Recent content by bigsilk

I see drums in the background -- any effect after a loud jam?

Oh, you're serious! I thought you were jerking our collective chains. Beer, being liquid bread, is suitable during every hour of any day. What's a good time... Good one.

All of this talk about orange/chocolate and coffee/chocolate has me intrigued. First, has anyone here done an orange/cappuccino stout? And, what would you suggest as to flavoring? I probably won't get on this until my Christmas offering.

I make a batch of beer for friends to offer as Christmas gifts. For '08 I made a clone of 'Old Speckled Hen,' which I euphemistically named 'Young Solid Cock' (opposite of each word.) My guy friends wouldn't touch the stuff. The ladies thought it was a hoot.

Jeez, you call that being lazy? I'd hate to see what you do when you really go at something. If it comes to questioning the cleanliness of bottles, I recycle them, then go out and buy a six-pack of something I like and use those bottles. NOT Dos Equis or Bass bottles, tho, if you use a...

And if it doesn't, name it. Might I suggest Face Plant? Also, I'm of a mind to think that personal brewing is an individual sport. You do the work, let them reap the benefits with you.

Hey, for anyone collecting empties for bottling... DON'T USE DOS EQUIS BOTTLES!!! I just finishing bottling over half my batch with them and I hope to the beer gods that they keep their seal. Will test one in a week or so. Sam Adams type bottles are the best. Brown to keep out light...

Hey, all. I used dos equis bottles. Stupid and a no-no. I didn't know. Now I have to cross my fingers that they sealed well. It seems they did, but we won't know until all is said and done, in about three weeks. Damn, I feel dumb and cheated. From now on, good old American brown bottles.

OK, it's been nearly two weeks in the secondary and while I do not envy myself the arduous task of bottling, I'm tired of looking at all that pretty brown liquid sitting there not doing me any good. I saved seven six-packs of empties. Here's how I thought I'd do it... * Brush the bottles...

1-1-3 (1 wk prim, 1 wk sec, 3 wk bottle) is what's listed with the instructions. I made a pale rye ale once, and it seemed leaving that go for two weeks in the secondary and a month in the bottles yielded yumminess, though only two sixes made it that far. That seems to be my problem... I have a...

I know digital images can't be considered true, but it seems my wort is considerably lighter than the final image you posted. Mine is more like a strong iced tea. Ok, then, no worries. Thanks for the visual aids.

Also, I went to the secondary after 6 days. The activity was down to about a bubble every five or so minutes. It's been five days and there doesn't seem to be ANY more activity. Should I wait another few days to bottle, or can I start getting my bottles ready for tonight?

Hey, all- This is my fourth batch. They've all been pretty different, so I don't have much to compare it to. I asked my supplier for ingredients to make a light, golden Mexican-style lager using the ale process (I don't have the gear to lager.) It's HOT here in TX and nothing goes down like a...