Recent content by mspindler

If you build an electric setup yourself, you can address the 3-gallon issue when you design it! For 5 gallons, no need to go 240V. I have an all electric system doing 5 gallon batches and I use 2 120V elements in a 10-gallon pot. One is hooked up to a PID controller to control mash temps...

Well, that's over 18% crystal which seems like alot. I'd cut the crystal in half and use more vienna. Then again, I'm not a huge fan of crystal...

Keg it! I did this for a buddy once. He wanted an easy drinking hoppy pale and a coffee stout, and it had to be ready in a month. Brewed a simple, all falconers flight pale and a 6% stout with cold brewed coffee. Don't remember the grain bills. Kegged it up, took it to the wedding, threw...

I really have to recommend White labs Saison II for a low ABV low FG Saison. This yeast really dries a beer out. I recently made a beer with this yeast that had only base malt, flaked wheat, and motueka hops. Started at 1.040, finished at 1.003, carb'd it high. The keg is almost gone now...

In the Kitchen! All grain, all electric, and air conditioned. Since we don't have a garage (converted) or basement (California), it works out great. For now the brewery storage room is our third bedroom. I just wheel the brew cart out into the kitchen and it's ready to go. Let's hope my...

I absolutely LOVE mine!

Impossible! Just keep experimenting until you find YOUR perfect IPA.

Well OK then! Still, EZ Water Calculator. And you probably need more info on your water including chloride and sulfates. I'm no specialist, but I know that the difference in beer quality and efficiency before a proper water report plugged into the calculator was much worse than after.

It may be easier for someone to help if you could report this in PPM instead of mg/l. I was having mash efficiency issues due to my water chemistry and a report from Ward Labs plugged in to Easy Water Calculator told me exactly how to fix it.

How about this: 9# 2-row 2.5# Munich 1# Debittered Black Malt (I use Blackprinze) 1 tube of HopShot @ 60 (from Northern Brewer - love this stuff!) 1.5 oz. Citra @ 15 3 oz. Citra @ flameout 4 oz. Citra Dry Hop US05/WLP001/similar

Maybe to a handful of people that have a better sense of taste and smell than the majority of us. The average Joe most likely won't be able to tell the difference. I'd keep 'em all at .5.

OK, I think I may have caused a little confusion. Since my initial response was based the thought that you were doing 5 gallons, let me restate. What I would do: eliminate the 30 minute keep the 15 minute move the 5 minute to flameout add maybe .25-.5 oz at 60 minutes. I'm ok with the big dry...

If it were me, I'd move your 30 minute additions to 15 and your 5 minute additions to flameout. I've done a handful of IPAs this way and while the bitterness is lacking, the juicy hop flavor and aroma is fantastic! You could always add a small 60 minute addition just to get the bitterness to...

Back in the day I brewed a belgian style IPA with white labs saison II yeast that had nothing but 2-row, flaked wheat, and a bunch of centennial hops. It was really tasty, but the yeast was definitely the star of the show.

I'm currently on a quest to find MY perfect IPA (even if it's not THE perfect IPA). I've pretty much found a grain bill and yeast combo that works for me, but knowing what hops to use and when has been the tough part. So I'm brewing a series of beers using the same grain bill, yeast and hop...