Messages

601

Yeast and Fermentation / Sierra Nevada Pale Ale clone fermentation question

« on: March 02, 2012, 12:52:22 PM »

Hey all,

After hearing an old interview with a Sierra Nevada brewer, then reading the Ask The Experts questions/answers from them, I'm now confused about how to ferment SNPA.

The interview (an old one from The Session) said they ferment all their ales the same, starting at 60F then letting it rise to 68.

In the Ask The Experts questions, there is one that talks about fermentation (not their beers specifically) and they suggested people pitch at 65 then rise to 68.

So which should I do? I now have a freezer/temp controller so I can pitch at whatever temp.

Has anyone brewed beerfan's SNPA clone? http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15532

Any suggestions?

602

Equipment and Software / Re: Need new propane burner

« on: March 01, 2012, 10:15:41 PM »

I don't doubt that they make quality equipment.  I'm just wondering if there's someone here who has owned both a Blichmann and say, an SP-10 like I have, and can tell us what the additional $125 premium buys you.

It's like rims on a car...sure, steel rims will get you where you're going but chrome 20's let you get there in style! 

That said, I think the reason I would go with the Blichmann is because I think I might get their top tier system eventually. I'm sure the other burners boil wort well enough without the high cost.

603

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Hops starting to sprout

« on: March 01, 2012, 01:50:45 PM »

I ordered some from freshops.com (zeus and cascade) and they will arrive Saturday...when my office is closed!  (I ship everything to the office).

I doubt I'll have any luck, though. I'm not able to plant them under very good conditions: late afternoon sun, not morning sun like they say for planting them in southern climates, and in pots. But I figured I would try it anyway. 

604

Ingredients / Besides more alcohol, what exactly does honey contribute?

« on: March 01, 2012, 12:39:05 PM »

I get various local produce delivered to my office every other week. One of the options I have is to include some locally produced honey (I'm in north Florida). So I've been wondering if there's anything I can do with that in beer.

It was always my understanding that honey in the fermentor doesn't actually contribute much, if any, flavor. Is this correct?

If I wanted to create a pale ale, or an IPA, that accentuated things that remind me of Florida (citrus, pine) I know I can get that from hops. But can I get something subtle from adding honey somewhere in the brewing process?


[edit]
Here's a picture of the honey, in case color matters:

605

Equipment and Software / Re: I hope this pump is strong enough...

« on: March 01, 2012, 08:24:21 AM »

That stated flow rate is at the output with no resistance and 25 feet of 3/8 tubing provides a lot of resistance. Look at the head pressure of pumps as this this equates to power. Higher head pressure will help push water through the chiller.

After getting their "620" GPH model ($35) I wanted to see what was the maximum output I could get from just the water pressure of my garden hose... turns out I can only put 90 GPH through the 25 foot, 3/8" chiller.

The 620 GPH model pumps 60 GPH through it. I think that will be enough for recirculating the ice bath. Kicking myself for not spending $30 more dollars on a 1/2" model chiller, but I think this will be OK. I won't spend anymore on this until I'm ready to upgrade to a counterflow or Jamil's whirlpool chiller..

I still can't find the web site that had detailed measurements of chill times using various water flows and chiller diameters...grr!

606

Equipment and Software / Re: Need new propane burner

« on: March 01, 2012, 08:12:53 AM »

The Blichmann floor burner.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/blichmann-floor-burner.html


Specifically designed for the homebrewer.

Those things are works of art... 

607

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 3/2 Edition

« on: February 29, 2012, 09:07:50 PM »

Bottling an imperial IPA then brewing a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale clone...got my freezer and temp controller today so the SNPA clone should ferment nicely! 

608

Equipment and Software / Re: Questions you may have about March Pumps? post them here

« on: February 29, 2012, 01:20:45 PM »

Here's my system.

 

Where's the drool emote??? 

609

Equipment and Software / Re: Good video showing proper way to calibrate with an ice bath

« on: February 29, 2012, 10:38:11 AM »

I came across it because the temp controller I bought allows for calibration, and I'd never done an ice bath calibration before.

I thought it was interesting how he says to leave it alone if its within the accuracy rating for a given thermometer.

610

Equipment and Software / Good video showing proper way to calibrate with an ice bath

« on: February 29, 2012, 09:05:54 AM »

Found this today and thought I would share, its from the makers of the Thermapen:

The Truth About Ice Baths: Five Secrets Revealed

611

Equipment and Software / Re: I hope this pump is strong enough...

« on: February 28, 2012, 07:51:43 PM »

Well, I just tested the flow rate through my chiller and it works out to 40 GPH. I think I'll return it and get one that is rated higher (wow, 1/6th the "rated" flow rate, I wonder how they actually test them to get 264 GPH). The next one up is 620 GPH for $35. Assuming I get 1/6th of that I should be at 100 GPH. I can't find the web site where I saw a test of immersion chillers and recirculation of ice baths, but I seem to remember 100 GPH was the sweet spot.

612

Ingredients / Re: Deciphering the various water spreadsheets

« on: February 28, 2012, 01:23:59 PM »

Great, thanks for the help. I'm brewing it this weekend...

613

Ingredients / Re: Deciphering the various water spreadsheets

« on: February 28, 2012, 01:10:25 PM »

Actually, now that I look at it, I'd probably just brew with your existing profile.

You mean my existing water with no gypsum added of the one with gypsum?

614

Beer Recipes / Re: What makes a recipe "yours"?

« on: February 28, 2012, 11:40:12 AM »

I don't think I should mess with existing recipes until I understand my process better and can reproduce the same batch. I just wasn't sure how protective people were of their "creations."

615

Ingredients / Re: Deciphering the various water spreadsheets

« on: February 28, 2012, 11:35:59 AM »

OK, went back and did something a bit more simple (again, this is for an american pale ale). No dilution of my filtered tap water, just added a little gypsum: