Messages

46

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.

47

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.

48

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. 

49

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.

50

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!

51

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.

52

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. 

53

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

54

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.

55

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.

56

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.

57

Pimp My System / Re: Temp control options in Florida garage

« on: April 23, 2013, 10:35:24 AM »

not to mention smaller footprint relative to volume/capacity.

58

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Time Crunch - What Would You Do?

« on: April 23, 2013, 10:10:33 AM »

At least as a consolation, i won a bunch of medals at the comp 

Saw you listed for 4 medals in all in that comp, and you didn't mention the Best of Show! Congrats!

thanks Dean! 

59

Yeast and Fermentation / Old Slurry - Building Back Up.

« on: April 23, 2013, 07:39:34 AM »

haven't done this in forever as lately i've just been recycling yeast before it gets too old, but this time I need to restart an old slurry.

Have some 007 that was harvested on Jan 19th. 

Am brewing a black IPA on Sunday ~1.080SG - 12gal. 

Mrmalty says i need about 650bn cells.

i was thinking of: 4 heaping tablespoons in 1 liter flask (on stirplate), let that run through, then decant and pitch into 2L of new wort?

anyway I could keep the january slurry to use again in this manner, or is the risk of contamination too great now that I opened and extracted some? 

Or should I just bag it and use US-05? Was really trying to make something Sublimely Self Righteous like so was hoping to stick with 007, but...

60

Pimp My System / Re: Temp control options in Florida garage

« on: April 23, 2013, 07:01:16 AM »

when you are ready, an upright chest freezer is the way to go, in my opinion (pictured in this thread; http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=14134.0)

before i got conicals, i had built a shelf inside and was able to fit 4 carboys or buckets in the fermentor at a time which was perfect.

but before that, for years I used a swamp cooler - 2 frozen gatorade bottles in the morning before work, 2 at night a little before bed and I was able to maintain 63-66 fairly consistent. 

where in J-ville you at?  i grew up in the Avondale/Riverside area.

good luck!

Are people using swamp coolers indoors with all of those ice exchanges? Or is it primarily used in a garage? I wouldn't think I would need much maintenance with ice inside.
Mandarin, the suburbs!

yeah - I kept the carboys in rubbermaid tubs and placed them in my guest bathroom tub.  you need to keep the temperature as constant as possible - spikes are the enemy.