Recent content by ckloecker

I bought one from northern brewer about a months ago: 7322 Straining Bag - Coarse Mesh 18" x 32" 1 $5.99 $5.99 Just used it last weekend for my first BIAB Full Mash and it worked great. Wort came out perfectly clear, I did a vorlauf, but wouldn't have had to. I used a modified BIAB...

I currently do 5 gal batches in a 7.5 gallon pot - kind of a pain. I use it because it is what I have and it works. Spent my money on other things like carboys and immersion chiller. When I have a few extra bucks I am going to get a bigger pot I get many, small boil overs until I have...

My tap water is pretty warm in the summer, so here is my solution. sorry, can't do a nice drawing like yours. 20lbs of Ice in a standard cooler (Rubermaid 54qt blue cooler), add cold water to fill the cooler, Connect a short length of garden hose to a small, drill powered water pump (got...

I brewed a recipe last fall inspired by Denny Conn's Vanilla Bourbon Porter receipe posted here. I am now entering a local home brew contest for the first time. I was able to figure out an appropriate BJCP style for the other three brews I am entering, but I don't know the style guidelines...

I don't remeber all of my high school chemistry, but if I remember correctly, more alcohol by volume will result in stronger vineger. I assume you are looking for complete conversion of sugar to alcohol. I would look into some of the Distiller's yeasts. I know that some of the mail order...

I haven't brewed this one yet, but a buddy brews this every year for his Christmas beer. It makes a fantastic brew. Very good with or without the Bourbon. It does need at least 6 to 8 weeks to age nicely.

You found another. Go yous Huskies! I graduated in 88, but hung arround for another 5 years working for the university. I used to get back about every other year, but life got busy. I haven't been back in the last 7 years. Hoist a few at the Library for me. It kind of a shame its a...

Midwest and Northern Brewer both make excellent kits.

Another potential drawback, the bottles used by the water companies are slightly permiable to oxygen. Not a problem with a short fermentation, but over longish periods of time it could allow enough oxygen into fermentation to disturb the usual anaerobic (oxygen free) enviromnent created by the...

I picked up a couple of fine straining bags. Got mine from NorthernBrewer.com. They have a drawstring and are re-useable. I was a little worried about lower utilization, but that has not been a problem. This way all of the vegetation from the hops is contained in the bags. I just retrieve...

I found 16oz Amber PET bottles at my LHBS, last summer. I picked up a case (24) for about $22. Bought them specifically for taking to sporting events, the beach, etc. where having glass bottles is either not allowed or just a PITA. Also available from NorthernBrewer.com

DME will almost definitely give you a better tasting beer than white sugar. I would recommend waiting until near the end of boil to add the DME. When I use DME I simply turn the flame off, and then slowly stream the DME into the pot with on hand while whisking (bought a huge whisk from a...

As I understand, Star-San is basicly nuetralized when it hits the wort. It has no taste, just as an experiment I actually tasted a bit of the sollution and can say it has no flavor. I have heard from others that they have accidentally added even a few ounces (or more) to there beers with no...

I needed a fast beer for Memorial Day weekend this year, on the advice of my LHBS I made this Wheat Beer. Brewed on May 11, was ready to drink and very good by May 23. although I have to admint an extra week in the bottle made it a better, but for a 12 day beer it was fantastic. Whitewater...

I want to make this but I am not setup for AG. By talking to a few people and doing some research on the web, I have tried to convert Denny Conn's recipe to partial mash. My goal was to keep the Munich and Brown malt character, but not need to do a full mash. Is this a reasonable...