Recent content by nztayls

I have two Flemish Reds that I have been ageing in secondary now for over a year, and it's getting to the stage where I am looking at packaging them. I really want to keg them (knowing that traditionally they are bottle conditioned). So a couple of questions as this is my first sour: 1...

Hi there, I am relatively new to kegging, and I am quite keen to clarify a porter I have just kegged. I have read up on using Gelatine - which is the way I'll go with this brew. The article says that the beer should be nice and cold before adding the gelatine. So, for a beer that was at...

I did wonder about this. I am following a recipe out of the edition of Brew Your Own magazine, which said to rack to secondary after the yeast falls out to the bottom (and says this should be in about two weeks). I left it three and had a decent yeast cake at the bottom, and little to no...

I recently brewed a Flanders Red ale, and used WLP655. I left in primary for about 3 weeks, before racking into a carboy for ageing, along with the addition of some oak cubes. That was a week ago, and to day I have seen no activity whatsoever in the carboy. I know the bugs can take a while to...

Thanks, I have managed to get my hands on some crystal, so will give this a shot. Cheers!

Brad, you are a legend. I bought your software not long after I started brewing, and I don't know where I would be without it. And I know many, many of us down here in New Zealand use it. It is THE standard. Keep up the great work!

Hi all, So, down here in New Zealand we can get most hops - both local and imported. But I am struggling to find Mt Hood. I want to try a batch of "Denny's Wry Smile" as I keep reading this is one recipe every brewer should try. My question is, what would be a suitable substitute for Mt...

Okay, so I should have listened to the sage advice about dumping 2/3 of the yeast cake. I figured I was going to have plenty of headspace, so I would risk it. Bad move. I have attached a blow off tube now, but am having to clear it every few hours, as I don't have any real wide tubing. So, a...

I wish I had taken this advice.....

I'm new to sour beers, and am in the process of brewing a flanders red. The recipe I am following talks about adding medium-toast oak cubes to secondary. Problem is that none of the LHBS seem to have medium toast oak. Only lightly toasted. I take it this won't make much of a difference. I...

Great, thanks!

Gidday all, So I am brewing my first sour beer at present - a Flanders Red that I am using WhiteLabs WLP665 Belgian Sour Mix 1. I have read elsewhere that after racking to secondary it is possible to pitch wort straight onto the yeast cake at the bottom of the original fermentor. Is it is...

Hi there, I am heading away on a business trip from New Zealand to Canada. I have a bit of time for pleasure, so was wanting to sample some of Canada's finest. Any recommendations for good pubs serving local brews?. We have a couple of nights in Ottawa, a night in Quebec, and the rest of...

Thanks all. These were brand new bottles from my LHBS made by Copper Tun. On closer investigation I believe this is due to them not snapping closed tight enough. They close down tight and then seem to loosen up as they have some give in them. Might resort to drinking Grolsch for the next month...

Thanks all. Yes, I'm in New Zealand. I'm looking at installing this into a 30l kettle. It's hard to get decent gas burners over here without spending a fortune, and as I "cook up" in my garage I am worried about fumes from gas as I don't have decent ventilation.