Messages

31

Kegging and Bottling / Re: no carbonation

« on: August 23, 2012, 02:49:28 AM »

Of the three bottles you opened....did they taste sweet? If not, one of two things, leaky caps released your CO2 or poor mixing. If they taste sweet, dead yeast or not enough time.

32

Other Fermentables / Re: Bartlett perry

« on: August 05, 2012, 05:26:41 AM »

I have had great luck running mine through a juicer.

33

Equipment and Software / Re: Conical Fermenters

« on: July 15, 2012, 04:20:04 AM »

I am able to ferment at reduced temperatures using one of these http://brewhemoth.com/immersion-chiller
in my Brewhemoth. In fact, I can ferment 30 gallons of beer using two Brewhemoths each with a chiller, cooling my chilling fluid with a 5 cubic foot freezer!

Cool!  Tell me more.  How do you control the temperature?  Activate a pump?  Water and/or glycol?
[/quote
The pump in the freezer is governed by a temp controller, the cheap aquarium ones you can buy off of eBay work great. Currently I have water in my freezer, at 35 degrees. I have run glycol at 28 degrees, but did not see much advantage. For pumps, I'm using 1/3 horse sump pumps. The system works great.

34

Equipment and Software / Re: Conical Fermenters

« on: June 24, 2012, 11:07:00 AM »

I am able to ferment at reduced temperatures using one of these http://brewhemoth.com/immersion-chiller
in my Brewhemoth. In fact, I can ferment 30 gallons of beer using two Brewhemoths each with a chiller, cooling my chilling fluid with a 5 cubic foot freezer!

35

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: When does a beer become a fruit beer?

« on: June 24, 2012, 04:03:08 AM »

except for in competition, in which case ajk's point stands, if there is fruit in it it's a fruit beer. sounds kinda good!

No, you are right, add fruit, its a fruit beer, if the fruit character doesn't stand out or overwhelms, then its a "not very good fruit beer".

36

Ingredients / African Beer

« on: June 15, 2012, 04:45:05 AM »

I've been asked to brew some "African" style beers for my church.I'm looking for some malted sorghum and any herbs that might have been used. Recipes are also appreciated. Thanks!

37

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: St. Loius: Home brew illegal at festival

« on: June 13, 2012, 02:51:27 AM »

A clarification....at the Heritage Fest, you pay at the gate something like $30. This gets you a tasting glass and as many samples as you want. It started out as a festival where every beer style was served, an educational event. It has transformed in the breweries bringing in whatever style they want and has become a drunk fest.

38

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Fermenting under pressure.

« on: May 23, 2012, 02:29:35 AM »

The Brewhemoth sells one  http://brewhemoth.com/spunding-valve   it works quite well.

39

Kegging and Bottling / Re: kegorator (fridge/freezer) defrost problems

« on: May 14, 2012, 02:27:46 AM »

Make sure the coils are clean and air can flow freely around them.

40

Yeast and Fermentation / Isenglass

« on: April 23, 2012, 03:30:49 PM »

Will adding Isenglass effect the vitality of the yeast harvested after?

41

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Entered my first beer

« on: April 19, 2012, 01:54:11 PM »

Lennie are you planning on winning another one?

42

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Honey IPA - when to add

« on: April 01, 2012, 09:48:45 AM »

I agree with all of the above for when you are going to add honey if you want the flavor and aroma characteristics. However, in an IPA, I don't think you will really get any of the honey, because it will be drowned out by the hops. Even in my Honey brown porter, the honey is kind of drowned out by the roasted malts.

Just my .02

+1, the honey will be lost completely. For any hope of honey flavor in an IPA, you would have to add enough honey to have it qualify as a braggot.

43

Other Fermentables / Re: Acid in cider

« on: March 15, 2012, 04:26:10 PM »

With a score of 40, the main question you need to ask is, "Do I like my cider?" If the answer is "yes", don't add anything, enjoy enter and watch your score bounce between 35 and 45. If you entered it 10 times, received low 20's every time, all with the same comment, I would think of changing it up.

44

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Options for adding 3rd keg to dual system?

« on: February 02, 2012, 07:38:52 AM »

A couple of barbed y's added in line will work, a lot cheaper, but doesn't look as nice.

45

Homebrew Competitions / Re: NHC details

« on: January 19, 2012, 05:45:30 AM »

Thanks Janis!!!!!