Recent content by PitsPale

I mean, I figure if the rubber coated handle on the ball valve is okay, the fitting, which is designed to handle hot liquid, should be too, right?

Yeah, I was thinking a wet dishtowel or rag wrapped around it. foil might be easier/better.

Does anyone use a male (or female, I guess) polysulfone disconnect (as sold by NB) on a brew kettle ball-valve? Any issues with heat from the burner? I had a brass QD failure and am searching for a different solution. Andy

How do I keep it sweet? Crash cool the fermenter?

Ok - added a bit of the Wyeast nutrient. We'll see how we do. That said - should I plan on kegging/force carbing this? Andy

So my buddy has been hounding me to make a cider - I'm not much of a fan but he is. This being August, choices for fresh cider aren't great, so I picked up 5 gallons of Zeigler's (sp?) and used it. It was THEN I noticed that Zeigler's is pasteurized, but then again so is Tree Top and...

I've been hesitant to try a lambic because I've been nervous about introducing the bacteria to my brewery equipment. I've heard once the bugs "start working" it's hard to get them to stop and to clean them completely out of fermenters, etc. What are some of the thoughts on this?

I, like someone else who recently posted, would like to harvest the yeast out of a couple bottles I have but I would like to clean it and save it for use in a later brewing... I've read the yeast cleaning 101 thing about how to recycle your yeast - but how is this done out of the bottle...

I'm forced into doing an all grain batch even though I'd rather not. I ordered a kit from Northern Brewer and I may have accidently ordered the all grain version or they sent me the wrong one... water under the bridge at this point. Rather than sending it back, I'm just going to do it. I've...

So I'm debating on getting a minibrew conical. I like the idea of single vessel fermentation and the price is right. That said - when you drain sediment, etc. from the bottom port, the level of good beer falls, correct. So after 2 weeks in a conical, there should be no sediment, and good...

No, seriously... I've got a keg on tap right now that hasn't been on gas for days, yet keeps pouring. I took it off gas because it was way over-pressure and was pouring nothing but foam. A few pours later and it was reasonable... So I never put it back on gas and just drew another pint and...

That's fine... but why couldn't you just pump boiling wort through it for a few minutes prior to flame out, much like people do to "sterilize" their immersion chiller? I currently use an IC, and get it as clean as possible before brewing and in the last 5 minutes or so of the boil, put it in...

That's fine... but why couldn't you just pump boiling wort through it for a few minutes prior to flame out, much like people do to "sterilize" their immersion chiller? I currently use an IC, and get it as clean as possible before brewing and in the last 5 minutes or so of the boil, put it in...

Do you have a recommendation to filter out hops (yes, I'm using pellets)? What works?

Hey everyone - I'm trying to improve my wort cooling process - I currently use an immersion chiller. I'm looking at the therminator - any good? 1) Is it easy to sanitize? Can you just run boiling wort through it for a few minutes to handle sanitation? 2) Would a pump definitely be...