Recent content by Ken Powers

I usually only keep it in the primary for a week (or until initial fermentation slows) then I transfer to the secondary where it stays for at least 2 weeks or so (fermentation has finished, etc...) then I transfer to kegs where I force carbonate. I don't usually mess with aging this one though...

Just a quick note to mention that the powers brewery calculator above was forced to move from its comcast service space to GoDaddy. The new location for it is: http://powersbrewery.com/beer-recipe-calculator/ There have been a lot of improvements, ingredient additions, bug fixes, etc... And...

I think it turned out great. its been 8 years since i posted this recipe though. LOL The recipe is actually still a favorite of guests when I do brew it, although i brew a lot more IPA's these days. Even though it has been 8 years, I haven't really modified that porter recipe. Let me know...

This was my first year growing hops but I actually got a bit of a yield from two of the four varieties I was growing. I think this year is going to be a good one. I am growing Goldings, Northern Brewer, Centennial, and Willamette. Decide the varieties you are looking for first and then see if...

Droopy, Nice looking clean diagrams. Keep up the good work.

I just noticed that Mouser doesn't seem to have this part anymore. Allied Electronics has it though and they are a very reliable company as well. They can be found at Allied Electronics. The one I got was the Omron G2R-1A-T-AC120. It works great. Page 841 of their catalog has the...

I had a friend who had the More Beer float switch. I took his apart and bought all the parts separately and made my own. Much, much cheaper. I also incorporated a relay which is an Omron G2R-1A-T 120 VAC. You can get a similar one at: http://www.mouser.com/. I have used these guys for years...

Definitely a much cheaper way to go on the float switch. However, I am more interested in the rest of your system's design. Nice incorporation of a coil in the mash tun. I assume from your diagram that you pump hot water from your hot liquor tank through this coil to maintain/raise mash...

I discovered, via my wife, that it is not uncommon at all for adults to develop allergies later in life (say around 30 or so). I have had them for my entire life but she developed them at about 35 years of age and has had some miserable times of the year because of it. I know that people...

By the time you get to the last one, it will be perfect ;). I prefer a lower carbonation level with my porters and stouts anyway. If the carbonation still seems low to you at Christmas time, think about adding a little more priming sugar. I personally don't care much about head retention as...

You should try using Iodophor as a sanitizer. It is no rinse, leaves no flavor behind, and eliminates that bleach aroma. I think it is way easier to use.

I have a very slight grain allergy. I still love beer, however. Most of the time I am fine but every once in a while, I run across a recipe (or for that matter, a commercial beer) that causes my sinuses to swell up a little and makes me sneeze. It is possible you have the same problem. If...

I don't know how strange this is professor but I have tried putting many different things in my beer. In fact I like to add a little cayenne pepper when I brew a chocolate stout to slightly accentuate the chocolate flavor and add a hint of zip.

Also, there is a distilling newsgroup out there as well. It is rec.crafts.distilling.

I agree, a hydrometer is a very valuable tool. Definitely one worth investing in if you don't already have one. Using this and knowing the original gravity of your wort and the attenuation of your yeast strain can let you know roughly where your beer will finish. This is especially valuable...