Home Brewers

#251
#251
USAF_Vol said:
How are you cooling it down?

Doesn't it have to get pretty cool? Not lager temps I don't think.
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The optimum temp is 56-64. Ive got it sitting on the floor under an air vent. Its staying about 70, which is a little warm but my last one turned out good.

I planned on using my old beer fridge for lagering when I got my keezer built but there is a little shelf in the back bottom so when I put a carboy in it the inside of the door hits it. Im going to have to build the bottom up about 5 inches to get it over that shelf. Then I will be able to slide the carboy all the way back and shut the door.
 
#252
#252
I've been thinking about it for years, and I'm going to venture into my first real home brew this weekend. I did a Mr. Beer many years ago in college, and learned just enough to know it needed to be way more sanitary than my college apartment could supply.

A buddy of mine is big into brewing, and I'm going to go observe and assist a blueberry concoction brew on Saturday. Next Friday will be an Oktoberfest. I'm super excited about it, as I feel like I've finally got a hands on foot in the door to the world of home brew.
 
#253
#253
USAF & Darth - be interested in a Kölsch whenever it is ready. My Alt is ready now. If you send me a name and post office location, I can send it for general delivery. Understand you might not be comfortable putting that on a site like this. Maybe you have a friend or neighbor who doesn't mind using their name or if you have a company name you can use. Not sure of a better way to do it?

When the Kölsch is ready, I'll give you a name and post office address.

Darth - you can fill a single bottle growler from a keg or a standard bottle and cap it, assume you still got the equipment. When I came back from Germany I brought several single bottle growlers filled with good stuff.
 
#254
#254
USAF_Vol said:
What kit did you buy? Glass or better bottles or bucket fermenter?

First homebrew I tried when a buddy for me into it was an Irish red. It was really good. I might try it.

Glad to have another homebrewer. Post often here.
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I got the deluxe starter kit with glassware.
 
#256
#256
slh1089 said:
I got the deluxe starter kit with glassware.
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Great choice. Make sure you watch the video for both kits. They fail to mention bottle priming in the deluxe tutorial. Not sure if they fixed that since I got mine.
 
#257
#257
Having a moment of silence for the last pumpkin ale.

It was a good batch and will be fondly remembered.....
 
#259
#259
USAF_Vol said:
Great choice. Make sure you watch the video for both kits. They fail to mention bottle priming in the deluxe tutorial. Not sure if they fixed that since I got mine.
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I'm kinda one to make sure I have seen the directions as much as possible. I have already read the beginning directions three times over from Charlie Papazian's book. Eagerly awaiting the arrival of my equipment. It should come in tomorrow.
 
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#260
#260
Going to brew an Oktoberfest next Friday, better late than never. Aside from the multiple malts, any suggestions on ingredient adds? We're thinking maybe some maple syrup, or a little cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, etc. We don't want to get it too pumpkinny, though.
 
#261
#261
Found this baby online today:




tenn_2_tap_large.jpg
 
#262
#262
Blueberry witbier went into the primary last night. We boiled a pound of blueberries for 30 minutes, not sure how that'll turn out. Got 5 pounds of blueberries for the secondary in 2 weeks.
 
#265
#265
PotS said:
Blueberry witbier went into the primary last night. We boiled a pound of blueberries for 30 minutes, not sure how that'll turn out. Got 5 pounds of blueberries for the secondary in 2 weeks.
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Not as serious are good with quality control like Darth and USAF but have experimented with adding fruit and herbs. My experience is not to cook the additional ingredients too long. We drop them in the last 5 minutes. Otherwise the taste is extremely weak.

Welcome to the world of home brewing!
 
#266
#266
SmokeySteve said:
Not as serious are good with quality control like Darth and USAF but have experimented with adding fruit and herbs. My experience is not to cook the additional ingredients too long. We drop them in the last 5 minutes. Otherwise the taste is extremely weak.

Welcome to the world of home brewing!
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We were concerned about boiling too long, both for boiling out taste and adding bitterness. We dropped them halfway through, and REALLY darkened things up. Hopefully using 5 pounds in the secondary will intensify the fruit.
 
#267
#267
PotS said:
We were concerned about boiling too long, both for boiling out taste and adding bitterness. We dropped them halfway through, and REALLY darkened things up. Hopefully using 5 pounds in the secondary will intensify the fruit.
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You'll have to let us know how that turns out. Ive heard some say not to boil blueberries and others say they do. I didn't add any to the boil but will be adding six lbs to secondary.
 
#269
#269
DarthVaul said:
I always went by the date I bottle. Now I go by the date I keg. I keep a spreadsheet of this stuff. My wife thinks Im nuts. :)
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I have a book I log notes in. Brew dates bottle dates. Secondary transfers. When active ferm begins. Amount if prime sugar. Temp ranges for fermenting.

Nobody has said anything but it seems normal to me lol. Always good to keep notes
 
#270
#270
USAF_Vol said:
I have a book I log notes in. Brew dates bottle dates. Secondary transfers. When active ferm begins. Amount if prime sugar. Temp ranges for fermenting.

Nobody has said anything but it seems normal to me lol. Always good to keep notes
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I hear ya, my spreadsheet has brew date, transfer date, bottle\keg date, OG, FG, final ABV. I got a tab I call calendar where I list seasonals I want to brew. I have a shopping list tab where I list equipment I want to buy next. There's tabs where I keep recipes and changes Ive made. Notes on which beers I like and don't like. I got tired of making a beer and not documenting anything then I cant reproduce it. Now I go a little over board. I think if I handled my finances like my brew logs Id be a millionaire.
 
#272
#272
DarthVaul said:
Racked my wheat into the carboy tonight over six lbs of blueberries. Hope this turns out good.
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About 9 days behind ya. =)

You said you did NOT boil the berries, right?

We'll definitely have to compare!
 
#273
#273
PotS said:
About 9 days behind ya. =)

You said you did NOT boil the berries, right?

We'll definitely have to compare!
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I did not, I read about many different methods. I decided to puree them pour in the carboy and rack over them. This morning fermentation has started back up. I'm getting a bubble about every four seconds out of the airlock.

What did boiling do to the berries? I read where some people said it caused them to gel. Others said they always boil them.
 
#274
#274
DarthVaul said:
I did not, I read about many different methods. I decided to puree them pour in the carboy and rack over them. This morning fermentation has started back up. I'm getting a bubble about every four seconds out of the airlock.

What did boiling do to the berries? I read where some people said it caused them to gel. Others said they always boil them.
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We boiled for half an hour, didn't notice any gelling. By the time we pulled the bag, though, most of the berries had disintegrated. The boil also went from a hazy yellow to a deep burgundy the instant the bag hit the water

We lost about a gallon and a half when we went into the fermenter, we had a TON of sediment. Not sure if it was the berries though, because we milled the grain too fine and also got a stuck sparge.
 
#275
#275
I helped a friend brew an Octoberfest beer last night. He has all the equipment. I want to get a kegerator that holds 3 "soda kegs" and we are talking about rotating houses and brewing different batches.

Good times.
 
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