I have a few bottles of a brew I made ten years ago. I tasted one last summer and it was great.
No worries, with proper sanitation and storage they will last a long time.
I just ordered a few pounds from him a couple weeks ago. Got my order within a week ( I'm in FL) and the amounts were right on the money. He told me he is a grower getting in to the homebrewer market. He can fit 3# in a $5 flat rate envelope for shipping.
I've been overnight mashing for about a year now. I moved away from a HERMS system and started doing cheap 'n easy overnight mashes. I have not experienced sour mashes, thin beers or any loss or gain in efficiency.
I usually start on Friday nite. I setup my equipment, measure out my grain and...
That's how I do it. I mash in and try to get around 122* then allow the HE to bring the mash to 150* and then let the HE cycle on and off in order to maintain the mash temp. I recirculate through the entire process.
1. What is the volume of wort you pulled off in the last two brews? Is it the same amount as the first brew?
2. Is the amount of grain used in the last two brews higher than the first brew? What were all the grain bills?
Volumes can have a big effect of efficiency. For example 20lbs of grain...
What's wrong with finding the cheapest way to brew a specific style? While I may not want to buy the cheapest swill on the market to drink there is nothing wrong with trying to save a buck.
Spending as much money as possible doesn't make a better glass of beer it only makes you stupid and lazy...
Buying grain and hops in bulk will really cut your costs. Throw in a little yeast ranching and you can really start saving money. I have a CAP that I make with dollar store rice and homegrown hops that costs less than $5 for a 5 gallon batch...
I think I 'm gonna do a SMaSH tonight with 2-row and Chinook (all late additions). I want to boil down the first runnings. For a 10 gal batch would you boil down 1 gallons or 2 gallons??? I'm not looking for anything light so I'm thinking 2 gallons?!?
22# 2-row
Chinook @ 30, 20, 10, 0...
+1 on the Brewers Best kits, that's how I started out and their instructions are pretty good if I remember. I would, however swap out the included yeast for some Safale US-05...