Recent content by paraordnance

I entered few meads in Mead Free or Die 2016 and they placed almost identical to Mazer Cup 2016 results (where I also placed couple times with same meads). So the judging seems very consistent from comp to comp. My tart/sour cherry got 2nd and also got 3rd in berry melomel as well as HM in same...

I pitched 80 ml of thick yeast collected from active krausen of Belgian Blonde the week before and my Westy 10 clone finished @ 1.010 very rapidly. I had to use a heat belt to ramp the temp

I wonder how fermenter syrup additions will work for this recipe. Seeing how some struggle to get FG low enough, fermenter addition when most of maltoze uptake by the yeast is complete would make perfect sense. I done it on tripels with great results

That stuff will drop everything and make your mead crystal clear. I use it on every batch from now on

Correct, save some sediment and re-use it. I usually pack some of soggy bread left overs in 500 ml mason jar and add couple tablespoons of yeast sediment from previous batch. Yeast will have something to eat and will be happy for a week. Good natural yeast is at most important when making...

I make kvas in the summer because it was readily available back home and it works wonders to quench the thirst. Simplicity is the key. Best kvas will turn out from about third or fourth batch once your natural yeast bank establishes itself. On first batch you can use baking dry yeast but the...

I made them all but sour/tart cherry was my favourite by far. Strawberries second. My strawberry mead scored 45 at mazer cup 2013, it was really nice. Makes for very smooth mead. Honeyberry also very good. I would advise against a juice. When I started i used juice a lot but all fruit is just...

I just brewed a Hefe today. I have mash tun but for wheat beer I prefer BIAB all the way! Lot more sediment in kettle. Quicker brew day, I was chilled by noon! Taste wise seems to be no difference. If you plan to reuse yeast may be not the best method. I prefer my mash tun for temperature...

Somtimes I enjoy the fact that I live in cold Canada. Fruit flies season is only July-August-September and I don't see them again for 9 months :D

You wrong on tannins part pal, its one of these myths that still gets spread around and has no evidence in real world what so ever. I used to BIAB for 2.5 years before moved to mash tun and have about 20 medals from competitions in US and Canada from this year (all BIAB). Not one score sheet...

Did you seen a fruit flies around your fermenter? They just swarming with acetobacter which will turn alcohol into vinegar real quick. Just dump it and get over it. You not going to get a beer from vinegar no matter how long you wait.

I personally think Therma K is way better than -+0.5F as they advertise. They just cover their backs. Most of error will come from interchangeable probes rather than handheld unit. Each unit comes with individual 2-point calibration certificate and my unit is accurate at both points down to...

I would not reccomend CDN DTQ450X. I had problems with it and its not very accurate. You know, "you get what you pay for" and this is the case here. Don't fall for cheap thermometers they will fail you soon or later. I purchased CDN DTQ450X couple years ago from Brewhardware and thought I was...

Looks durable to me, I only used it once so far but I absolutelly love it. Very fast readings (depends on a probe you order). Wire probe has 0.5 sec readings. You can get rubber cover for it as an option and it becomes waterproof. I'm really confident in all Thermoworks products, they sell good...

You have to chill wort fast down to 70 F, and only then it goes in freezer overnight.