Messages

1261

Other Fermentables / Re: Acetic acid curiousity question

« on: March 15, 2012, 08:40:02 am »

I've been messing around with potassium metabilsulfite and potassium sulfate...

potassium sulfate or potassium sorbate?

1262

Other Fermentables / Re: Acid in cider

« on: March 14, 2012, 03:32:04 pm »

First - nice score!
 
I always add to taste. Here is my method which I use for acids, flavorings, etc. -
 
1) Figure out how much acid I think I will want in 5 gallons (many jars of acid come with 'recommendations'.
2) Dissolve 1.5X that amount in 1.5 cups of your fermented beverage (I like cups because there are 48 teaspoons in a cup and a 5 gallon batch is close to 48 12oz servings - makes for easy dilutions).
3) Pour several 6oz portions of fresh cider.
 
4a) Add 1/4 tsp to one (This is a half dose).
4b) Add 1/2 tsp to another (Full dose).
4c) Add 1 tsp to another (Double dose).
4d) etc - You can decide what dosages you want to try.
 
5) Stir, taste and decide which tastes best. Try other dosages if you think it needs it.
 
6) Use the original dosing cider to add acid to the full batch. If you like the 'full dose' version best, then add 1 cup to 5 gallons. 1/2 dose would be 1/2 cup in 5 gallons. If you want to increase the dose from your original estimate, you might have to mix up more.
 
I use malic acid since it is the acid in apples. I know other people use acid blend too.
 

1263

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: You know you're obsessed with homebrewing when...

« on: March 14, 2012, 09:06:11 am »

You think you're low on beer when you have less than a 6 month supply of homebrew ready to drink.

1264

Ingredients / Re: does rye malt always have a gray-blueish tint to it?

« on: March 14, 2012, 06:16:16 am »

Not rye specifically, but I feel like I've seen other malts with this. Hard to tell without seeing what you've got myself.

1265

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What is your perfect spring beer?

« on: March 14, 2012, 06:13:41 am »

Dogfish Aprihop (apricot IPA) is my favorite, though I've never tried to brew something like it.

1266

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Condo Brewing

« on: March 14, 2012, 05:52:26 am »

One of the elements on my electric stove appears to be powered by a small nuclear reactor and I can easily boil full 5gal batches.  You might give it a try with water before modifying your equipment.

1267

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Ramping Up the Temp at the End of Fermentation - How Warm is Too Warm?

« on: March 13, 2012, 06:06:29 am »

Not much fermentation actually occurred while it was warm, so not much to worry about.

1268

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Re-yeasting already bottled beer

« on: March 13, 2012, 06:04:49 am »

I agree that champagne yeast might be dangerous. S-05 sounds like a good idea.

1269

Kegging and Bottling / Re: I need some sort of leaf filter

« on: March 12, 2012, 05:21:54 am »

Shame on you all - hops are not leaves.

1270

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Got the cops called on me!

« on: March 11, 2012, 07:30:36 pm »

law enforcement officials do need a search warrant to legally enter your house, unless you invite them in. Perhaps this was due to their inexperience.

It is not inexperience, they are trained to talk their way in. As long as you agree, it is legal.
 
I'd probably invite them in the garage, since they'd be standing in the doorway anyway and with the goal of educating them. But also if one states that the smell is hops and malt boiling and that you are homebrewing which is legal, they shouldn't need or expect to come in. If you politely say no I don't think they'd feel provoked.  If they had ANY probable cause they wouldn't be asking anyway, because they wouldn't need the warrant.

1271

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Got the cops called on me!

« on: March 11, 2012, 09:00:18 am »

I brewed beer at our state fair last year as a demonstration. Most people who stopped by were interested, but one lady thought I was joking - and when I finally convinced her that we really were brewing beer she looked at me like I was demonstrating how to manufacture heroin.

1272

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Smoked Blueberry Tea Bier: Too crazy or insightfully brilliant?

« on: March 10, 2012, 10:41:00 am »

Word, maybe I'll just add a bunch more crazy stuff to secondary to "fix" it if it tastes funny

Good idea.
 
Two lbs of blueberries probably won't add much fruit character anyway. Boiling the tea bag might had released tannins (blueberry skins have tannins too). Taste it and you'll know.

1273

Other Fermentables / Re: Spanish/Basque/Asturian Sidra (Spanish Cider)

« on: March 10, 2012, 09:47:14 am »

Many ciders use the natural yeasts present on the apple (maybe) and on cider pressing equipment.
I actually think the underground fermenters are ceramic or something like that. I remember an article about a cidery in Virginia (iirc) that was using this process, but damn - I can't remember their name or any details.

1274

The Pub / Re: Keurig praise

« on: March 09, 2012, 08:57:31 am »

[  They probably have such good customer service because they don't want people like me bad mouthing them to others who might want to buy one. 

this is the reason for most good customer service

Maybe they also make more money licensing the K-cups than on the machines, so they'd rather be generous replacing machines than loose you as a customer.

1275

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Beer Cases! Help!

« on: March 09, 2012, 06:52:10 am »

Cool. They also sell an insert so you can dry your bottles in the case instead of on a bottle tree.
 
http://www.cwcrate.com/Drying-T-s-for-Beer-Bottles-p/24-12-t.htm