Recent content by taa800

Are there any recommendations on how to do this (mix ratio, length of time, etc)? I can invest in a new primary bucket, but I'd like to reuse my lines and racking cane if I can.

So is that an issue with not having everything properly sanitized?

I've been having a problem with some of my beers lately. After some time, they become over carbonated in the bottle, and produce some off flavors. Nothing bad where I can't drink it, but not nearly as good as what it was when I first tried it. My beers are overall very good, and I've won an...

I am not using a stir plate. I'm just shaking the bottle from time to time. When I do shake it, I put the cap on tight and shake it. That pressurizes the bottle, where I have to loosen the cap to relieve the pressure. After I let the bottle sit, I don't see any bubbling at the top, but there...

I'm in the middle of making my first yeast starter. I mixed 750 ml of water with 75 g DME. I'm only brewing a 3 gallon batch. I put it in a 2 liter bottle and pitched the yeast. After a day, I don't see what I thought I'd see in the bottle. I was expecting active fermentation where I'd...

I started this thread over a year ago and was very interested in everones replies. Since then, I have been just saving and pitching slurry. I've never had a problem with this. I've pitched yeast up to 6 months old - from the date I harvested it. Again, no problem. I'm sure there are...

How do you do your sparge? I've been getting in the 80s for my efficiency doing 3 gallon biab batches, but I don't do any kind of sparge.

Does the trub hurt it? I've never noticed a problem with mine when I've done this. I don't go through multiple washing cycles like some do. I had someone tell me this is what they did, so I tried it and it's been working for me. I'm just wondering if there's a chance that if I pitch this...

I have been reusing my yeast by adding preboiled water to the primary after I rack off the beer and then pouring that into pint jars. I normally see a layer of creamy yeast on top of the sediment after everything has settled. The last time I did this, I don't see that creamy layer. Do you...

Is there any place that has a good picture or diagram of all of this?

Thanks Yooper. Where is the best place to get all of this? Are there any kits out there that would have all of this?

I just bought a refrigerator to store kegs so I can start kegging my beer. I wanted to have 2 kegs on tap at one time. I'm wondering what equipment I need to do this. I realize I need 2 kegs, a co2 tank and regulator. What else do I need? What's the best way to set this up? Are there kits...

I'm thinking about getting a setup to start kegging my own beer. I make 2.5 gallon batches. Is there any reason I wouldn't want to buy 5 gallon corny kegs? These are a lot cheaper than the 2.5 - 3 gallon kegs. I'm wondering if I'll have any issues trying to carbonate only half of the...

I just read a question in BYO about a person that had too high of a final gravity consistently on his beers. For all of those that do BIAB, do you find that your final gravity is typically higher than you would have liked? I do 2.5 gallon batches. I use a 5.5 gallon brewpot and put in 4...

I made a scotch ale with all MO and it was the best beer I've made. Next I plan on making a high gravity cherry stout. I'm going to use half MO and half 2 row for the base malt. BTW, what does SMaSH stand for?