Recent content by Drama

Does anyone know where I can learn more about smoking beer. Also, what is brimstone (is this a technique)? I've heard of distilleries using smoke in their whiskey too. Very curious about this process. Cheers!

It went well. I definitely made a bigger mess than necessary, but I learned what went well and what to do differently! Thanks for the help guys.

I'm bottling my first brew (American Wheat) tonight. It has been fermenting a few days longer than suggested (2 weeks). It is definitely ready to bottle though. Any advice before I get started tonight? I have new bottles that I rinsed with DI water and allowed to air dry. I'm assuming they...

It is an s airlock. Only one of the tubes is filled with sanitizer and it is bubbling now. Do you take off the plastic cover on top of it? I left that on... You're working with a retard guys :) Edit: I am watching Northern Brewer's DVD and their airlock is doing the same thing while...

The airlock that fits on top of the fermenting carboy that should bubble when the yeast starts fermenting. I wasn't sure if both sides of the airlock should be full of liquid because only one side of mine is. I'll take a photo and post a link tomorrow for clarification.

I just brewed my first batch today, and I submerged my airlock in sanitizer and then set it in the fermenting carboy, but only one side is filled with liquid. Is that correct or did something go wrong? AND does this make sense haha? Thanks!

I'll wash it before use just to be safe. One other quick question. In the video I'm watching they fill up the bottling bucket with sanitizer solution and then use that to sanitize equipment. They also put the 5 gal of sanitizer into the carboy to sanitize that. Can I make the solution in the...

Do you need to wash your brewing equipment the first time you use it after purchasing it brand new? I know the equipment will need to be sanitized, but I don't see any instructions about washing it pre-use. My kit came with a cleaning packet for post-use, but that is all. Cheers!

Damn! Glad you didn't suffer any serious burns. In the Homebrew 101 DVD I got with my kit from Northern Brewer they don't mention scraping out the LME from the bottle.

Great, thanks!

I got my homebrew kit and beer kit about a week ago and just got around to getting everything out and ready to do my first brew today. I just read on the beer kit sheet that the dry yeast should be thrown in the refrigerator upon arrival... Is my yeast ok to brew with or do I need to purchase...

From my understanding DI water removes all of the minerals. If you are doing an all grain batch, that would not be good because you need those minerals.

I'm doing an extract batch first. I do drink my tap water without a filter and it tastes good. I'll check up and see if they treat the water with chloramine here. Will a Pur or Brita filter get rid of chloramine?

For my first brew is it a big deal to use filtered water or just boil tap water? I have access to DI water, Millipore water, or I can just enjoy the easier process of using tap water and boiling it. I'm not opposed to installing a water filter either. Thanks in advance! Zach

I just bought the Deluxe Starter Kit from Northern Brewers and got a turkey fryer with a 8gal kettle too. I'm stoked to brew my first batch! Thanks for the beginner advice...I'm sure I'll screw something up but all part of the learning process :)