Teach me the ways

Aquavitae · 01-25-2012, 04:54 AM

I was adivised to use a legit airlock instead of a balloon over my inaugural gallon of mead. I looked into local home brewing stores and, wouldnt' you know it, the closest one is in atlanta. I am in middle georgia, roughly two hours away from there.

So since there are no conveniently located options, I am choking down some livingston merlot for the 3 L glass jug to rack to when my JAOM(ish) clears and the fruit sinks. Compared to the shipping prices, this is worth it. At least this way I get a buzz. :/

So I was wondering....do you guys have any good websites you order from or should I hit up Amazon?

PS - This merlot is TURRIBLE. (yes, 'turrible')

**biochemedic** · 01-25-2012, 05:58 AM

I used carlo rossi jugs for all my initial 1 gal batches, and still use them for starters, and for storing honey and sanitizer...
Amazon has a couple of sellers that sell homebrew stuff, but there are tons of good online vendors. My LHBS has an online presence (www.ebrew.com) -- the website is no frills, but they do good work. You could consider Northern Brewer, Rebel Brewer, etc. etc. LINK to google search for homebrew supplies.

bengerman · 01-25-2012, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquavitae

I was adivised to use a legit airlock instead of a balloon over my inaugural gallon of mead. I looked into local home brewing stores and, wouldnt' you know it, the closest one is in atlanta. I am in middle georgia, roughly two hours away from there.

So since there are no conveniently located options, I am choking down some livingston merlot for the 3 L glass jug to rack to when my JAOM(ish) clears and the fruit sinks. Compared to the shipping prices, this is worth it. At least this way I get a buzz. :/

So I was wondering....do you guys have any good websites you order from or should I hit up Amazon?

PS - This merlot is TURRIBLE. (yes, 'turrible')

you can make your own airlock pretty easily with some vinyl tube.
there are two ways i've seen done:
the first way is stick one end in the stopper on the jug and submerge the other in sanitizer or vodka (or boiled and cooled water in a pinch)
the second is put one end in the stopper, make a vertical loop with the hose, and fill with sanitizer/vodka/water as before, just enough to make an air trap with it.

**gypsyhead** · 01-25-2012, 07:01 AM

Honestly, you could easily use a Carlo Rossi jug for your mead, just make sure it's clean. I wouldn't suggest balloons as an offgassing container because it could very easily lead to rubbery off-flavors, but it's along the right lines. Despite your location, you should be able to look up some kind of airlock/blow-off tube solution for fairly cheap. If anything, you can use a short length of tubing submerged below a liquid layer (surgical tubing below water level in a flower vase). Good luck bud

gratus fermentatio · 01-25-2012, 10:16 AM

Here's a good source of online brewing/winemaking vendors:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/vendors/
Many here will vouch for Austin Homebrew Supply (AHS), Midwest, etc...
FYI: AHS has free shipping on orders over $100.
Regards, GF.

Matrix4b · 01-25-2012, 03:45 PM

You may wish to check some local bars for empties. They might give them to you for free. Just run them through your dish washer. Then you are good. Your local Craigslist.org may work, and the previously mentioned online brew stores for the order. Since you are making an order you may as well order yeast, a couple of air locks, a brew bucked is always handy and multiple air locks and rubber stoppers if you have glass carboys. Also, they do sell yeast nutruint and energizer in bulk. I got a pound of each last time I bought. That will last me about 30 or so 5-6 gal batches. Oh and I do recomend that in addition to the brew bucket you get some muslin hops bags and a large nylong bag (pillowcase sized) for putting spices and fruit in. Just a few suggestions. I mean if you have to pay shipping you may as well make it worth it.

Matrix

truckjohn · 01-26-2012, 03:54 PM

Check your local Manned Convenience Centers (Aka local trash places where you take your trash that also have Recycling).... You can pick up bottles there for free... "Re-use" is the BEST type of recycling.... That's how I get all my jugs....

On the air locks - They are worth it if you intend to go beyond "I'll make 1 experimental batch with this 1 jug".... Just order a bunch of them and stoppers... They are cheap.

The advantage of the actual Local Home Brew Supply place is that you can carry in your jug and figure out which stopper fits it properly....

Thanks