Messages

1486

The Pub / Re: Blue Rhino

« on: November 22, 2011, 02:08:02 PM »

We have one place in town, a dive shop, that will fill CO2 while you wait.  The guy who runs it is (I'll be charitable) a bit disagreeable.  I find the nice, happy and friendly atmosphere of the fire supplies place far out weighs the need to go back in a few days to pick up the tank over getting b!@#ed at about my "apparently illegal" activities.

Draft beer is illegal!? New one every day...

1487

Ingredients / Re: Flaked Oats vs. Old Fashioned Oats

« on: November 22, 2011, 01:57:20 PM »

I toasted oats and entered a competition and judges noted the toasty/nutty oat flavor.

I always use Quaker and never buy flaked oats from the homebrew shop. I use 'Old Fashioned', not instant or quick. Of course, that's also what I use to make oatmeal.

1488

All Things Food / Re: Anyone have any brew based Thanksgiving recipes they would like to share?

« on: November 22, 2011, 01:47:49 PM »

Macaroni and IPA cheese sauce - though whether mac and cheese is thanksgiving fair depends on what part of the country you're from.

1489

All Things Food / Cider brined turkey

« on: November 22, 2011, 11:21:56 AM »

This year we're going to brine our turkey with our hard cider from last year. I was surprised - when I searched for ideas I found a cider brine recipe from Emeril, so we're going to follow that with a few changes. Our version is below.


2 22oz bottles hard cider (ours)
3 quarts fresh apple cider
2 cups Kosher salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon whole allspice
4 cinnamon sticks
4 bay leaves
4 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs rosemary
4 sprigs oregano
1 gallon ice water

1490

Pimp My System / Re: Brewenstein - The Brewing Monster

« on: November 22, 2011, 07:54:04 AM »

One improvement I'd love to make would be thermostatically controlled electric elements in my hot liquor tank. I'd love to be able to wake up, fill the tank, set temp and flick a switch. Then go have coffee knowing hot water would be ready when I am.

1491

Pimp My System / Re: Tap Handle Project

« on: November 22, 2011, 07:50:45 AM »

Try Adobe Photoshop Elements, which also has a trial.  I use photoshop (full version) for my labels, but elements is $79. I'm not sure what it is missing.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements/features._sl_id-contentfilter_sl_solution_sl_Explore%2Bwhat%2Byou%2Bcan%2Bdo.html

1492

Equipment and Software / Re: "BeerBug" Wireless Specific Gravity - applicability?

« on: November 19, 2011, 08:51:33 AM »

Like madrungard said, a SG probe would be a cool tool. And if it reads gravity independent of temperature, it would be a useful tool throughout the process for reading SG during mashing and boiling.

1493

Pimp My System / Re: Brewenstein - The Brewing Monster

« on: November 18, 2011, 09:14:21 AM »

Very nice! The tun lift is a great idea! And the hop-strainer- might have to try that.

I love gravity, though a pump is invaluable.

In the end, a pump would probably have been cheaper and easier, though less fun.

The hop strainer is a stainless braid stuck on a stainless hose barb fitting and secured with a stainless hose clamp.

1494

Equipment and Software / Re: pickup tube

« on: November 18, 2011, 07:39:49 AM »

Know someone that can weld stainless?  Rather than go rigging up something complicated, just cut the current fitting off, widen the hole, and weld a stainless female coupler in there. The coupler is probably wider than the pipe that's on there.

1495

Equipment and Software / Re: Adding ball valve to brew kettle

« on: November 17, 2011, 09:14:04 AM »

I did that and it works well. I also added a stainless braid to strain hops.



www.bargainfittings.com has a lot of options, including pickup tubes.

1496

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Competition - Bottle Condition? or Keg and Bottle?

« on: November 17, 2011, 06:52:36 AM »

Also, temperature changes cause CO2 to come out of solution (especially warming) so it helps to have the bottles at the same temp or a little colder than the keg.

1497

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Competition - Bottle Condition? or Keg and Bottle?

« on: November 16, 2011, 08:56:32 PM »

Neither is supposed to be preferred. You should do whatever works best for you.

1498

Pimp My System / Brewenstein - The Brewing Monster

« on: November 16, 2011, 08:52:43 PM »

My wife, Lori, and I built our own brewing system last summer. It builds on the system and techniques that we have learned - which was a 10G rubbermaid cooler mash tun, 7.5G kettle, and batch sparging. Previously, we were constantly lifting buckets, kettles, and mash tuns full of liquid several times during a brew session. Everyone loves a new gadget, but we also wanted our brewing to remain hands-on as much as possible while removing grunt work.

So looking to use the techniques we were used to, not wanting to buy a pump, and wanting to be able to get it out under my garage door left us with one option - build a '2.5 tier' brew system. The mash tun sits on a winch operated lift so that all liquid movement is done by gravity.  I believe its the first of its kind. I've seen kettles and hot liquor tanks that raise, but not mash tuns (I didn't to an exhaustive search though).



There are many more pictures of the build and first brew here, with captions explaining how it works.

https://picasaweb.google.com/Jimmy.Kroon/BrewensteinABrewingMonster

Enjoy!

1499

Beer Travel / Re: Portland Oregon, near convention center

« on: November 16, 2011, 01:43:52 PM »

Thailand sounds like a great opportunity. I wouldn't pass that up. Portland is by far my favorite beer city - so many options its unbelievable.

1500

Other Fermentables / Re: Dare I ask, "What About Mr Beer" Cider Kit?

« on: November 16, 2011, 01:31:02 PM »

I like Premier Cuvee because its cold tolerant to ~40F. I used it last year with cider fermenting in my garage in December/January and them outside temp was just over 40F. The results blew my mind over previous room temp fermentations.

This probably isn't a concern in Houston though.