Recent content by tullamoremike

Arg, I just figured it out guys. As it turns out, I'm a jackass. I was figuring my batch size at 5 gallons, which is what goes into the fermenter. I forgot that I was leaving about 1/2 gallon in the kettle with the trub. 6.5*46=299 / 5.5*50=275, that's a heck of a lot closer than 5*50=250...

I'm obviously screwing something up somewhere, lol. My hydrometer is calibrated to 68, so I always get my grav samples to 70 before testing. 1014 was where I stopped sparging, at which point I had collected 6.5 gallons. I stirred the wort before taking a sample but I may not have stirred...

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My collection bucket, kettle and fermenter all have temp adjusted marks and always coincide. I used the same gallon container for all of them so even if it's volume isn't correct, the ratio would be the same.

I tested my hydrometer (24g sugar/176g water = 1.048) and it's spot on. I stir well before taking samples but I suppose I could stir longer; if gravity is linear and my hydrometer isn't screwy than all I can figure is that I've somehow managed to get a sample of the higher grav runoff. I'll be...

So a faulty hydrometer is the most likely cause?

So I just bought one of those 160k btu burners ($30 shipped, let me know if you want the link) to try to correct this but I wanted to get some input from you guys anyway. On todays brew beersmith was calling for 1040 preboil (6.5 gal)/1052 postboil (5 gal) @75% eff. Preboil gravity was 1046...

Wow, I'd never heard of debittered black patent or sinamar! Either seems perfect. I'll check out the LHBS. This one is on the schedule for Saturday so if I can't find either, she's getting food coloring in the bottling bucket (seriously). Has any one done this? I can't imagine there'd be...

Hey guys, Any ideas on how to add color to a blonde ale without adding sweetness, toasted flavor etc? I'm trying to brew a "brunette" ale for my brunette wife; she's into light flavored beers and anything that reminds her of champagne. So I'll obviously be going for high attenuation and at...

Awesome, Thanks Walker! Glad to know I can use this controller. They're a steal if you already have a step-up xformer, $17 shipped. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370478290421&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT I'll just use it on the non-ferment beer fridge until it's proven...

Would it be possible to hack a Love TSS2 (or any other model for that matter) to control an external SSR? I've been wanting to use one to control a 2k watt heating element in my HLT but that little 16A relay's not going to cut it. It seems like it would be as simple as rerouting the signal...