

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Is there an adapter for this?

« on: June 04, 2013, 10:04:36 AM »

Thanks for all of the suggestions. For now I got a couple of ball lock connectors with threaded part that hooks to hose. I'll probably go with one of these other solutions eventually. When I was getting connectors at LHBS today I saw they had new plastic 5 gallon kegs with sanke connection.

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