Recent content by chicagobluesman

Does anyone have any experience, recommendations, or thoughts on splitting a 5 gallon full wort boil into 2 separate 5 gallon batches. I'm thinking this would be similar to or replicate boiling a 2.5 gallon extract batch and adding it to a single 5 gallon fermenter.

Midwestsupplies.com has a great Oktoberfest/Marzen kit. If you're looking to serve this beer around Sept/Oct you're a little late. It really starts to mature around 6 months. I just tasted a batch I brewed in March (Marzen) and it was definitely not ready and needed more lagering time. Good...

Thanks. Yes, while doing some research yesterday I've decided I'm going to start using a yeast starter. I've much success to date without it, but I may as well improve technique where I can. Cheers!

Hello Beer Friends, I have just finished a repeat of one of my award winning (humble version) of my Oktoberfest. However, I was expecting a TG = 1.012-1.014, but yielded a TG = 1.022. Essentially, it turned out way to sweet and I got a terrible attenuation of yeast. Used the White Labs WLP820...

Make sure you gave yourself enough space at the top of the larger bottle for carbonation process. I believe, the larger the bottle, the more space you need to leave. Take a look at a commerical 22oz. vs. 12oz. there is a difference. Cheers!

If you are in Oregon and have a network of folks that get Grolsch style bottles returned to their store, they will happily sell them for 5 cents (the deposit amount). It doesn't happen often, but it's awesome when that deal comes through! Cheers!

Just make sure they are Grolsch flip style lids. I've heard that growlers with screw tops lids might have some problems (too much leaking, not strong enough, etc...) But maybe someone else here could comment differently on this point? Cheers!

Howdy, I am fortunate enough to have just landed one of those Oaked Arrogant Bastard 3 liters from the Belmont Station in Portland. Can't wait to crack that bad boy! But..... I also came accross 2 Brand New 3 liter bottles at my local homebrew store also (F.H. Steinbart's, Portland)...

Howdy all - making a Red Hook ESB Clone and I just had my first 'blow over' of foam out of the fermenter lock in initial fermentation. It occured after about 4 days in the initial fermenter. Not too much foam, but the fermenter lock was full and some residual around plug hole too. I...

Ok....well I know I just posted this and I should've posted it sooner, but I decided to go ahead and bottle this batch. There was a good amount of sediment on the bottom of secondary. Yes, the espresso was top notch. Stumptown Hairbender Espresso. If you know Portland, you know about...

SO I'm making a coffee porter. I use a nice extract porter recipe with 8# of malts (mixed LME and DME). NO coffee was used in the brewing process. My O.G. = 1.028, I think pretty low for 8#'s. I usually average 1.045+ for this much malt. I added the 1084 Irish Ale Yeast (Smack Pack) and...

I've recently inquired with several local brewers about using growlers for homebrewing and the concern they expressed was that the strength of the glass growler may not be strong enough for bottle conditioning and may break. There should be rubber gasket lined Metal caps available for your...

I'm going to try a mix of all the recommendations I've received and hopefully do a little more homework over the weekend. Now about the blues... I'm a Chicago native who 'Couldn't Stand the Weather....(SRV)' and headed out West. I've met Tab Benoit several times and have seen him many times...

DeRoux, that's exactly the kind of information I was needing. Even with the several brew books I have, none really addressed those specific questions. I'm pretty excited to give my Oktoberfest a run this weekend and see how lager #1 turns out. Drinkable is the goal. Tasty is the payoff...

Howdy, I'm considering making my first lager. Questions: 1. Does the 'lagering' process occur while still in the fermenter? or in your bottles after bottling? (don't laugh). 2. When 'lagering' for a couple of months, is this still in the fermenter? 3. 2. Will 'lagering' in a...