Recent content by IllusionOfTime

The press was built in 1965 but the other components have been sourced and are much younger. It's a labor of love and I promise you we are doing apples, although I'm sure that if we change the gap on the grinder we could do grapes as well...lol The project started because we wanted to...

I like to think that we kicked it up a notch....

my very own hard cider...

Cheap, Simple, and Effective

So if i siphon through the pump, will it maintain flow...???

Sooo.... I have these two pumps that I purchased a while back with every intention of building a brew system. I have done absolutely nothing but am now getting the project going. I am looking for suggestions for quick connect fittings and ball valves that will make the hose changing much...

There's beer in that picture...?

So, this past Saturday we put together, and promptly started using our new apple press to start off the pressing season. We only had a short time but we picked up some seconds, gave them a good washing, and went to work. We got the press so that we would have a little more control over what...

Yea, it was definitely weird, but I just went with it. It was like 3am when I wwas done and cleaned up and took that picture, so i wasn't all that worried at the time. I didn't pitch right away because my starter wasn't really going yet, so I will pitch tonight when I get home.

I forgot to mention, I did whirlpool and avoid transferring most of the break material to the carboy when siphoning. I was able to cool very rapidly so the break material separated rather nicely so I know that I got the bulk of it out. I have faith that the beer will turn out fine, however, I...

So, last evening, I did the partial mash recipie of BM's Oktoberfast. Everything went well, however...prior to pitching, the carboy looked like this... Any thoughts on what's going on there...??

Excellent, I did the mash at ~155 for 60 min so I think that I'm good. I did the test and it didn't turn black, so I think I'm in the clear. Good times. Thanks... :)

So, I'm in the middle of my first partial mash, and I want to make sure that all of the sugars have converted... I've checked the Wiki, and I haven't see anything noted of the Iodine test... I watched Yuri's video's a while back where he did the test, however I can't find it currently. I...

Since there are two extract recipes on here...has anyone tried either of them...? Which would be more true to the original recipe? I'm going to pick up the ingredients for this, extract unfortunately, haven't gotten all the equip for the AG yet, and i'd also like to know if there's a Wyeast...

so yea... if you're in Northern Jersey, and say...maybe have nothing to do today...and you can bring some ball lock fittings...let's say 2 gas side and 2 beer side...you can feel free to come to 151 Brady Road, in Lake Hopatcong, NJ...too many beers and not enough taps....!!! 10 trays of food...