Messages

31

Hop Growing / Re: Hops in pots 2013 (second year)

« on: May 27, 2013, 09:42:32 pm »

I have no idea   I can't make out anything in that picture, but you might be able to google your description and find a matching picture.

32

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: can you repair a beer

« on: May 26, 2013, 09:39:47 pm »

Preboil, mine is always high, but the wort runs into the kettle through the bottom so that kind of makes sense.  Nothing like having your gravity drop after boiling for an hour . . . now I take a reading after the hot break to gauge where it is, it has been mixed enough by then to give me a reliable number.

33

Hop Growing / Re: Hops in pots 2013 (second year)

« on: May 26, 2013, 09:25:19 pm »

Saw sine kind of bugs on the leaves today so I sprayed with insecticidal soap.

You should probably identify the bugs before you start spraying with soap.  There are beneficial bugs too

I killed some weird looking bugs on my hops one year, only to find out that they were juvenile ladybugs and were eating the aphids on the hops.  These guys are your friends:

34

Ingredients / Re: Sinamar: Not the Right Coloring Agent for a Black IPA

« on: May 26, 2013, 09:20:31 pm »

Sinamar has flavor, at least to me, it is not just black food coloring.  I suppose if you only use a little you would lose the flavor.

35

Equipment and Software / Re: Pump Selection

« on: May 26, 2013, 09:09:16 pm »

I see NB has an 809 and 815. Would the 809 be sufficient? Also, is the flow controllable, or is it wide open when it runs?

You need to throttle the outlet with a ball valve.

36

Going Pro / Re: New opportunity...

« on: May 25, 2013, 09:09:06 am »

These are the boots I like:

http://www.muckboots.com/product/MB-JOB-000A.htm

Easy on, and just high enough that my pant leg reaches over the top of them.

Those look good, although I prefer ones I can just step in to.

37

Going Pro / Re: New opportunity...

« on: May 25, 2013, 09:06:41 am »

Also, everytime a head brewer puts a tri-clamp down or a screwdriver or wrench ask him .... "is that where that goes?" He'll love that.

38

The Pub / Re: bridge collapse

« on: May 24, 2013, 07:19:04 pm »

I was on my way to work this morning and I'm connecting to I5 in a few miles and see an electronic sign that says "I5 closed, use alternate routes".  I was thinking, what do you mean I5 is closed?  What's going on?

Then the sign changes to say "I5 closed at exit 227", which is where the bridge failed and is like 60 miles north of me.  What the hell?  If I was going that way, there is no decent alternate route.  You drive all the way up there, take some local detour around the failed bridge, then get back on I5.  Do I really need to plan that from 60 miles away?

Dumb.

39

Ingredients / Re: Sinamar: Not the Right Coloring Agent for a Black IPA

« on: May 24, 2013, 07:10:09 pm »

I like sinamar for making a CDA when I split a batch of IPA - one carboy gets it, one doesn't.  It works well.  But I wouldn't use it to make a batch of dark beer, I would just use malt for that.

40

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: English brown ale

« on: May 24, 2013, 07:04:01 pm »

Oxidized flavors can be like dried fruit, depending on the malt bill.  But it could also be the recipe, dark crystal comes across as dried fruit too.

41

Going Pro / Re: New opportunity...

« on: May 24, 2013, 06:58:38 pm »

My pair are slip ons, too. They were about $100, but well worth it.

I don't mind the money if they are good and will last.

42

Going Pro / Re: New opportunity...

« on: May 24, 2013, 11:03:31 am »

What boots do you recommend?  I haven't found any that I love.

I wear pretty basic calf-height work boots. The key (for me at least) was to get some with decent support. The disposable insoles really help me too. http://www.shoesforcrews.com/sfc3/index.cfm?changeWebsite=US_en&route=c_store.viewDetailsOfProduct&partnumber=2060

I like the price   I also like that they are slip-on, I don't want to have to lace up boots.

+1 to good boots and a change of clothes, all the way down to underwear. Worse burn I ever got at brewery was on my foot, stupidly wearing tennis shoes. Make sure the boots you buy have excellent support. I used to run 30 miles a week but my feet never hurt the way they did standing on concrete for a year in piss poor shoes. You might want to look into some inserts, too.

What boots do you recommend?  I haven't found any that I love.

Definitely a change of clothes and eye protection.

I love the pair I have now. I'll send you the name tomorrow (I think they are called "Rocky" or something, I'm off today). Totally water proof and I can stand in them all day.

I had a pair of Red Wings and they were comfy as hell on concrete but they fell aprt under a year.

Thanks, let me know.

43

The Pub / Re: bridge collapse

« on: May 24, 2013, 10:57:56 am »

As far a I know, that's a pretty good grade compared to other states.  This is what decades of not investing in our infrastructure gets us.

Careful now, only commies love bridges!

Commies and people who like to cross rivers and lakes without getting wet, or getting on a boat of some sort.

44

Going Pro / Re: New opportunity...

« on: May 24, 2013, 09:20:43 am »

+1 to good boots and a change of clothes, all the way down to underwear. Worse burn I ever got at brewery was on my foot, stupidly wearing tennis shoes. Make sure the boots you buy have excellent support. I used to run 30 miles a week but my feet never hurt the way they did standing on concrete for a year in piss poor shoes. You might want to look into some inserts, too.

What boots do you recommend?  I haven't found any that I love.

Definitely a change of clothes and eye protection.

45

Extract/Partial Mash Brewing / Re: 2nd Extract questions

« on: May 24, 2013, 09:13:18 am »

Based on the latest pic, it looks like you need some kind of heat diffusion between the burner and the pot.  This could be a piece of metal, moving the pot further from the burner, or getting a thicker bottomed pot.  Or maybe you can just turn the gas down, full blast is not always a great idea.  It is obviously getting too hot right above the flames.