Recent content by gridder

I'm on my second batch -- my first was partial mash kit for Scottish Ale (Brewers Best) and now I am fermenting a Belgian Hefeweizen (True Brew, maybe?) Anyway, I followed the directions and was just concerned that some things were wrong since they were different than before. 1.) This time...

I know some people think it is dotty to do half batches, but that way I get to brew more and try more styles. I only drink a beer or two a week -- so 5 gallons could last 6 months!

Wow! That's the mother lode! Thanks.

Right, that is why I am asking - to get a calendar going. Thanks!

It is interesting to me that most people seem to want to portray alcoholics as bums, or homeless people, or people who couldn't get their crackers together enough to make a homebrew. My FIL is a dual PhD who just retired from a distinguished career and is a drunk. My mother was president of a...

I actually think it is a fair question, even if it wasn't asked in the most delicate fashion. I may be hypervigilant about the issue since there are a lot of alcoholics in my family, but I would imagine that the risk of becoming an alcoholic when making beer is your hobby is something that...

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share their brewing schedule for seasonal beers. I am a food writer that focuses a lot on eating locally/ seasonally, so I love the idea of drinking seasonally appropriate beers -- but I need a better idea of what that might be. I live in the Northern...

Brilliant! Thanks! And good to know about bumping up the fermentables. I feel like I made "near beer" instead of beer, and I've got 40 bottles of it conditioning now!

Yes - you are right about the water - that may have been a problem with the OG. So how do I know what the FG is supposed to be? It didn't say on the kit. Is there a range I am shooting for? (Or do I have to backtrack the math and figure it out that way using the ABV I am aiming for?) It...

I just bottled a scottish ale from kit by Brewers Best. My OG reading was 1.035 (I had problems taking this reading and didn't stir the wort really well, which in hindsight may have been a problem. It was supposed to be between 1.034 & 1.038). I fermented for 9 days in a primary, and just less...

I guess I don't like butts facing me when I drink beer, but that's just me.

That's what I hoped. Thanks!

ummmm.. . I just realized that I was perhaps supposed to leave that ON? I had my first batch of beer, a Scotch Ale, in a primary (bucket) for 1 week and then in a secondary (carboy) now for two, and am going to bottle this weekend. I put the airlock on, but not the cap -- don't ask why, I guess...