Messages

1

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: PBW vs Oxiclean

« on: October 13, 2018, 03:00:43 AM »

I have a bottle of antiformin S to try next brew day. Is supposed to be something special but gloves and goggles are a must.

If your going to go all 'gloves and goggles' might as well just use sodium hydroxide. It's cheap and there is no doubt as to it's effectiveness.

2

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Keg Sanitizing

« on: October 08, 2018, 03:45:33 AM »

Sodium hydroxide is great for cleaning but bad for your skin and especially bad with even the smallest amount in your eyes.

3

Equipment and Software / Re: Best grain mill available today.

« on: October 01, 2018, 02:44:03 AM »

That's interesting. I've had the MM3 for a couple years now and never had the 3rd roll not turn. I do clean regularly though with compressed air and lube the bushings with a drop of food grade oil.

4

Pimp My System / Re: My Professional Basement Brewery

« on: September 18, 2018, 04:48:43 AM »

I would have thought the lazy brewers round here would be all over a system like this.

5

Ingredients / Re: Pilsner Enzymes for a Bread Ale

« on: August 30, 2018, 02:55:45 AM »

Man.. I want a hunk of that bread in the picture!

6

Equipment and Software / Re: Passivating New Stainless Steel

« on: August 27, 2018, 04:11:23 AM »

Passivation has two parts, first removing the free iron and enriching the chromium layer and then secondly oxidizing that chromium to create the 'stainless' surface. Nitric acid works well because it does both at the same time but is nasty to work with and dispose of properly. Citric is great for removing the iron but is not an oxidizing acid but that's not a problem since oxidation happens later during exposure to air. Citric is much nicer to handle.

7

Equipment and Software / Re: Passivating New Stainless Steel

« on: August 22, 2018, 04:11:57 AM »

Very true. Phosphoric acid doesn't passivate stainless. You need nitric or citric acid to do the job correctly. Nitric acid as not fun to work with or dispose of but citric is, and it's cheap too. Just use a 4% solution at 160 to 180f for a couple hours. Save your Starsan for sanitation.

8

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Personal Preference Terroir?

« on: August 15, 2018, 12:24:36 AM »

When I grew up my grandparents spoke German, served me weißbier and made me eat stollen at Christmas time.
I probably don't need to take a DNA test.

That is Elizabeth Warren's argument. She grew up believing that she was native American and that was her family culture. She says that there is no point to taking a DNA test but her political opponents say otherwise. I am sorry to inject politics into this discussion but I agree that if you grow up immersed in a culture then you can say that is your heritage regardless of DNA.

Gasp.. maybe dear old Grandma had a thing for the Irish milkman?
Maybe it's better I don't know. 

9

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Personal Preference Terroir?

« on: August 14, 2018, 04:28:05 AM »

When I grew up my grandparents spoke German, served me weißbier and made me eat stollen at Christmas time.
I probably don't need to take a DNA test.

10

Ingredients / Re: Interesting Brewtan B reaction

« on: August 08, 2018, 04:31:43 AM »

Brown water, pink water, purple water.  DOES THIS BOTHER NO ONE?! 🤣
I kid! I kid! Sort of...

Funny.. I was thinking exactly the same thing.

11

Equipment and Software / Re: 3-piece ball valve alternatives

« on: August 07, 2018, 03:27:05 AM »

I've got a couple of these in my system. They come apart fast but are large, heavy and pricey.

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15_2pbv_ez_npt12.htm

12

Yeast and Fermentation / Re: Optimizing yeast starters.

« on: August 03, 2018, 03:54:36 AM »

117 views and no comments. Wow! That's got to be a record! :-)

It's way cool you have a laminar flow hood at your house!

13

Kegging and Bottling / Re: Flying with capped bottles

« on: August 02, 2018, 03:26:40 AM »

Every time I come back from Europe my suitcase is full of bottles wrapped in clothes. Haven't lost one yet.

14

Equipment and Software / Re: immersion chiller and lids - how to seal kettle

« on: August 01, 2018, 02:39:16 AM »

I use an old lid with holes cut to pass the chiller standpipes.

15

Other Fermentables / Re: About to Start Brewing Regularly

« on: July 30, 2018, 02:56:51 AM »

Sasha, you were gone for so long. I missed reading your posts.