Recent content by ron8

Hi JB. I have a question about your sparge. If you are sparging until clear then I guess you have very little solids after the fermentation, and so, there may be some beer that is below the racking port on your Brewha. Do you have some beer that sits below the racking port? And if so, how do you...

:confused: Hi again Solstice, Got a question about your window AC modification. Did you have to deal with 20 gauge fan speed control wires? Did your AC have a low voltage control board? My 12K BTU window AC has me stymied. I hot wired the compressor and fan power and common wires fine. The...

Reply to myself, with how it turned out. Batch 14 and I have myself and 3 others enjoying it. Only one has been able to identify the taste: has a cotton candy taste. Others: Yum! Used 3 pure pitch White Labs Monastery, WLP500, and one White Labs Abbey Ale. Styrian golding for bittering and Czech...

Thanks Solstice. I thought more about your set up and, likewise, I concluded at the top is best. The cold air will not impinge directly on the cylinder, avoiding local over-cooling. I found the idea of using a sharpened putty knife and straight edge, 2 by 4, for cutting the insulation. Thanks...

Hi again Solstice, I am copying your AC unit idea. Just wondering what your thought process was for deciding to sit the AC unit near the top of the chamber? instead of near the bottom. I understand heat rises. But I have been tossing around in my head what would be the best arrangement for...

Hgearle, I never thought of doing that. Great advice. Should also help remove some of the fines with the malt. Do you ever remove any solids from the bottom after mashing, before boiling? Thanks...Ron8

Hi Solstice, I think I understand: running pump before dough in helps prevent a slug of packed-in malt from plugging the pump. If I get brave I may try it in the future. And the benefit of moving the wort, circulating bottom to racking port, creates better heat transfer: Q = m(dot) x Cp x...

Much appreciated, Solstice. - Ron8

Thank you for the photos, Solstice. I like your set up. I have thought more than once of creating an insulated room for the BIAC. I like the AC idea making it fully automatic. Although I have my cold water loop working pretty well now and am pretty happy with it. Your insulated foam box ferm...

Hi Solstice Brewing, Yeah, I like your foam box idea. Any photos? Circulating the wort during cooling is something I haven’t thought of. I don’t circulate wort anytime. The first time I brewed with the BIAC I had major plugging in the pump during mash. So, I do not circulate ever...

Looking at the picture you posted of your system, I see that you have 2 ball valves on the top of your lid. Why would you need any valves there? I have never seen the need, but would like to know if I'm missing something. Also, I noticed that you are using a small cup for the blow off...

Hello Solstice Brewing, Thanks very much for your comments. If I could just ask for clarification, what reading do you set the dial controller at during fermentation, and in the case of when ramping up for diacetyl rest with lagers? I almost missed reading this, and my apologies for not...

Just learned a lot about Belgian golden strong ale by listening to an old Beersmith podcast interview of Michael Mraz. Highly recommend to anyone interested in brewing this style. Mraz is 2 time California home brewer of the year winner. He started his own craft brewery in 2013 shortly before...

Hello Mdime, Likewise, I have the medium BIAC, optimized for 10 gallon batches. I brewed two 5 gallon batches of a high gravity Belgian golden strong ale. I recall having lengthy back and forth emails about your question with Nathan before I decided on the medium instead of the small. The small...

Hello Hgearle, Thanks for your insightful comment. I agree, not having a chiller is certainly a disadvantage for quickly cooling post boil. If you have the dial type power controller, have you ever thought about attempting to use it at a very low input in order to add heat when needed during...