Recent content by quickerNu

Yes please

Thanks tmurph6. I was growing frustrated with the amount of wort required to fill the standard hydrometer tube and finally purchased the refractometer. I have not seen those suggestions before. I will poke around in beersmith (2) and find that. Are you in Katy TX? I'm just up the road a way.

Terrific explanation, thank you. In hindsight, I checked it outside (95-100 ambient), came inside, set it down and checked again. 30 degree ambient temp plus evaporation. I typically use a pipette and chill it, but I ran out.

I have just started using a refractometer. I have noticed if I set it down after taking a gravity reading, and look at it again 10 minutes later with the same sample on the glass, I have magically gained 3-5 points. Why? I figure even a boiling sample cools almost instantly since it is just a...

I currently have 2 kegs, a 5# tank, and a 6 gallon bucket full on thin tempered glass. I know one sudden jolt and it could shatter. Replacing with wood this week, but I have been saying that for 4 months.

Glad to hear that. I bought the 115v just for an HLT, but soon bought the malt pipe and have enjoyed using it to brew indoors. It is soooo slow though. If I can get a 220 installed in the garage for a decent price, I will get the bigger digiboil.

Sorry, I am sparging. I was trying to articulate if having 5.5 gallons of strike water (3.5+ 2 for dead space) would have a negative impact on efficiency, like a thin mash. It didn't, I had a ton of grain absorption and needed to sparge with 4 gallons to get to my target volume.

Yes, that makes sense, Is there is any impact of having an effective mash of 3.5 but, with recirculating, an actual mash volume of 5.5 gallons? (ie, lower efficiency from thin mash)? I originally bought the digiboil just for an HLT, but trying it out to do everything with. I preheated sparge...

I am using my digiboil with mash pipe for the first time today. There are 2 gallons of dead space before I even get to the false bottom of the mash pipe. I assume I need to add 2 gallons to my strike water volume? I am using a pump to recirculate.

I found a foot switch to be kind of limiting. I run mine by a remote. Fosmon C-10683 Wireless Remote... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072F9DGRL?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share I keep the remote on a carabiner on my belt loop so I don't have to walk over and step. Dirt cheap and water resistant.

Brewed a batch of Edwort's Haus Pale ale, kinda..

I will echo the sentiments above. It is only as complex as you make it. I brewed for years on a system that I had less than $100 in, and made good beer. Better than I could get at the store back then, and definitely cheaper. Years down the road I have a lot more money in my equipment, and have...

That fermenter sure would be nice!

Thanks, that is what I thought, but my efficiency was terrible this batch, and I've never had a pump before. However, I also have never used this LHBS before, or this new 10 gallon MLT, and a few other factors. I am trying to establish a system with my new equipment and wanted to make sure how...

I gifted myself a Mark 2 pump for Christmas, and it has made my brew day much simpler and safer. However, I would love some input on using it with my mash. Previous, I relied in gravity to drain the tun. Is there any drawback to pumping it out? Should I pump it slowly or empty the MLT as fast as...