Recent content by fasttimes

Gotcha, ok makes sense.

Yes, refractometer.

There was very little air-lock activity at all, but I was judging it by the fact that the krausen had completely dissapeared and the beer looked flat as can be. I just now took another gravity reading, started at 1.054 and now 12 days in and I'm only at 1.033. Swirling, raising the temps, and...

Brewed up a stout after a 2 year break from brewing. I knew the potential was there for mistakes, but I was really careful and brew day went well. Except it never got a really good vigorous fermentation (using just one dry yeast packet) even though gravity after boil was spot on. So after 6 days...

SOLD. Was given as a gift, but I just never got around to using it. It's never been used. $100, free shipping. Paypal unless willing to pick up locally in Miami. Send private message if interested. Thanks!

Just tested with my hydrometer and after temp correction I'm only at 1.034, 1.032 before temp correction. My OG was 1.056.

I guess I should verify that my thermometers are working correctly. As for this batch of Sweet Stout, should I bother adding another packet of yeast to it and try to save the batch?

I am using a refractometer for my readings. I wasn't aware I needed to correct them. I just assumed they are reading the beer's alcohol based on amount of light passing through. I do re-hydrate the yeast prior to adding to the wort.

I'm having a heck of a time lately with my last 3 beers getting to my FG and I'm trying to find out the source of the issue. I've recently switched to using dry yeast, and also have been doubling up on yeast packets. I add O2 to the wort with an O2 can and stone. Usually letting it run for about...

When I bottle my Hefeweizen and attempt to pour 3/4 of the bottle, swirl bottle and then pour rest to get that nice haze it just ends up swirling up chunks of yeast into the beer and really looks unapplealing. What am I doing wrong here?

Think I got it solved. There were two issues, one I had the gasket for the lid upside down and two the blow-off tube was leaking around where it connected to the conical. The soapy water helped with that one. Thanks!

A buddy of mine gave me his 7-gal More Beer chilling conical since he moved up to larger batches. I have been keeping it in the garage and doing my usual way of brewing since that was what I was comfortable with. Better bottles and temp controlled fridges. But finally after using up all my space...

I eneded up using Marine 5200. It's still curing but looks ok. After it dries I may see about adding a thin foam gasket to line the inside at the top.

I already have the cooler and have cut the hole in the lid. I'm just looking for any suggestions to clean up and seal the exposed foam in the hole.

I'm in the process of making a rolling keg-cooler out of this: igloo ice cube 70-qt. I've seen it done before, and thought it was pretty straight forward. Cut out hole in lid for top of keg and that's it. Well, now that I've cut my hole I've got to figure out some way to seal up the raw...