Messages

901

Equipment and Software / Re: SImple pickup tube for keggle

« on: August 14, 2010, 05:50:36 PM »

You'll use a compression fitting on the copper pipe which has pipe thread on the other side.


I just made a hop stopper and could not be more pleased.  It handled my pliny clone with a pound of hops in the kettle with ease.  These are the instructions I followed, omitting the stainless steel thread as it wasn't necessary.

http://www.homebrewchatter.com/board/f18/diy-hop-stopper-kettle-screen-pickup-t2550/

902

Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Sam Adams Noble Pils

« on: August 13, 2010, 11:33:44 AM »

I liked it.  It is definitely not a crisp, mellow lager like Bitburger but I thought it was far from bad homebrew.

Kai - one question I have is what you think of the statement that I've heard repeatedly (especially from Kris England) about German Pilsners being less hopped than they used to.  I know Prima Pils is somewhat above the traditional pils in terms of hoppiness, but I also doubt that any German Pilsners approach 40 IBUs any more.

903

Questions about the forum? / Re: Why was the "I'm Sorry" thread deleted??

« on: August 13, 2010, 07:52:55 AM »

Lame troll attempt.  Probably some angry guy from Tech Talk.  Where's the ignore user option?

Edit: found it, under Profile -> Personal Message Options

904

Ingredients / Re: Cherries

« on: August 12, 2010, 11:15:00 AM »

Do kriek producers pit their cherries?  I seem to remember the answer being no...

905

Equipment and Software / Re: How fine a strainer do I need for pellet hops

« on: August 11, 2010, 12:14:46 PM »

http://www.mcmaster.com/#9230t625/=8czd0o

This is a 12 x 24 in. sheet... I folded it in half and made a hop-stopper out of it that surrounds my pickup tube.  I  brewed a Pliny clone to test it out and it handled over a pound of pellet hops without issue. Had no problems running off at normal speed with my pump, and not a single bit of pellet hop debris got into my plate chiller...

Here's a better description:

http://www.homebrewchatter.com/board/f18/diy-hop-stopper-kettle-screen-pickup-t2550/

906

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Big starters for big batches

« on: August 10, 2010, 12:30:30 PM »

I'm curious how you guys who brew 10+ gallon batches deal with creating enough yeast.    I'm toying with the idea of upgrading my capacity to handle 10 gallon batches, but I am a little unsure about how I should handle my starters.   For example, when I'm building up yeast for a typical 5 gallon lager batch, I've got a 4 liter starter on a stir plate (in a 5 liter flask), and I feel like that's _barely_ enough yeast.

Two stirplates/flasks is an option, but that's a lot of work.

One easy option is 2 vials/packs of yeast in your starter. I just made a 1.070 ale and only needed 2 vials in a 2.5 L starter according to MrMalty.

Another is to make multi-step starters. Making a 2L starter and then pitching that into another 2L will grow significantly more yeast than starting with a 4L starter.  The Wyeast pitching rate calculator is good for calculating 2-step starters.

http://www.wyeastlab.com/hb_pitchrate.cfm

907

The Pub / Re: The Demise of TechTalk

« on: August 10, 2010, 09:04:05 AM »

I apologize... my intent was never to insult, and that was posted here before this actually became a two-way discussion with tech talkers.  Take it as a gentle ribbing  

It was also directed at a small but vocal minority of the Tech Talk posters who seemed genuinely negative about using a forum without even trying it.  There are valid reasons why the email list works for some people, and I agree that there are things that can be done to make the forum work better.

As the posters above said, welcome!

908

All Grain Brewing / Re: Starting the mash COLD ?

« on: August 09, 2010, 01:00:58 PM »

Some commercial breweries (Dupont, IIRC) use a long rising infusion mash for very high fermentability.  That said, it's going to depend on how long it takes you to get from dough in to your alpha rest (150s).

909

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Keggerator Anchor!

« on: August 09, 2010, 07:57:27 AM »

Foam spraying out?  Are you sure you don't have a hop leaf clogged in the poppet on the liquid out post?  15 psi is somewhat high for serving with 5 feet if 3/16 tubing, but it's not THAT high.

I also wouldn't recommend turning down the pressure for serving.  This will work if you empty the keg in a week or so, but otherwise you're going to get CO2 coming out of solution and other problems related to having an unbalanced system.  Carb at serving temperature.

910

Ingredients / Re: My water report

« on: August 07, 2010, 07:54:07 AM »

But they did say, "Well sir... you CAN have it independently tested.  That will of course be at your own expense.  But we can assure you that the City of Altoona has THE best water in central PA".

There could just be a miscommunication going on here.  Try to explain that you aren't questioning whether it's safe to drink, but are looking for a detailed report on the mineral content.  My local department called it something different than the water report, but were happy to give it to me once they understood what i wanted.  you may have to talk to the lab people directly.

911

The Pub / Re: The Demise of TechTalk

« on: August 07, 2010, 07:24:16 AM »

Ostracized?  That's really counter to what we're trying to do here.  As a matter of fact, let me be the first to welcome you and say that we all look forward to your contributions!

Yet further up in this discussion thread narvin posts a rather scathing message about the individuals who would rather read the email. Yes, I am one of them but for the simple fact that I was always able to read TT on my BlackBerry when I had down time during the day. Contrary to what narvin would believe, I have moved past 1200 baud into something a little faster.

And conversely, it's kindergarten over here, where only people who play on the Internet all day can make sense of the chatter.  And the information is no good.  Have I summed up the arguments against the forum accurately?

I understand that people are used to the email format, but anyone who actually took the time to look at the forum would know that the level and depth of the information presented here is as good as in Tech Talk (better, and less repetitive, in my opinion).  I keep hearing the quote of 2500 readers per day, but the day that the transition was announced, techtalk had only 2 new brewing topics and 4 replies.  I would not consider that a veritable font of brewing information...

912

The Pub / Re: The Demise of TechTalk

« on: August 05, 2010, 07:05:00 PM »

If you think about it, the forum is nice only for people who sit in front of a computer all day, but what about the rest of us?  When we log on to the AHA Forum and want to see what we missed over the past several hours, we need to wade through a lot of +1 on your mortgage and way to go majorvices and never get to the denny level before we find a recent topic of interest.

So there's too much information?  You can pick and choose specific sections to read if you want to avoid the pub chatter.  And why does it need to be recent? You don't have to follow it linearly -- there's a great search feature that will let you find whatever information you need.  I find the questions and information on Tech Talk to be more repetitive because of the straight Q&A format.

To be blunt, if Tech Talk were popular enough to be worth keeping, you'd probably think it was too long and cluttered to read as well.

913

Ingredients / Hops - how old is too old?

« on: August 05, 2010, 10:04:48 AM »

I have some Chinook hop plugs that I'm thinking about using.  They're unopened and completely vacuum packed (no space for air inside), and they've been in my freezer since I bought them.

They're the 2006 crop, packaged in October of 2007.  I wouldn't use leaf hops that were this old, but I feel like the plugs keep much better.  Any opinions?

914

The Pub / Re: The Demise of TechTalk

« on: August 05, 2010, 10:01:15 AM »

The people complaining would probably prefer to be reading brewing news via UseNet over a 1200 baud modem connection to their local BBS.  Some people can't deal with change...

915

Equipment and Software / Re: installing ball valve and therm well in S/S pot

« on: August 04, 2010, 12:27:13 PM »

No need to apply excessive pressure, IMO.  Let the tool do the work!

The step bit that I purchased didn't need a pilot hole. Also, I found that cold water from the garden hose worked as well or better than any cutting oil.