Recent content by BendBrewer541

Mine is definately not paying attention to the settings on my temp controller and letting my heat wrapped fermenter get to 78 degrees before I realized what a bonehead I was. ALWAYS check the jumper settings on your Johnson Controls controller (cooling/heating/cut-in/cut-out). Luckily it was...

I've force carbed numerous times. I've had mixed success; I usually end up with a wild keg that I spend time trying to "calm" down. I've since developed more patience and now just set it and forget it for a week. I've had much better pours since then. Either way beats bottling beer! Have...

When I started I just rocked the fermenter to stir things up. I finally got a stone and O2 and it has definately made a difference. I think my yeast gets off to a quicker start. I have the stone on the end of a wand and just slowely stir it in the fermenter full of wort for about 2 minutes...

I've noticed that my last 2 higher gravit beers did take longer than I was used to. I would just be patient and leave it alone for a while until it looks like it's done, then take a reading. Like avidhomebrewer said, there are multiple factors that can affect your situation.

I concur with shanecb. Keep it in a "happy" place and it should be fine.

One thing I've noticed when using Mr. Malty's calculator is that if you are using older yeast, you really do need a larger starter. It's interesting to play with the calculator. Yeast as old as yours according to the calculator has only about 25% viability, so you would need to make a larger...

I primarily use only liquid yeast. I have to say that since I've been doing a starter for my beers (using Mr. Malty's calculations), I've had much better fermentation and overall flavor profiles. This in conjunction with a controlled ferm temp have by far made the biggest improvement in my...

I have to say that my 10gl HD Rubbermaid cooler rocks. I only do 5gl batches and the 10 gl size is very handy, even for higher gravity brews. I only batch sparge. I've never had an issue with heat loss what so ever. I brew in my garage which is usually above 60 degrees during the winter...

10gl Cooler Configuration

Small 1000ml Starter

I'm sitting here enjoying a Deschutes Red Chair (actually on second one) and am hoping that someone will see this and have some more detailed info on a clone for this. It's REALLY good! Any more info beyond the general ingredients would be appreciated. I just may have to try to brew this next...

It looks like a job for Beersmith. There are still a few variables to work out. Maybe someone will have the ratios already worked out. Thanks to Samc for finding this. BendBrewer; if you learn anything new from your friend, please let us know! It would be a great weekend to brew!

I've tried to develop a tast for the Kirkland beers, but I just can't for some reason. Kirlkand usually offers good quality products. I'm not sure where it's actually brewed. It seems to also have a really short shelf life; I opened a bottle of the Hefe from just this fall and it was NOT...

Well then, if you can go straight to the source then by all means! It's definately worth trying a clone. I just wish Deschutes would make it a year round brew. By the way, nice screen name; I had no idea there were two of us with similar names from Bend! It looks like you beat me by about a...

I read that Deschutes Brewery recently had an open house where they handed out a booklet of clone recipes and also 3oz of hops. Did anyone get their hands on one of those booklets? I'm looking for an accurate clone for the Red Chair NWPA. I see several clone attempts, but no real "Brewery...