Recent content by Dieffenbach

I too haven't had a problem with the additional head space, although I have probably only put 25 gallons through my Spedel (5 batches). I primary for 3 weeks and then gravity flow to the bottling bucket. A series of problems with my auto-siphon led to frustrating bottling days. That prompted...

Thus far I have used the whirpool method with VERY LITTLE success. I use a sanitized spoon, stir like mad for a minute, put the lid on the kettle and then wait 20 minutes. Each time I am rather disappointed that I do not see the nice trub cone often eluded to. On my recent batch I added another...

Brewed my first batch with the new 15 gallon kettle - all in all the kettle performed as it should. Initial thoughts on the kettle (in no particular order): 1. 15 gallon is the way to go, even with the volume it offers I had to turn down the gas for the hot break to avoid a boil over. I can...

Has anyone else given thought, or better yet practice to an SQ14 lift kit? Ideally I need an additional 12" of heigt to gravity drain into my fermenter. My thought was to get 4 pieces of square tubing (1.5"-1.75"), each 18-24" long, to use as legs. Each piece of tubing would be slipped on over...

I will follow-up on this as well to help anyone else looking for a solution. I read an article in Popular Mechanics that evaluated several methods for removing labels. The winner was a soak in a baking soda/water bath. I have used this successfully now for hundreds of bottles. I am usually too...

I appreciate the feedback - I will let her rip on my first brew day and see how it compares to my initial testing. I will report back with results in the event anyone else is concerned with boil times with the SQ14 (just another data point).

Based on the suggestions of several members here, I purchased a Bayou Classic SQ14 burner as part of my expansion to a 5-10 gallon system. It came in the mail well constructed and with very little assembly required. I immediately installed an 8-inch windscreen using an HVAC starting collar also...

Never good to place obstructions in the pump suction piping. I am with the rest of the crowd here in suggesting that the 20 mesh screen will also be WAY too small.

I am interested in what others are doing as well as I too have a kettle on order from Spike currently. Now that I have seen Bertus' setup, I think I will follow suit and similarly install a 90-degree street elbow with hose barb. The other option I was originally considering was a 1/2" pipe...

Maybe its just easier to strain into bottling bucket then go from there into fermenter...

Let me preface by saying that I do not have any specific experience with the Blichmann burner, but I have read about what others have done to help control mash temperature with the burner still on. It seems to me the best thing to do if you wanted to keep the burner on during your mash is to...

I have read many success stories regarding the use of the US Plastic EZ-Strainer. Now most users appear to use the strainer for straining wort before it enters their fermentation vessel; the EZ-Stainer is a perfect solution for those of you that ferment in a plastic bucket. Has anyone used...

I appreciate the feedback I have received and want to let everyone know that I decided to take the advice of the more experienced and purchase a 15 gallon kettle (from Spike Brewing). After I have run it through a couple brew sessions, I will report back on my experiences. Thanks again everyone.

I want to thank the hundreds of members whose previous posts I have already read in preparation for the journey I am about to begin. I feel I need to preface my question with a short background. Right now I brew 1 gallon at a time on the stove inside all-grain BIAB style. In general, my...