Home Brewers

#76
#76
I got all my stuff from northern brewer.

Are partial mash kits difficult? How important is it to be spot on with the temps? Instructions say within 2 degrees of 155 and so on. A little picky dont you think. I know it has something to do with the release of the sugar in the grains but it seems difficult.
 
#77
#77
USAF_Vol said:
I got all my stuff from northern brewer.

Are partial mash kits difficult? How important is it to be spot on with the temps? Instructions say within 2 degrees of 155 and so on. A little picky dont you think. I know it has something to do with the release of the sugar in the grains but it seems difficult.
Click to expand...

Im sticking with the basic malt extract kits until I get comfortable that I know what Im doing. Then I will expand to an all grain brew
 
#78
#78
Good grief bottle washing is a chore. I'm going to buy some if I need them next time. Lesson learned, clean them out after I'm done.
 
#79
#79
I went to a Mexican restaurant down the street and asked them if I could use their dish washing station for washing bottles before they opened, and they did. Had the bottles out of the box, washed and repacked in under five minutes.
 
#80
#80
USAF,

The head of the beer improved when I chilled the beer. I poured it in a glass and had about 2 inches of head on the top. It didnt last real long, but it was pleased
 
#81
#81
USAF_Vol said:
Good grief bottle washing is a chore. I'm going to buy some if I need them next time. Lesson learned, clean them out after I'm done.
Click to expand...

Save every bottle you buy from store bought beer, course make sure they are not screw tops. Also, word of mouth with family and friends helps. In fact a neighbor just dropped off a twelve pack of empties to me tonight. I bribe everyone with 1-2 from each batch.

Not as important with store bought but a must on home brews - rinse them when you are finish one off or they will mold fast. When reusing, remember to mold check before washing them. If it looks like it will be difficult to get all the mold out, don't waste your time, toss that bottle.

Good luck!
 
#82
#82
I have about 50 left I need to really get a good scrub on. I ordered some more PBW so I will let them soak. Hopefully that will make it easier.
 
#83
#83
Getting ready to brew a Pumpkin Ale. We have some frozen home grown pumpkin to use in the kit. From what I've read and talked to other brewers, get mixed answers. Wondering if we need to add a Pumpkin Spice additive or stick with just pure pumpkin.

Anyone got experience with this?
 
#84
#84
SmokeySteve said:
Getting ready to brew a Pumpkin Ale. We have some frozen home grown pumpkin to use in the kit. From what I've read and talked to other brewers, get mixed answers. Wondering if we need to add a Pumpkin Spice additive or stick with just pure pumpkin.

Anyone got experience with this?
Click to expand...

My last brew I put cinnamon, nutmeg and molasses in the boil. It made for a slight pumpkin spice taste. Was amazing.
 
#85
#85
SmokeySteve said:
Getting ready to brew a Pumpkin Ale. We have some frozen home grown pumpkin to use in the kit. From what I've read and talked to other brewers, get mixed answers. Wondering if we need to add a Pumpkin Spice additive or stick with just pure pumpkin.

Anyone got experience with this?
Click to expand...

I brewed a pumpkin ale last fall. I used:
60 oz of Libbys pumpkin pie filling in the last 5 minutes of boil.
brown sugar - at first bubbles of boil.
2 Tbsp Cinnamon
2 Tbsp Nutmeg
5 tsp Vanilla
All spices went in at flameout.

It turned out really good. I will definitely brew again toward the end of summer.
 
#86
#86
CountVolcula said:
Just opened my first bottle to try and its awesome. Ready to try a Stout now
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That's great. The longer you can let them age in the bottle the better they'll get. I know its tough to wait. Im looking forward to St Patrick's Day to break into my irish red.
 
#87
#87
USAF_Vol said:
I got all my stuff from northern brewer.

Are partial mash kits difficult? How important is it to be spot on with the temps? Instructions say within 2 degrees of 155 and so on. A little picky dont you think. I know it has something to do with the release of the sugar in the grains but it seems difficult.
Click to expand...

They come highly recommended.
 
#90
#90
Only got 46 bottles out of that batch. First time using that equipment resulted in a mess.

Hope that does not have any impact on carbonation.

When I got it transferred to the bottling bucket it smelled like flat beer. Had a final gravity of 1.020. My OG was 1.050.
 
#91
#91
Definitely takes a while for them to settle when bottling, I usually fill them all half way then go back and top them off before capping. I really wish I had the space for a keg, though.
 
#92
#92
You think the amount of priming soulution and being short would have any problem? Wish I could keg too. I have plenty of space, too expensive right now. Maybe next yr depending on how good I get.
 
#93
#93
Oh, and this is a great family event. My kids have had a blast helping me. Handing me bottles and caps and holding this and that.

Holding the syphon tubing, the bottle filler in between capping.

During brewing I let them add the hops and dip the grain bag.
 
#94
#94
USAF_Vol said:
Only got 46 bottles out of that batch. First time using that equipment resulted in a mess.

Hope that does not have any impact on carbonation.

When I got it transferred to the bottling bucket it smelled like flat beer. Had a final gravity of 1.020. My OG was 1.050.
Click to expand...

You will be fine.

It will do its work in the bottle
 
#95
#95
USAF_Vol said:
Oh, and this is a great family event. My kids have had a blast helping me. Handing me bottles and caps and holding this and that.

Holding the syphon tubing, the bottle filler in between capping.

During brewing I let them add the hops and dip the grain bag.
Click to expand...

My son helped me the whole time.

I let him crush the grains and when it came time to bottle, he did all the capping
 
#97
#97
CountVolcula said:
You will be fine.

It will do its work in the bottle
Click to expand...

Already got the flashlight looking at the residue on the bottom of the bottles. Looking good.

CountVolcula said:
My son helped me the whole time.

I let him crush the grains and when it came time to bottle, he did all the capping
Click to expand...

So do you order grains and extract in bulk? Looks as if dry extract is cheaper than liquid. WHat do you use? I have inly bought the kits they offer but am interested in bulk ingredients.

milohimself said:
Yeah, you're good USAF. Can't wait to hear how it turns out.
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:hi:Just so paranoid about messing it up you know. Its easy to contaminate and ruin a batch. Added pressure of a wife and her judgement LOL.
 
#98
#98
USAF_Vol said:
It seems like it is a lot of work. One instruction kit I read had you wrapping your kettle in towels and oven warming it for an hour, managing to keep certain temps.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just brewed with a friend who swears by them. We actually did that for a while.
 
#99
#99
USAF_Vol said:
Already got the flashlight looking at the residue on the bottom of the bottles. Looking good.



So do you order grains and extract in bulk? Looks as if dry extract is cheaper than liquid. WHat do you use? I have inly bought the kits they offer but am interested in bulk ingredients.



:hi:Just so paranoid about messing it up you know. Its easy to contaminate and ruin a batch. Added pressure of a wife and her judgement LOL.
Click to expand...

Im doing kits for now, until I get comfortable with knowing what Im doing
 
#100
#100
DarthVaul said:
I brewed a pumpkin ale last fall. I used:
60 oz of Libbys pumpkin pie filling in the last 5 minutes of boil.
brown sugar - at first bubbles of boil.
2 Tbsp Cinnamon
2 Tbsp Nutmeg
5 tsp Vanilla
All spices went in at flameout.

It turned out really good. I will definitely brew again toward the end of summer.
Click to expand...

Just yeasted a batch using this formula. You did not say how much brown sugar, we used 2 Tbsp. Decided to go with 100% home grown Pumpkin, no canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie mix or pumpkin spice.

Time will tell......
 
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