Despite the current post-brexit scene, I have recently made the questionable decision of ordering hops from the UK to the EU.
Unsurprisingly, the parcel is stuck at customs since Friday and I have been told it remain like this until it gets checked by a customs inspector, which won’t happen...
Just an update.
Today was bottling day. I took the FG reading with a calibrated hydrometer and after compensating for temperature it measured 1.007, which it’s still low but not as attenuated as the previous reading suggested.
Also we tried the uncarbonated beer and we all agreed that the...
Thank you for the replies!
Yes, I do have a hydrometer but it needs a sample of 200ml so my plan is to only use it to measure FG when needed.
And yes, I calibrated both the hydrometer and the refractometer with distilled water as well as a "known" dilution of sucrose.
Also, I always take 3...
I just measured the gravity today with a refractometer and I got 1.007, higher than yesterday. This is getting weird. I think it’s either the refractometer’s fault or my fault. Probably my fault.
I just realized I’m trying too hard to make everything perfect, and all these unexpected events are...
Right now I am brewing some kind of weird session IPA from this book. The recipe is called “disproportionately hopped”, and by its name you can bet it doesn’t skimp on hops.
For temperature control, we have a fridge and heater connected to an Arduino I programmed myself, but due to a mistake in...
I see... Really good info here.
For the record, we were planning on using a mylar balloon filled with CO2 and attaching it to the airlock, but it seemed to much hassle so we just ditched the idea of cold crashing. But the thing is I already have the balloons and the CO2 canister, so if my dad...
Thank you for the replies. As a beginner, I cannot overstate how invaluable your opinions are to me.
I think it will be easier for me to just let it sit at 18C for 7 days just for peace of mind and be sure fermentation is complete, and then skip the diacetyl rest.
I'll be bottling so I will...
At this very moment I’m fermenting my first batch of Kölsch-style beer. I’m using the WLP029 yeast.
I pitched at 16C (61F) and let it ferment at that same temp. It went from 1.048 to 1.013 in 2½ days and it seems to have passed peak fermentation (krausen has collapsed and airlock does not...
Thank you all for the recommendations, they all seem solid options!
I think I might have visited all three websites before but I didn't know at the time if I could trust them. Now I'm sure I will check them from time to time.
At the moment I will use the Swedish one. They have all varieties I...
Last month I bought some hops for two batches of beer from the same website. I just opened a packet of hallertau on brew day (my first brew ever BTW) and it had a disgusting French cheese smell. Probably oxidized I guess. We don’t have a LHBS in my city so we had to use it unfortunately. I also...
I just checked the thread today, and all I can say is thank you so much for all the amazing answers.
A couple of things I want to comment before I leave this for good.
I used a sous vide and cling film to heat up the water inside the cooler (because laziness) and it took more than 30 mins, so...
Truth be told, this cooler is cheap and veeery old and I’m inclined to believe that it would be worth buying a new one. But my father argues that a new one will perform exactly the same while I believe that it won’t.
And yes, I'm painfully aware of the temperature ranges at which conversion...
My father and I are just adventuring into all-grain using the BIAB method.
I have an old 30L (8gal) ice cooler that I was planning to repurpose as a mash tun. I’ve been experimenting with just water to see how well it holds the heat, but it drops 4.9 degrees Celsius (~8.8 F) over 1 hour with 22L...