Messages

31

Kegging and Bottling / Re: IPA and Co2

« on: May 01, 2013, 02:00:22 PM »

can you describe in more detail the changes you are perceiving?

can you post the details of the recent recipe also? 

that might help us a bit.

BTW - I doubt its the gas - one of the local breweries here gets their gas from the same welding place i do - and if it were your gas, then all your beers would have the same affliction.

32

Ingredients / Re: Best Way to 'Dry Adjunct'

« on: May 01, 2013, 01:38:53 PM »

You know it's funny, I did a raspberry tincture and added it at a ratio of about 1/2 tsp to a pint, and I could really taste the booze.  I used ever clear and not vodka tho.

I tried vodka tinctures a few times and could always taste the vodka.  I went to just putting the ingredients in secondary and counting on the alcohol and low pH of the beer to protect it, and it's worked every time.  Even with mushrooms I picked myself and did nothing more than brush off the dirt.

+1

33

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: using dehusked carafa II for coloring

« on: May 01, 2013, 10:32:12 AM »

you still want to crush it.

i figured but wanted make sure. would you let it rest 10 minutes or so to get the color before draininig?

no need to rest - you can start running off immediately - it will pull the color. if you're fly sparging, it works best if you dump the grains closest to your sparge output, in my experience.

if you're concerned about it - you could always steep the carafa in a muslin bag in the boil kettle.

34

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Starter Boil Duration

« on: May 01, 2013, 09:35:30 AM »

I do like to boil for a while so the steam will also sanitize my flask and foam stopper.

This is why I boil for ~5 minutes for my starters.  You could also sanitize them with starsan or something.

so tom - you of all people would know - we *don't* need to wait for hot break?

35

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Starter Boil Duration

« on: May 01, 2013, 07:09:56 AM »

i think you do want to create some hot break with the wort - bringing it up to 145 won't do that I don't think.

I do 10 min cause that's what I've always done - no special reason other than it works.  YMMV.

36

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Mangrove Jack's Dry Yeast

« on: April 30, 2013, 12:11:36 PM »

Hopefully my LHBS will get it.  The cost + shipping = more than liquid.

y'all could always order more stuff than the yeast 

it will bring down the shipping cost if you spread it out overall.

I don't really have a LHBS so its no consequence to me.

37

Equipment and Software / Re: Storage of equipment (tubes, brushes, funnel, etc.)

« on: April 30, 2013, 11:26:25 AM »

I also brew in my garage:



I use my old brewstand, located to the right, for storage of most stuff, including kegs, racking canes and all dry goods.  i have a couple double prong hooks from Home Depot (that I think are for bikes maybe?) to hang hoses, spoons, brushes etc off to dry.  buckets and everything else gets stacked on top. 

Its on casters as well, so i can move it pretty easily if necessary. 

38

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Old Slurry - Building Back Up.

« on: April 30, 2013, 05:54:25 AM »

Update #2: the krausen was huge on the black ipa last night - almost had a blowoff (i never do - 2 gal of headspace and i pitch cool) and it smelled nice, hoppy and slightly fruity.  hopefully things are going well.

39

Equipment and Software / Re: Monitoring Keg Levels

« on: April 29, 2013, 01:35:34 PM »

i just always have something good on deck so I don't cry too much when one goes since there's something new to try now!

40

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Kettle Loss - Blichmann Hop Blocker

« on: April 29, 2013, 10:05:30 AM »

I'm not sure what the point of that u-bend is or how you would use it.

the ubend would be used to suck wort from the very sidewall of the kettle after a good whirlpool.

i whirlpooled pretty good on the black ipa, but probably did not give enough settling time after turning off the pump for recirculation.

41

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Old Slurry - Building Back Up.

« on: April 29, 2013, 07:48:32 AM »

Paul,

What did you end up doing?  I may be in this situation soon....

Dave

wow.  speak of the devil.  was just looking up this thread to post what I did.

couldn't quite do what sean recommended, though I think that is the way to go.

but...on the morning of the 24th, i made a 1L starter with 2-3TBL of slurry.  let that stir for all of Wednesday and by Thursday night it was clearly done. Crashed it, which thankfully didn't take long - small starter and being that it was 007 - tasted the wort - it was very, very fruity and had some strong esters but what to expect with english ale at 74-76df, right? 

Then on Friday I made a 4.5L starter, pitched into that and let it go Friday through Saturday afternoon, at which time the krausen started falling and the swirling appeared clumpy, so i figured it might not be ideal, but I crashed it at that point.  Brewed the black IPA on Sunday.  at about 9pm last night, there was a HUGE layer on the bottom of the flask, although it was still partially cloudy, but i poured off the spent beer, aerated and pitched at 60df. 

as of this morning, full krausen and thumping away. 

42

General Homebrew Discussion / Kettle Loss - Blichmann Hop Blocker

« on: April 29, 2013, 07:19:58 AM »

I measured the losses from my two brews this weekend (12 gal of dopplebock and 12gal of black IPA), using a Blichmann Hop Blocker.  on the first, dopple, I lost just under half gallon.  on the IPA, the hop sludge seemed to 'strand' a bunch of wort, and i wound up loosing about .75 - 7/8 of a gallon of wort. 

Bear in mind this is the liquid that is separate from the hop sludge - not much to speak of on the doppel and a whole fat disk in the center of the kettle on the ipa.

I shop vac'ed the actual available liquid to do the measurements.

does this seem excessive?  i guess as long as I get two full kegs who cares, right?  just wondering if I shouldn't try something like this instead; http://www.stainlessbrewing.com/180-Degree-Tube-Bend_p_103.html

43

General Homebrew Discussion / What's Brewing This Weekend - 4/28 Edition

« on: April 25, 2013, 10:26:40 AM »

whatcha'll got going on this weekend?  I'm brewing a dopplebock (1.080) and a black IPA (1.082) - never made either style before, looking forward to it.

44

Beer Travel / Re: 2 Nights in San Diego

« on: April 24, 2013, 05:31:12 AM »

made it to Toronado, Stone Brewing and Lost Abbey.  All of which were amazing, particularly having Stone's Enjoy By fresh on tap (less than 5 days old).  I think Enjoy By unseats Pliny for my top IIPA.

45

Equipment and Software / Re: Primary without an airlock

« on: April 23, 2013, 12:48:59 PM »

swapping out ice bottles is really not that bad.  seems like you're making a bigger deal out of it than necessary.