Recent content by mathieu

This old thread just saved me. Making a an apple ale, and I've never had a beer coming out of a bucket's airlock. Used the siphon hose as blow off tube and am all set now. Thank you!

Didn't see your ans until just now. Thanks for clearing that up. My raspberry ale came out well. I lucked out I guess. Thanks again.

Well, I went ahead and did the deed. I used the Carlson's and didn't rinse with water. (Man, I made a mess; when I started the siphon into the bottling bucket I sprayed my wife with beer.) Anyway, I'm still interested in knowing whether or not you should let the bottles air dry. Thanks

OKay. I'm bottling today -- and this is my 4th batch -- but I never know what way to go on the following: 1. Should I just use the LD Carlson's and then bottle right away or should I let the bottles air dry first? 2. In the past, not trusting the Carlson to not affect the taste or poison...

I know it. It's my fourth batch, and I still freak out and ask questions of the local homebrew shop and the fine people here in the forum. I also consult a couple of books. It's still going to knocked around a bit when I bring the carboy back up to the kitchen for bottling. When it's time...

Thanks. I moved it into my secondary, and it was pretty clean -- with the exception of a few berry pieces getting sucked into the carboy. -- One other question though (and then I'll be done): I've never been clear on how stable the carboy has to be. For instance: after I racked from the...

I'm working on a raspberry ale. I used frozen berries and sanitized them in the wort after boiling (I used two 10 oz packages of frozen berries), and then I did the primary fermentation in a bucket (with air lock) so that the berries could hang out in the wort. OG was about 1.036. Anyway...

I just got up the guts to open the bucket (which I hope didn't disturb it too much). The krausen is still on top, so I take it that -- given the krausen hasn't dropped -- it's not done fermenting - right? Or should I move it to a secondary? I'm a little paranoid because my last beer was...

okay. So I have a similar question. I'm doing an ale as well. Primary is in a 5 gallon bucket with airtight top and airlock. It's been 8 days, and now bubbles are only coming at a rate of every minute and twenty seconds. Can I move to a glass carboy now (with air lock) to allow the beer to...

i just bottled a holiday brew with about a pound of honey, and you should also know that it slows down the fermentation process by two-three weeks. i thought i was going to go insane watching bubbles come through the airlock at 2-minute intervals after 3 weeks. for me fermentation ceased after...

ah, i feel so lazy. i haven't encountered off flavors, or too much cloudiness, but if i can improve on my beer then i'm going to go for it. next batch i'm definitely trying the secondary method.

Yeah, that makes sense. I was told it should be done for higher gravity beers as well.

Would you even bother with a secondary for an ale like this? I'm a little confused on the whole secondary thing.

i never strain (with three brews under my belt)! strainings for wimps! or maybe people that have better equipment...

the original gravity was wack, i believe because the wort and water didn't mix properly before I took the reading. it seems that the consensus is that i'm cool, or rather my beer is cool.