Messages

31

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: How to Add Vanilla

« on: March 23, 2012, 05:15:16 PM »

Soaking the beans in vodka (or bourbon, for a little more interesting flavor) does the trick. I don't like to add too much liquid, as the flavor can get overpowering. The last batch, I added one bean, split and soaked in vodka, for about a week and the vanilla flavor was just right.

32

General Homebrew Discussion / Sanitizer question

« on: March 08, 2012, 05:58:14 PM »

How long can sanitizer stay 'potent' after it is mixed with water? Is there an expiration date on this stuff? I'm going to be a lot of beer stuff over a series of days and don't want to have to mix up a fresh bucket every time.

33

General Homebrew Discussion / Trucking wort?

« on: January 18, 2012, 07:14:57 PM »

Hey everyone,
I got a message from a buddy of mine down in Tennessee, who said Granite City Brewery makes their wort in Iowa, and then trucks it to other locations to be "finished off"? Frankly, this seems ridiculous to me. But are any of you aware of a good reason to do this?

Here's what he said:
"This isn't for a story, but it came up in the process of reporting on a new brewery expanding to this area. Granite City says they begin the brewing process in Iowa then truck the wort to their locations across the Midwest and finish the beers
there. They'll be using this practice for a new location in Williamson County, TN, just south of Nashville."

34

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: 1st Saison

« on: January 06, 2012, 06:13:14 PM »

I say try one a week and judge for yourself. My saisons have always aged out well. If you like spice, then that will fade, of course. But I personally prefer Saisons that have not been spiced.

35

General Homebrew Discussion / Boza recipe?

« on: January 06, 2012, 06:09:28 PM »

Does anybody have experience making boza? I've heard it's pretty interesting stuff and would like to try making a batch.

36

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Online Hop Growing Info?

« on: January 03, 2012, 10:21:53 AM »

The Vermont Extension has some great information, particularly if you live in the Northeast. Here's a link to the hop site: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/hops

Also, I did an interview with the extension people who were leading a hop growing initiative in the state. The post has been the most read on my website: http://www.brewsreporter.com/hop-growing-at-home/

37

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Dry hopping

« on: December 18, 2011, 11:21:54 AM »

Toss them in. I actually use the nylon bag at bottling time by fitting it over the end of the siphon tubing and straining it into the bottling bucket (or keg).

38

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Foamy keg?

« on: December 15, 2011, 05:53:53 PM »

Definitely a chance for an obstruction -- I threw 2 oz. of whole leaf hops in the keg for dry hopping. Should I go in an pull them out?

39

General Homebrew Discussion / Foamy keg?

« on: December 15, 2011, 03:56:42 PM »

I just kegged my third beer and, for whatever reason, it's super foamy. Force carbonation and I used the same process as before. Basically 30 psi over night, and then 10 psi after that. Still, all I get is foam coming out of the tap. Anybody have experience with this?

40

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Freon/Kegerator question

« on: November 27, 2011, 12:16:01 PM »

Yup...just checked. It's R12. Looks like I'll be consulting a professional.

41

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Freon/Kegerator question

« on: November 22, 2011, 06:39:05 PM »

Thanks guys. I'll check it out. Guess it was free for a reason.

42

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Chocolate flavor in Porter

« on: November 21, 2011, 01:54:17 PM »

I prefer cocoa nibs to powder. It adds a nice roasted character and seems "cleaner" in the mouthfeel. Never used extract, but seems like an obvious and simple way to go.

43

General Homebrew Discussion / Freon/Kegerator question

« on: November 21, 2011, 01:49:46 PM »

I just got a "Superior" brand 3-tap keg system from someone, and while the compressor and fan appear to work well, it struggles to keep anything cold. It's a hand-me-down system and probably at least 20 years old. The guy who gave it to me said it could use some freon, but was unsure of what type it needed. Anybody have advice on what type of freon this would need, and also how I could go about charging it?

44

Other Fermentables / Re: Heat or no heat

« on: September 12, 2011, 10:54:50 AM »

Boiled my first mead, but only because I use well water and raw honey. Time will tell if I'm better off for it, but I think I might just heat the water to sanitation temps next time and mix together with no boil.

45

Yeast and Fermentation / Is it too soon to bottle?

« on: August 27, 2011, 10:14:25 PM »

I've got a batch of Super Saison that has been fermenting in the primary for 4 weeks. The airlock still shows some slow activity (one bubble every 20-30 seconds) but I'm afraid to leave it on the yeast much longer, lest it develop off flavors. Any thoughts? Should I bottle it, rack it to a secondary or let it ride and not worry about it?