Messages

2986

Zymurgy / Re: 2011 Zymurgy topics

« on: August 19, 2010, 06:35:43 AM »

Lagers and lager production would be my choice.  Especially how to make a really good N. German Pilsner.

Techniques that can enhance the brewing procedure are always good.  Gadgets too.

2987

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: molasses in homebrew?

« on: August 18, 2010, 07:05:12 PM »

I have used Grandma's Original Molasses, which is unsulfured.

Avoid blackstrap unless you want a really strong flavor, and avoid sulfured.

Add it the last 5 or 10 minutes of the boil.  Take your pot off of the heat so you do not scorch.  I have a false bottom and stir in as it is slowly poured, no problems.

2988

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Fresh Hops

« on: August 18, 2010, 06:51:10 PM »

You would be using the same number of cones.

Wet hops are 80% water, 20% vegatative matter that has the AA and oils.
Dried hops are 10% water and 90% vegatative matter that has the AA and oils.

To get the same vegatative matter, 90/20=4.5.  That is where the 4 to 5 comes from.

Commercial growers dry at 140F, which will flash off/damage some of the essential oils.   Wet hops have these essential oils, which I think is part of the flavor they give.

2989

Equipment and Software / Re: A Better Siphon

« on: August 18, 2010, 06:41:40 PM »

There are many ways to siphon. 
1. Fill the hose/cane with water/sanitizer and siphon.  Cane is optional - ask Gordon or look for a recent thread.
2. Use a sanitized piece of plastic cane material in the cane/hose assembly.  Exhale, suck on the plastic, stop the flow, remove plastic, and put the hose in receiving vessel.  The beer and hose never get close to your mouth. I learned this trick from Jeff Renner.
3. Use a different suction device like a sanitized turkey baster or vacuum pump to start the flow.
4.You can also push the beer with CO2 and the SS cane and Carboy cap.  A couple of GC memebers do this.  I am doing this now as there is no lifting involved, and you can keep the beer under CO2, including the receiving vessel if purged.
5. You can use a carboy cap on the receiving vessel and start the siphon with a vacuum on the receiving vessel.  I learned this from Mike O'Brien, who has posted on this forum.

There are always the threads on the internets about the autosiphon breaking or springing a leak.  Maybe that is why I have never bought one?

2990

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Cleaning 'large' boil kettles

« on: August 18, 2010, 02:07:03 PM »

Converted keg here, and I use a scrubbie, or for really baked on stuff a copper chore boy works great.  PBW once in while to remove beerstone.

I brew in the garage, and I had hot and cold water installed there when the house was built.  Very handy to have.

2991

The Pub / Re: The Demise of TechTalk

« on: August 18, 2010, 01:03:46 PM »

On my signature, AHA member has been added.

The comments on TT have been interesting.  I have found that I do not have a life.  I really thought it was called retirement!

2992

Ingredients / Re: Citra hops smell like cat urine to me

« on: August 18, 2010, 12:43:34 PM »

Wish I would have noticed that board when I was there!

2993

Ingredients / Re: Anyone Else's 1st Year Hops Not Up to Snuff

« on: August 18, 2010, 09:51:00 AM »

Hops need a lot of Nitrogen.  Says that they use a 3-1-1 fertilizer.

If you have good soil maybe just Nitrogen.  My soil is poor, a combination of sand and gravel.  I need some potash.

Your first year picture looks pretty good, as you got some cones.

2994

Equipment and Software / Re: Equipment you own but have never used

« on: August 18, 2010, 05:36:42 AM »

A chrome tower with 2 taps.  It will get used, once I get around to getting the second dorm fridge to turn into another kegerator.

2995

All Grain Brewing / Re: Using Irish Moss with a Conical Fermenter

« on: August 18, 2010, 05:27:37 AM »

I've never seen the advantage to conicals. Hard to move and very expensive.

That was my line of thinking until I ended up with one.  Have found it to be a great piece of equipment, though I still use buckets and carboys if the conical is tied up with lagers, which is often in the winter.

If you can recirc while chilling, much of the break is retained by the hops (whole cones in my case).  I use Irish Moss also.  With the conical, I can dump the trub after a day.  There is not much to dump using the above procedure.

2996

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Growing Hops Alpha Acidity

« on: August 17, 2010, 04:27:24 PM »

I always make a pale ale to start out, taking a guess as to the alpha acid that is typical or average of the hop variety.  Then if it turns out too bitter, call it an IPA.  If not bitter enough, call it a blonde ale.  From there, when you make the second and third batch, you will be able to come amazingly close to figuring out the true alpha acid based on taste alone.

I agree with this approach.  You can make some excellent beers once the hops are dialed in.

There is some pride that you can take when one of your homegrown hops beers wins awards, and impresses your friends.

2997

Ingredients / Re: Citra hops smell like cat urine to me

« on: August 17, 2010, 02:34:08 PM »

In sum, I wonder if it could be that Citra should be avoided as a single dryhop for this reason.   According to SN they dryhop Torpedo with Citra, Chinook, and Magnum.  

Chinook?  Where did you get that?

From the SN website.   Magnum, Crystal & Citra

The article in BYO said equal amounts of Magnum, Crystal & Citra as dryhops.

2998

Other Fermentables / Re: Favorite Commercial Meads

« on: August 12, 2010, 12:24:14 PM »

The B Nector Heart of Darkness Ken Schramm signature series was one that came to mind.  The club bought a bottle so that everyone could have a very small taste. 

2999

Ingredients / Re: Cherries

« on: August 12, 2010, 12:18:27 PM »

Cherries in Kreik I don't know.  One visit to Cantillon, Jean van Roy and 2 other young guys were at the entry in the Sun pitting apricots for Fou Foune. 

3000

Ingredients / Re: Wet hopping with Chinook

« on: August 12, 2010, 12:14:45 PM »

Denny is correct on the 4 to 5 times.  Here is the math that back that up- which was on Tech Talk about 2 years back.

Wet hops are 80% water and 20% vegative matter.

Dry hops are  8-10 % water.  I will use 90% vegative matter for calculation.

To get the same amount of vegative matter for a wet hop, divide 90 by 20 and you get 4.5.  You need that ratio for the same amount of AA and essential oils.  Use 5 if you really want that wet hops experience.

Hop this helps.