Messages

31

Equipment and Software / Re: BetterBottle transport

« on: March 22, 2012, 07:05:02 pm »

I use the carboy straps with my better bottles.  They work like a champ!

32

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: How many of you filter your homebrew before kegging/bottling?

« on: March 22, 2012, 07:02:19 pm »

"If god wanted us to filter our beer, he wouldn't have given us livers." - Bell's Brewing

Love the quote!  I only use whirlfloc and have never had the itch to use a filter.  Just my personal preference though.

33

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: lagers; to rack or not to rack?

« on: March 22, 2012, 06:57:32 pm »

As others have chimed in I agree.  After the diacetyl rest rack to another fermentor for lagering.

34

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: On This Day in 1989...

« on: March 22, 2012, 06:55:25 pm »

I believe I started around 2003.  My wife had actually started brewing a few years before I did.  She joined the SCA, at the suggestion of a friend, to learn how to brew.  As I look back our beers back then were drinkable but not great.  Mostly we fermented too warm which resulted in that lovely estery flavor.  Now we know better.  Man, do I love brewing.  What would I be doing if it wasn't for homebrewing?

35

All Grain Brewing / Re: metric nerdery please: calculation question

« on: March 22, 2012, 06:45:00 pm »

I started using metric when I realized that, on my system, at 75% brewhouse efficiency and brewing a 6 gallon batch ( approx 23L ). I could just use the last 3 digits of the OG to calculate how many kg of grain I needed for a batch.  e.g. 1.050 OG would require 5.0kg of grain  I still use degrees F for temp but I am also switched over to liters for volume.  The metric system makes things so much easier.   

36

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: What's Brewing This Weekend - 3/9 Edition

« on: March 11, 2012, 12:30:53 pm »

Brewing up a munich helles today.  Yesterday my wife & I bottled 9 gal of wine and racked 3 other batches of wine.  I also need to bottle an IPA and transfer a schwarzbier for lagering.  whew.   

37

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Beer Cases! Help!

« on: March 08, 2012, 03:19:56 pm »

I don't have any of the crates from cwcrates.com but I know someone who does.  I took a look at them and they are very nice.  The person I know who has some really likes them.  I haven't checked the prices but I was told the prices are quite reasonable.  Hope this helps.

cheers,
Brandon

38

Equipment and Software / Re: What NOT to do when you have beer fermenting in a freezer chest

« on: March 07, 2012, 04:09:09 pm »

LOL.  I have not done that before but the smell in the chest freezer when I am fermenting in there is something else.  I can only imagine what it would be like to take a big whiff.   

39

Equipment and Software / Re: Cheap IR thermometer

« on: March 04, 2012, 03:56:30 pm »

Like Martin I have one from Harbor Freight.  The one I have is reasonably accurate at cooler temps.  When trying to measure hot water ( strike water temps ) it seems to be off by a few degrees.  I like to use it but only for a round about measurement.  If I want to get a more accurate temp I use my instant read thermometer.

40

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why I brew

« on: March 02, 2012, 09:13:46 am »

My wife actually started homebrewing before I did.  After helping her for awhile I decided to brew up some of my own stuff.  It was all downhill from there ( or uphill depending on your perspective ).  There is so much to learn about homebrewing which feeds my thirst for knowledge.  It also is a great way to create my own recipes & if it turns out well then others may enjoy it as well.  I like to say that half the fun of brewing is sharing.  I really enjoy the feedback I get from friends & family.  I am always striving to improve my process & product to make the best beer possible.  There are so many styles that it makes it fun to brew up new ones that we have not done before.

41

Pimp My System / Re: Brew Stand 3.0

« on: February 26, 2012, 09:31:57 am »

Gorgeous!  I would love to have a horizontal brew stand but that is for another day.

42

The Pub / Re: Consider this before you go out drinking this weekend...

« on: February 24, 2012, 09:17:11 pm »

And, it causes me to know everything.   

43

Equipment and Software / Re: Software?

« on: February 23, 2012, 07:29:17 pm »

+1 Beersmith2  It has a lot of great features and is quite easy to use.

44

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Favorite brewing podcasts?

« on: February 20, 2012, 05:36:50 pm »

+1 to Brewstrong.  I always get a lot out of that one.  I also really like the Jamil Show.  The Sunday Session is fun to listen to but sometimes find it difficult to dedicate 4 hours to one podcast.

45

The Pub / Re: Happy 60th Birthday Denny!

« on: February 17, 2012, 04:28:26 pm »

Happy Belated Birthday Denny!