Messages

16

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: 1968 in No-Crystal AIPA (Mash Temp Help)

« on: May 16, 2013, 12:16:49 pm »

1968 is weird.  its a great yeast, but i guess you have to learn its fickle nature.  I've not used it in a few years, but I've had it attenuate only 70% and then on repitch pushed 80%.

Cigar City uses it as their house and gets 75-80% attenuation. 

I would make your beer without sugar, but mash lower first time around and see how it turns out. 

17

Equipment and Software / Re: Cleaning Beerstone

« on: May 16, 2013, 08:59:45 am »

I use 5 Star's Acid #5 and it works good

where do you buy it?  can't find it.

18

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Cowboy Brewers

« on: May 16, 2013, 07:20:59 am »

he's also a midnight toker. 

19

Equipment and Software / Re: need tips how to really clean out a Blickmann Therminator

« on: May 16, 2013, 07:04:17 am »

man that looks more like the morning after a night of heavy drinking and chicken wings. 

20

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Cowboy Brewers

« on: May 15, 2013, 12:32:09 pm »

I know a brewer named Maurice.

Does he speak of the pompetous of love? 

really loves peaches too.

21

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Cowboy Brewers

« on: May 15, 2013, 12:13:34 pm »

I know a brewer named Maurice. 

22

Equipment and Software / Re: need tips how to really clean out a Blickmann Therminator

« on: May 15, 2013, 11:00:57 am »

After reading all of these posts, I wonder why I don't have problems. 

I rince my thermonator with hot tap water immidiately after filling fermenters.  First thing.  Even before oxygenating and puting airlocks on the fermenters.  I let that run for about 5 minutes, full blast. 

I drain the water, and place in a freezer, so nothing will "grow."  Sanitize with StarSan just before next use. 

Now, I generally use whole leaf hops, but did have to get some pellets a couple months ago. 

Still, no problems. 

hmmmmmmmmm   

I never had problems (i.e. clogging or infection) but i did notice I always had particulate in there that I no amount of backflushing could rid and thus I never felt comfortable with. I use a double ganged CFC now and it works for me.  YMMV.

23

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: When did you switch to all grain?

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:30:53 am »

I switched after about 6 extract/steeping grain batches.  Never did extract without grain.  I did one partial mash batch and realized that it took as much time as AG would.  I switched to AG after that.

same here - 6 batches, though straight to all grain.  and some guy Denny helped make it seem less overwhelming than when I read about and so I tried it.  8 years and 160+ batches later and some might say i'm obsessed 

24

Equipment and Software / Re: O2 regulator noise

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:14:34 am »

I used the William's wand the other day, I liked it a lot. It didn't whistle, I don't think, but can definitely hear the gas releasing.

the wand doesn't whistle - the valve whistles if you open it up too much. 

25

Equipment and Software / Re: need tips how to really clean out a Blickmann Therminator

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:13:46 am »

I can attest dean's process is the best way i found as well. That said, i got pretty fed up with plate chillers and gave up on them because of the work involved with them, but what he described above is about the only way i found comfortable.  YMMV.

26

Beer Recipes / Re: Amarillo IPA

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:09:38 am »

Interesting.  Get some flavor but more bitterness?  Can you explain?

I perceive about the same amount of bittering from FWH as I do from a 20 min. addition.  Now, that's not a hard and fast number and everybody who FWH needs to decide for themselves.  But to me, FWH doesn't provide the same amount and quality of bitterness as a 60 min, addition.  I decide how much hop flavor I want and how much FWH I need to achieve that.  Then I look at how much bitterness that adds (counted as a 20 min. addition) and add enough 50 min. hops to hit the IBU I want.

Thanks Denny.  That's interesting.  I'll have to pay more attention to my FWH additions and the end result.  I use BeerTools and it keeps the bitterness the same.

Edit:  I thought FWH just added some more flavor.....

Dave

FWIW, and i don't want to detract this poor guys thread, but that in my experience is incorrect.  Starting about a year ago, I began FWHing as the only addition to my german lagers and I have never once perceived that I needed more bitterness. I agree with the enhanced hop flavor and a smoother, less harshly edged bitterness, but the bite doesn't change.

In fact, I recently won a gold for my vienna where the sole improvement noted by both judges was that I might consider reducing the bittering a bit.  The hop was Mittlefruh, 20 ibus calculated at 90 minutes and designated as FWH (so it adds 10% more utilization than a 90 min boil addition). 

27

Commercial Beer Reviews / Re: Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

« on: May 13, 2013, 07:38:27 am »

I have liked all the FW beers that I've had.  I wish they were available locally.

+1

28

Equipment and Software / Re: O2 regulator noise

« on: May 09, 2013, 12:42:18 pm »

mine whistles if its turned up too high.  I back down when I hear it whistle.

29

Beer Recipes / Re: Ellie's brown clone, IBUS? and that flavor of green beer questions!

« on: May 09, 2013, 06:53:47 am »

I would follow both of their advice.

Temporarily change the 0min Sterling to 20min and see what the IBU contribution is. Remember that IBU number.  Change the Sterling back to 0min but now bump up the Bullion at 60 until the total IBUs for the recipe equals 28 minus the IBUs you calculated if you had the Sterling at 20 min.

For example, if changing the Sterling to 20 min shows it would contribute about 7 ibus, you'll need to increase the amount of Bullion by about 12.5 IBUs to get the appropriate amount of bitterness. 

Now its important to note, you're going to want to keep that Sterling in a whirlpool above 180df for at least 30 min to get the full effect.

30

Beer Recipes / Re: Simcoe and Amarillo IPA

« on: May 06, 2013, 07:08:05 am »

Looks tasty. I might suggest a touch of warrior at 60 minutes so it doesn't come across too sweet. Both of those hops have some fruity/citrusy characteristics that you may want to balance out with some bittering additions. However they're two of my favorites.

Also, IMO might want to dry hop so you get the full effect of both hops.

+1 - especially if you can't drink it quickly - hopbursting is great, but it seems to be best if you are drinking the IPA extremely young.  After a few weeks the sweetness creeps in.

I'd dryhop 1.5-2.0oz of each to really maximize the aroma.