16
The Pub / Why a Good Bar Is Essential to Sustainable Communities
« on: June 05, 2012, 02:58:29 PM »
I do love a good smelly saloon. 
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18
Zymurgy / Re: Why should I renew my subscription?
« on: April 28, 2012, 03:51:16 PM »
Friends… Today I am proud to be among you! 
19
Equipment and Software / Re: Using Johnson Dig. Controller with FermWrap Heater?
« on: April 28, 2012, 03:41:59 PM »So this means I should change it from cut in to cut out? What is it doing when it's in cut in?
You don't have to. All the modes work. Cut in and cut out refer to when the thermostat turns the circuit (and hence your fermwrap) on or off, and the combination of that and heating or cooling mode, the differential, and the temperature you set, define what happens.
Let's make it simple by focusing on your situation.
You're using a FermWrap, which is a heater, so I assume your environment is cold — either a basement or a fridge — and you want to heat your beer to be close to the desired temperature, so you want to use the controller in heating mode as you've said you have it.
You also said you've got yours set to "cut in."
What that means is that the thermostat will cut in — turn on the heater in this case — when it reaches the temperature you've set. When it cuts in, it is going to start heating and then the controller will cut out at the set temperature plus the differential. So in your example of wanting to get 74-76 degrees, and your controller in cut in mode and heating mode, you would set the thermostat for 74 degrees and the differential for 2 degrees. That way, if the temperature fell below 74 degrees (the set temperature), the heater would "cut in" and heat the wort until it rose 2 degrees (the differential) and would cut back out at 76 degrees.
I guess what I'm saying is you're fine how you are. If you're in heating mode and cut in mode, set the temperature to the lowest acceptable temperature and set the differential so that the set temperature plus the differential is your highest acceptable temperature.
I hope this helps.
20
Zymurgy / Re: Why should I renew my subscription?
« on: April 28, 2012, 06:31:12 AM »
I'm not subscribing to a magazine, I am being a member of an organization that supports my hobby. There are many benefits to membership. The magazine is just one of them.
21
Equipment and Software / Re: Using Johnson Dig. Controller with FermWrap Heater?
« on: April 28, 2012, 05:03:07 AM »
Hey ukolowiczd,
I use the same setup in my cellar. Here's what I do.
The Johnson is in heating mode. The set point is the “cut out” temperature, and the differential is set to 2 °F. This means, since the cellar is cold, that the temperature of the beer falls until it is 2 °F below the set point. Then the thermostat turns the heater on until it reaches the set point. That means that the beer will ferment at 66 ± 1 °F if I set the controller for 67 °F.
Does that help?
I use the same setup in my cellar. Here's what I do.
The Johnson is in heating mode. The set point is the “cut out” temperature, and the differential is set to 2 °F. This means, since the cellar is cold, that the temperature of the beer falls until it is 2 °F below the set point. Then the thermostat turns the heater on until it reaches the set point. That means that the beer will ferment at 66 ± 1 °F if I set the controller for 67 °F.
Does that help?
22
The Pub / Re: New AHA policy
« on: April 03, 2012, 04:27:55 AM »I don't suppose any of you saw this on Reddit?
My GF and I made a bet... She thinks that at least 90% of r/Homebrewing has a beard. Is she wrong?
Yes… I'm quoting myself, but they followed up with a chart:
- 45% Bearded
- 46% Not Bearded
- 7% Ladies
Sample size 1,614.
23
The Pub / Re: New AHA policy
« on: April 02, 2012, 03:38:21 PM »
I don't suppose any of you saw this on Reddit?
My GF and I made a bet... She thinks that at least 90% of r/Homebrewing has a beard. Is she wrong?
My GF and I made a bet... She thinks that at least 90% of r/Homebrewing has a beard. Is she wrong?
24
The Pub / Re: Need Definition, Please?!
« on: April 02, 2012, 04:09:21 AM »
For me, stateside equals CONUS (Continental United States) defined variously as either the 48 contiguous states, or the 48 plus Alaska (since it is technically on the continent). The idea being that it excludes holdings and territories. If you served in the military, you were technically on US soil any time you were on base (Guam, for example). However, it made a big difference if the US soil was "stateside." 
25
General Homebrew Discussion / Re: One man's trash truly is another man's treasure.
« on: March 30, 2012, 04:32:21 PM »We have a reverse trash day every year.
Its really called the Spring Clean Up but is often referred to as "the East Sider's Christmas".
They call it Riff Raff Day around here. When I first moved here I thought it was just a way to insult the people involved, until I saw it in the newspaper… “Don’t forget, Thursday is Riff Raff Day.” Lots of folks go out and pick up heavily used and slightly functional stuff. Great way to clean out the house… or pick up a still-working fridge.
26
General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Book Idea for Homebrewers
« on: March 25, 2012, 04:10:40 PM »
Do you know how to get to Carnegie Hall?
Practice.
Practice.
27
All Grain Brewing / Re: Hitting A Color?
« on: March 24, 2012, 01:43:19 PM »This paper has a chart comparing a few models: http://www.babblehomebrewers.com/attachments/article/61/BeerColor.pdf
I used this as the source for the spreadsheet I use for recipe calculation. I've used several brewing software packages. They are fine tools, but I wanted to understand where the answers came from and why there was variation amongst the various programs.
28
General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Really bad O.G. from specialty grains - any chance of a redo?
« on: March 19, 2012, 06:10:46 AM »This is the white lighting recipe from this months issue of Zymurgy.
I don't think this is a bad reading, just a bad recipe.
I'm looking at the recipe (Zymurgy vol. 35, no. 2, p. 20). It's an all-grain recipe with an "Extract plus steeped grain" version, but the instructions say to "Conduct mini mash with 8 oz (227 g) Carapils and flaked oats, steeping for 30 minutes at 154 °F (68 °C)."
That is slightly confusing editing, as steeping and a mini mash are two different things. A mini mash would be appropriate for the oats, but would require some base malt to provide some diastatic power.
29
The Pub / Re: The beer song
« on: March 17, 2012, 07:24:28 AM »
Funny, but for some reason I suddenly want a beer. 
30
Equipment and Software / Re: Fermwrap Heater
« on: March 15, 2012, 05:11:15 PM »
I wrap the carboy and attach the FermWrap with blue painter's tape. Then I attach the probe under some bubble wrap (with more blue painter's tape) in the blank area where the FermWrap doesn't cover.