Recent content by brewerbeev

I prefer buckets simply for ease of cleaning, but I've also got a couple 5 gallon glass carboys that I used to use for secondaries, but have sort of gotten away from using secondaries and just going straight from primary to the keg after 3-4 weeks. So, I've used the 5 gal carboys a couple of...

Well I think just to help it out I'll move it upstairs from about 65F storage to 70F. I'm going to be building a kegerator setup soon and I'm looking forward to not having to wait so long to drink my beer! Thanks guys.

Recently bottled a decently high OG IPA (1.074 OG and 1.018 FG). Should come out to 7-7.5% ABV. I'm just curious, will this beer take longer to carbonate due to the higher alcohol content (at least higher than my previous IPAs)? It was bottled with 5 oz dextrose 12 days ago and the first...

+1 You're definitely right that many beers are good after 3 in the primary then going straight into the bottle. I've been a big proponent of using a secondary in many cases, however, and have been catching a hard time from a lot of HBs for it. I see the value of using a secondary when it...

If you have a wort chiller then I definitely recommend a full volume boil. As stated, you get a much better hop utilization and better sanitation/smaller likelihood of infection. However, when steeping your specialty grains, I would recommend you not steep in the full ~6 gallon volume. I...

I agree with Thakaz; just use table sugar. As stated earlier, however, note the difference in calculation. You shouldn't notice much of a difference, but it may take just a little longer as sucrose is a sugar molecule that needs to first be broken down into fructose and glucose before it can...

I make a summer hefeweizen every year that most of my typical American light lager drinking friends enjoy. It's a lot more flavorful, but they all seem to like it. Very simple and straightforward and it's quick to brew and ferment. Ready in about 24 days. Here's the recipe: 5# Briess Wheat...

Well this is how we learn I guess. It had decent aroma going into the secondary but you're right in that flavor was lacking somewhat. I guess I'm hoping the dry hops will help out with that. If it doesn't turn out great then I can always learn from it and make another batch.

Also, as stated in the original post, this was a full volume boil, which results in greater hop utilization. That is why hop amounts seem low to some of you. Beersmith was used to estimate about a 67 IBU beer and after tasting a bit I'd say that's pretty close.

One of those is a typo. The 30 min addition should say 10. As for secondaries, there are several schools of thought on the matter as I'm sure you'll all agree. I rack to a secondary purely to clear the beer and especially if it's going to sit a while. It's a method I prefer using and has...

Hydrometer showed 1.017. Right where I wanted to be. Thanks guys.

Ha....thanks. That is what you call a "doh" moment. I should have realized that the refraction of light through a sugar solution is going to be different than a solution with alcohol in it. I'll pull out the hydrometer.

This pertains to a fairly high OG IPA extract recipe I brewed two weeks ago. Here's the recipe: 1# Crystal 40L (steeped 20 min at 154F in 2.5 gal water) 4# Extra Light DME 4# Light DME .75 oz Warrior (15% AAU, 60 min) .50 oz Centennial (10% AAU, 35 min) .25 oz Simcoe (13% AAU, 30 min)...