Recent content by Perch06

I have a handheld refractometer (model # RSG-100ATC) that I use to take gravity readings pre-fermentation. Aside from wasting less beer for measurements, I especially like the ability to monitor gravity during the boil. The problem I have recently run into is that lately it seems the gravity...

Absolutely add those costs in. Well worth it.

Quick question: Anybody from the Northern end of Chicago going to be picking up hops? I live in Evanston and, depending on the day of the pickup, I will likely be out of town. If anyone around my way will be picking up hops and could possibly grab my order (I'm only getting two pounds) I...

I would like to be added to the contract waiting list for next year.

Look around and you will find a lot of differing opinions on this topic. My personal experience is that you can get drinkable beer faster while kegging but whether kegging or bottling the beer seems to peek around the same time (maybe a slight advantage to kegging but not a ton). Obviously...

Brewzor Pro for Android is a pretty useful little app. I do recipe formulation using iBrewmaster so I can't speak to how well that part of the app works, but its brewing calculators are very helpful. It even has a yeast pitching rate calculator.

I need to make some room in my keezer so that I can cold crash another beer. This will be temporary, maybe three days max. My question is whether It would be alright to take one of the corny kegs full of beer currently in the keezer out of the keezer, let it warm to room temp, and then throw...

Do you mean that you multiply grains in pounds x .08 and get a number in gallons? For example: 10# grain x .08 = 0.8 gallons of water lost to absorption?

I can't be 100% sure, but it's my understanding that Trader Joe's Mission Street Pale Ale is secretly brewed by Firestone Walker (located in Paso Robles). One of the best bargains out there. If you can find it fresh it's delicious and sessionable. Not beer related, but still related, I have...

Half Acre Brewery on Lincoln makes some fantastic suds. If you have ample time, you almost HAVE to make a pilgrimage down to Three Floyds south of the city in Munster, IN. It is well worth the trip for the food alone, but the beer is really great. If you can't make it to the brew pub, pick...

I am responding only because I really want to know too....so bump! I know you can build a bigger chamber around the mini fridge but for the time being that isn't that practical for me. I have two young children so I'd rather spend the minute amount of "free" time I have brewing.

If I have had an imperial stout sitting in primary for two and a half weeks and it has long since reached it's final gravity, is it too late to rack the beer onto some fruit. In this case, I have some cherry puree. I know you want to get some additional fermentation of the sugars from the...

Thanks for the reply. I think I will cut my losses and save the cherry puree for another day after I brew a better base beer. I need real temp control in a bad way. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with an interesting chocolate banana stout with this batch. There certainly are worse flavor...

So I brewed the extract version of Jamil's "Black Forest Stout" recipe from Brewing Classic Styles about a week ago. Everything went fine during the brew day, but about 24 hours into fermentation, while I was out of town, my wife forgot to refresh the ice rotation in the swamp cooler. Bad time...

Have none of you noticed that both Rebel Brewer and Brewmasters Warehouse are advertising fresh hop preorders for a bunch of varieties this year, including Citra? Check the Vendors Showcase threads. Sounds like your LHBS may have been misinformed.