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10-25-2011, 09:32 PM
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#1
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Va Beach, VA
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Fermenting in carboys?
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I'm brewing my 1st AG batches this weekend, outside for the 1st time, on my new SQ14 burner. What could possibly go wrong, eh?
To keep things manageable and get a feel for the process, i'm making two 1-gal IPAs. I would love some advice /input beforehand. Here are some of my concerns:
1. Can I ferment a 1-gal batch in a 5-gal fermenter?
2. Can I split one of the batches & ferment in two 1/2-gal growlers as long as I have airlocks?
3. I've read about new burners putting off fumes. Should I pre-burn to try to burn it off?
4. Has anyone used Glacier hops? Any reports?
Any general suggestions? Thanks for any help you can offer!
"All your home brew are belong to us!"
__________________
Piratwolf: "I've heard that Belgian Blondes can be "panty droppers" but they're not particularly high IBU nor cheap."
jmendez29: Haha! I get it! :ban:
Wait. You're not talking about beer, right?
You're talking about beer. That could have been a whole lot more fun.
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10-25-2011, 11:07 PM
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#2
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Near Portland, ME
Posts: 146
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I recently bought a SQ14 too and I love it but...YES, you should burn off the paint by bringing a gallon of water to a full boil. I can't say it would hurt your beer but in my opinion you'll want to be able to walk far away during this burn-in.
Regarding other suggestions...before you even start, write down the steps then as you do them record the times/temps/gravities/smells/feelings or anything else fun to refer back to before AG batch #2. Also, keep some spare hot water on a stove burner.
I'm sure others will comment on your other questions...
Why such small batches?
Good luck.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by nutty_gnome
Everyone has to walk their own path as a brewer. Each home brewer must consider time, cost, feasibility, and results of their efforts. If a homebrewer can strike a happy balance between those 4 aspects, then they are doing it right regardless of the brewing method.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvy
Noone should have to defend themselves about what they want to brew or justify it to anyone... This is supposed to be about having fun. In whatever form it takes.
Don't be a troll about it.
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10-26-2011, 12:12 AM
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#3
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Va Beach, VA
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Thanks for the suggestion, Brewsday. I will definitely take your advice & boil a gallon or two on Friday afternoon to clean it up. Funny, I wrote down my steps this afternoon and, while I'm usually not uptight during brewing or cooking, I am planning to grind my grains and measure everything out the night before just to make sure I can focus on the AG newness.
As for the small batches, I'm trying to kill about six birds with one stone:
-I want to make some small SMASH recipes to better get a grip on Chinook, Glacier, Nugget & Amarillo hops
-I want to test out my mash tun and temps with relatively small grain bills
-I only have a 5gal brew pot and I'm trying to do some small batches (planning a 3-gal batch of Biermunchers Centennial blonde after the SMASH runs) until I get my new 15+gal pot on my b-day (Nov 24)
-I need to get a feel for the new burner... Thx for the good report on the sq14 
I'm stupid excited about this move to AG! Thanks again, man!
"All your home brew are belong to us!"
__________________
Piratwolf: "I've heard that Belgian Blondes can be "panty droppers" but they're not particularly high IBU nor cheap."
jmendez29: Haha! I get it! :ban:
Wait. You're not talking about beer, right?
You're talking about beer. That could have been a whole lot more fun.
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10-26-2011, 12:34 AM
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#4
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
Posts: 1,064
Liked 16 Times on 15 Posts
Likes Given: 1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piratwolf
I'm brewing my 1st AG batches this weekend, outside for the 1st time, on my new SQ14 burner. What could possibly go wrong, eh?
To keep things manageable and get a feel for the process, i'm making two 1-gal IPAs. I would love some advice /input beforehand. Here are some of my concerns:
1. Can I ferment a 1-gal batch in a 5-gal fermenter?
Yep... I would suggest getting a 3 gallon bucket from your local bakery/Wally World/etc., but the beer will fill the headspace with CO2, so either way is fine.
2. Can I split one of the batches & ferment in two 1/2-gal growlers as long as I have airlocks?
Sure, sounds like a pain to me, but different strokes, different folks.
3. I've read about new burners putting off fumes. Should I pre-burn to try to burn it off?
Like said before, you will want to.
4. Has anyone used Glacier hops? Any reports?
Haven't used Glacier yet, sounds tasty though.
Any general suggestions? Thanks for any help you can offer!
"All your home brew are belong to us!"
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You are going to love your SQ14... good luck and let us know how it turns out.
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10-26-2011, 09:22 AM
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#5
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Location: Va Beach, VA
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Thanks, Maffewl!
I don't know why a couple of 3-gal buckets never occurred to me. That's a much better idea than splitting btwn two growlers. I was trying not to buy another carboy.
I'll definitely report back, especially on the Glacier hops.
Cheers!
"All your home brew are belong to us!"
__________________
Piratwolf: "I've heard that Belgian Blondes can be "panty droppers" but they're not particularly high IBU nor cheap."
jmendez29: Haha! I get it! :ban:
Wait. You're not talking about beer, right?
You're talking about beer. That could have been a whole lot more fun.
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10-26-2011, 05:58 PM
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#6
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Near Portland, ME
Posts: 146
Liked 14 Times on 11 Posts
Likes Given: 3
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I've always wondered if you could ferment small batches in those big plastic jars pretzels or cheese balls come in at the warehouse club stores. I use one to measure water...prettty handy and nice clear plastic...plus, with the wide mouth they are easy to keep clean. Drilling for a standard grommet should be straightforward.
Just a thought and you get the jar free if you enjoy the munchies inside.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by nutty_gnome
Everyone has to walk their own path as a brewer. Each home brewer must consider time, cost, feasibility, and results of their efforts. If a homebrewer can strike a happy balance between those 4 aspects, then they are doing it right regardless of the brewing method.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvy
Noone should have to defend themselves about what they want to brew or justify it to anyone... This is supposed to be about having fun. In whatever form it takes.
Don't be a troll about it.
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10-26-2011, 06:07 PM
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#7
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Whats Under Your Kilt
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Taylorsville, Utah
Posts: 1,622
Liked 62 Times on 52 Posts
Likes Given: 42
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Brewsday
I've always wondered if you could ferment small batches in those big plastic jars pretzels or cheese balls come in at the warehouse club stores.
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I use those half full of clr and water to take the corona labels off.. You can jiggle 9 bottles into it.. You could definitely ferment in them!!
__________________
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Originally Posted by cadarnell
'how will i explain this to my kids' ... if i have to ask that, then i think my kids are in trouble ... just my 2 cents ... HAVE A BEER !!!
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Father of 4 girls
Suffers from Zymocenosilicaphobia
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10-26-2011, 06:09 PM
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#8
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
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I sometimes use 2-liter Coke bottles for my starters... no foil necessary, just loosen the cap 
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10-26-2011, 06:13 PM
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#9
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Whats Under Your Kilt
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Taylorsville, Utah
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by maffewl
I sometimes use 2-liter Coke bottles for my starters... no foil necessary, just loosen the cap |
Funny you mentioned that.. For a test batch for st patties day I fermented in 3ltr bottles and racked into 2ltr bottles and force carbed with the carbonater caps.. Worked awesome!!
Edit: oh, it was for wich hopping profile I wanted to go with for a 5 gal batch of red
__________________
Quote:
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Originally Posted by cadarnell
'how will i explain this to my kids' ... if i have to ask that, then i think my kids are in trouble ... just my 2 cents ... HAVE A BEER !!!
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Father of 4 girls
Suffers from Zymocenosilicaphobia
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