Topics

16

Yeast and Fermentation / The nuclear (Beano) option

« on: September 17, 2010, 07:52:13 PM »

I have two 5-gallon fermenter buckets that have stalled at 1.024 (1.062 OG, mashed at 152*F, pitched w/ Danstar Windsor).  It has been 2 weeks and after a quick and strong ferment for 2 or 3 days, there has been no noticeable activity.  I'm thinking of adding Beano to one of them and letting it ferment out.  Afterward I can blend them and immediately chill them to stop fermentation.  How low can I expect the Beano half to go? 1.000? If so the blend would be 1.012.  Do I need to add more yeast?  I have another packet of something...can't remember what.

17

All Grain Brewing / umami water treatment

« on: September 12, 2010, 12:23:51 PM »

In a recent article I read (BYO), the author mentioned umami in describing various flavors in beer.  Umami is the "5th taste", along with sweet, sour, bitter and salty.  It is often described as "savory".  I have often wondered about trying to introduce some of that umami flavor to my beer.  What I am wondering is how the addition of mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) would affect the water chemistry if I add it to my water adjustments. Or maybe, I should just make sure my sodium levels are low and then add the MSG to the boil.  Anybody have any ideas about this?
BTW, I am of the opinion that MSG gets a bad rap in the media, and is not much (if at all) worse than sodium chloride.  You might want to watch your intake, but it is not poison.

18

All Grain Brewing / Water adjustments: Strike vs. Sparge

« on: March 20, 2010, 09:02:39 AM »

Once I get a handle on what adjustments need to be made, how do I divide the additives between the strike and the (batch) sparge?  I was thinking that I would just add everything to the total volume and then split between strike and sparge.  Or do most (or all) of the adjustments belong in the 60/90 minute mash?

19

General Homebrew Discussion / Dry hopping with pellets

« on: December 13, 2009, 07:53:05 PM »

I have never dry-hopped with pellets. Is there anything in particular that I should be aware of? How about keg-hopping?