Recent content by Brew Runner

The viscosity of water changes a bit more than 600% between boiling and freezing, so I can see why it would weep during use and not at room temperature. At operating temperature, all the system components have also expanded, so possible "pinhole" leaks can open enough to be seen.

A note to anyone who thinks they have to read the whole 8000+ replies to this thread to get an answer to their question; you don't. Click the "search this thread" button above the uppermost post and you can search for keywords or posters strictly in this thread.

I used about 1/4tsp of nutrient IIRC and it was pretty funky. Not really that sulfurous, just.....not great, either.

There are ways to measure ABV without taking an initial gravity, but not when using a hydrometer.

I think he's just saying that straining it won't be of any benefit. Yeast sediment will slip right through. There's nothing wrong with using a keg.

Siphon it. Pouring will stir up a lot of sediment and introduce oxygen, both of which are to be avoided. I use a racking cane because it's handy and I already had one.

Why would dormant yeast cause a vinegar problem? I'm not familiar with that.

Sounds like something wasn't right with that batch regardless of the cause.

Tons of sediment will end up in suspension again if you try to mix priming sugar in the fermenter.

Yeah, I just kind of jumbled all the points you touched on into one big paragraph because all of those factors came into play for this one batch I've done. :)

I think it's interesting that this topic came up. I, too, used EC-1118 that had just expired. I had two packets and pitched both just in case it was weak from age. It still took off in about six hours and only took a week to stop bubbling. It also finished high, right at 1.002. I let sit for...

I don't see why not. I just bottled a little bit of mine yesterday in a couple PETE soda bottles. Just about any carbonated beverage container can be used if it can be easily sanitized and sealed. As for priming sugar, Edwort mentions 3/4 cup per 5gal in the first post.

What does the hydrometer say?

Three 4gal buckets will net you 12gal total. If they actually hold 4.25gal each, then 12.75gal total. It's pretty easy math, but Optimators will do that... :cross: ;)

That's an endorsement if I ever heard one.