Recent content by brewsme

One more thing, I'm not sure I needed to lower the wattage of the element and I didn't see the need to switch it back to a 5500w to find out since everything works smoothly at this point.

So after changing the element from a 5500w to a 4500w I recalibrated the PID using the auto tune feature and this eliminated the temperature swings! :rockin: When doing the auto tune I put the system (valves) in sparge mode, set my gpm to .25, and set the set point on the PID to 180*F. Once...

I think there would still be temperature swings but having the probe closer to the element will make them smaller. The problem is when the element is on at 5500w with .25 gpm the water heats up beyond your set point so the element is turned off. Cold water starts filling the tube until it...

Okay sold! Have there been any recipes you've made that have come close? I live in Houston and was very disappointed as well as my colleague when we returned.

I haven't heard of rebelbrewer.com so I'll have to try them out!

I like midwest but I feel like they kill you on the shipping. I would definitely order from them more if they had a flat rate.

Definitely a very drinkable beer. Without bittering hops it may have little bitterness. I would have added the 1 of the 2oz cascade you have in the beginning for bittering. This is all part of the learning process though. I remember my days used to be so hectic and I always felt like I was...

I assume there other hops in the recipe? What was your hop schedule?

Yes I visit my LHBS sometimes but I like it when things show up at my front door. I guess I'm lazy that way...or maybe it just amazon has made me this way.

So I've been buying from brewmasterswarehouse.com for a while now because I really like how you can save you're recipes online, flat rate shipping, and their brew builder, but sometimes I have difficulty finding the grains/hops I want. Where do you guys like to buy your ingredients online?

I bought a 4500w lwd element and replaced the 5500w ulwd element. I figured for $11 shipped it was the cheapest option to try. So far in my testing at .25 gpm the water heating inline would not reach boiling. It would reach the 190s after 30 minutes or so but I will only be sparging for...

When you say it's really close to Guinness are you comparing what Guinness tastes like in Ireland or here in the states?

If I knew I could make a Guinness like I've had in the UK, I would order I nitro keg kit right now!

Considering I'm using 1/5 of the water I used to need to chill my wort, I feel pretty good about wasting it. However, you could collect the output and add it back to your kezzer when finished.

I'm not sure if you found a solution but I live in Houston so I feel your pain. I have a 14 cuft kezzer so I had extra space and dropped a 32 gal trash can with a $40 submersible pump from northern tool. Now I can chill as fast as my pump will pump the wort through my plate chiller to the low...