Messages

226

Equipment and Software / Re: Heating a Fermentation Fridge

« on: October 27, 2010, 08:35:44 AM »

I use a low watt incandescent bulb on a two stage temp controller.  I run the heat cycle about two degrees lower than the cooling cycle and have a 1 degree diff. set on top of that.  When I had a single stage controller, I went about 4 months with leaving the light on and letting the chest freezer fight it.  This was inefficient of course and let to a good deal of condensation in the freezer.  I ferment in a SS corny keg so no worries about light although I'm told that incandescent bulbs are not a worry.

227

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: A day in the life of a nano brewer

« on: October 20, 2010, 06:58:08 PM »

I enjoyed that a lot.  I've already got ideas for my retirement years (in about 20 years).

228

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Beer in the Bible

« on: October 15, 2010, 02:10:41 PM »

I want to pint out ....

Delightful slip there, Denny.  I want to pint out, too, but can't do so for another hour or so! 

229

Equipment and Software / Re: Building a Jockey Box

« on: October 11, 2010, 07:53:21 AM »

cold plates can be had pretty cheap on ebay.

I got a single channel cold plate for about $10 plus shipping on ebay.  Worked fine.  But for homebrew , if you don't mind spending the extra money, I'd recommend using the 3 gallon kegs in a 70 qt Igloo ice cube.  I did this and the setup is much easier to transport because it is entirely self contained.  Also, if you are going to dispense over a course of days, you may run into issues keeping the beer carbonated in the keg that is sitting outside the cold box versus the amount of CO2 pressure needed to push beer through long lengths of coils.  

With a pair of 3 gallon cornies in an ice cube, you can dispense for as long as you like at your normal serving pressure or lower because the beer is kept so cold in the cooler.  



I still have the first jockey box I built with the cold plate, but reserve its use for parties where I am serving from a commercial keg that we don't plan on having around for more than one evening.

230

Classifieds / Re: For Sale: 10 Gallon MegaPot with Valve and Thermometer

« on: October 04, 2010, 11:17:04 AM »

Kettle has sold.  Thanks for looking.

231

Equipment and Software / Re: Cooler Warping

« on: October 04, 2010, 09:35:41 AM »

Mine will do it in the cooler months, but not in the heat of summer.  I considered putting a gasket around the lid to seal it better, but the problem did not persist and I never followed up. 

Never too much of an issue with holding heat.

232

All Grain Brewing / Re: Mash ppm in = Mash ppm out?

« on: October 04, 2010, 09:33:19 AM »

Good luck. 

233

All Grain Brewing / Re: Mash ppm in = Mash ppm out?

« on: October 04, 2010, 09:29:18 AM »

I asked this question with reference to grain absorption a few months ago.  The closest thing to a consensus I got on the subject was that it was reasonable to assume that the grain would absorb the minerals dissolved in the mash water they absorbed.  In other words, for purposes of determining kettle mineral additions, the first runnings would not be presumed to have a higher concentration of minerals as a result of the grain absorbing water, but not minerals.

234

Equipment and Software / Re: Brewpots

« on: September 30, 2010, 09:08:01 AM »

If you have a drink cooler for your sparge water, that will hold temp better.  I have a 40 qt kettle with a valve and thermometer for sale.  If you're interested, shoot me an email at dnortonames (at) yahoo (dot) com.

235

Classifieds / Re: For Sale: 10 Gallon MegaPot with Valve and Thermometer

« on: September 28, 2010, 11:22:09 AM »

And here's a current picture.  Sorry for the crappy cell phone shot.  The thermometer is not actually blurry. 

236

Pimp My System / Re: Kegerator Showcase

« on: September 28, 2010, 09:43:22 AM »

After 7 years of having a freestanding kegerator in the laundry room, I was able to convince my wife to go with a more permanent solution.  When there's food on it, it's a dining room buffet.  Otherwise, it's the bar.  The old freestanding summit is now on lagering duty.

237

Classifieds / SOLD: 10 Gallon MegaPot with Valve and Thermometer

« on: September 28, 2010, 09:28:21 AM »

I'm upsizing the brewery and am offering up my 10 gallon MegaPot purchased from Northern Brewer.  The pot has a stainless 1/2" weldless valve fitting.  Last year, I had a 1/2" female threaded port added above the valve to accommodate an mpt thermometer.  The thermometer is included as well as the lid.  

The pot has been used as a brew kettle and, later, as a hot liquor tank.  It is in great shape, but does have some discoloration on the bottom of the pot as well as the inside floor from normal use.  

I will add some better pictures later, but this is the kettle in action (prior to thermometer installation).



$160 plus actual shipping cost to be paid by buyer from zip code 75703.



I take paypal.

Please email me with any questions.  dnortonames (at) yahoo (dot) com.

238

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: The Dreaded O Word

« on: September 02, 2010, 09:42:33 AM »

I have a spot in the corner of the garage for the brew stand.  Kettles are stored in place.  I have shelving next to it with the mash tun and two plastic storage boxes full of hoses, worth chiller, and various gear.  In my closet, in the house, I have another storage box with things necessary to make starters (flask, stir plate, extra specialty grain) and deal with kegging, cleaning.  Iodophor and oxyclean are under the sink since that's where they get used.  I also have a small toolbox that contains all of the little stuff, stir bars, grommets, thermometers, gaskets, servomyces, lactic, etc, etc.

I don't do bulk grain storage, but may some day.  I need to relocate my grain mill and motor/table over by the stand since my old summit kegerator is going to be positioned next to my other storage fridge on that side of the garage.

239

Kegging and Bottling / Re: commercial vs homebrew carbonation/serving

« on: August 25, 2010, 09:42:43 AM »

I have run commercial kegs next to home brew kegs.  You are correct about many commercial kegs coming from the brewery highly carbonated (about 3 volumes).  I have done a lot of different things to work with foam issues and seem to have found a happy place.

1.  Longer lines.  I am running a tower and use 10 ft. of line.  Yes, I know the formula indicates I should be fine with 5', but that never worked out in the real world of my kegerator.
2.  Dual regulators.  Much easier to keep things finely tuned.
3.  Bleed pressure completely from commercial keg before hooking up the gas.
4.  Fan to keep air circulation in the fridge at maximum.  I don't even blow it into the tower any more.  But keeping the temps a bit more uniform in the upper portions of the fridge really seems to help. 
5.  Toss the lines behind the keg close to the cooling element.
6.  Short pull at first to get cold beer into the faucet, count to 15 or so, then pull the beer.
7.  Ventmatic or Perlick forward seal faucets.

240

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Your Homebrew Name

« on: August 25, 2010, 09:35:38 AM »

DCBC

Dry County Brewing Concern

I live in a dry county (for now) and this concerns me.