Recent content by UKFreak

What kinda money for the whole thing? Im only an hour away so no shipping. Feel free to PM me with a "brother-in-law price! LOL

Hey, OK, I'll admit I'm playing off a Simon and Garfunkel tune, but I'm working on an English style oatmeal stout using the "fab four" (parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme). I've done some experimenting with the herbs and oats and I think they may can be made to play nicely together. Anybody ever...

I searched the database but got no hits, so I'm curious. Anybody experimented with rum in a beer recipe? I've done a couple of bourbon ales (Hell, I'm a KY boy...we put bourbon in everything!) but wondered if anybody had tried using either domestic, imported, or spiced rum in a recipe. Anyone...

As a complete noob, I liked the little charts that Midwest puts in their catalogue...makes it easy to find homebrews that suit your tastes. Northern has some really nice kits, but not a lot of information on each. Austin has a HUGE list, and once you understand AA's, IBU's, OG/FG/ABV and such...

Hey, Dude! Anxious to hear how things turned out! Give us an update?:confused:

Just to update: I brewed a batch based on the recipe for a Bud kit from Midwest, but changed the hops to Czech Saaz and used Wyeast Bohmeian lager yeast. Final ABV came to about 5%. Tasted great, and we wiped it out in about 2 weekends with my buds giving it a thumbs up. Had great head...

UPDATE- after posting my curiosity got the best of me, so I went and checked the gravity...1.010, dead money! And lo and behold, once I took the sample from the honey colored carboy into my test jar, color was a nice straw gold! OK-noobie thang: beer will look darker in the carboy than in the...

Well, my first attempt has been lagering since just after Thanksgiving. Had a few problems with primary fermentation (raged for about 12 hours, then just quit). Stirred it up a bit, got it restarted, then let it set in primary for about 5 days total. Racked to secondary and put out to lager at...

That'll work, but trust me if you're gonna do this go ahead & invest in a chiller. Not that expensive but well worth it!

To me, auto-siphon is worth it's weight in gold. Easiest way ever to rack to secondary or bottling bucket. I just recently bought glass carboys to use as primary fermenter when brewing lagers, and I really like it. You can actually see what your beer is doing (or not) and helps a lot in...

That's a MUST! I drink up what's left of my last batch, if there is any! Between batches I drink some Sam to build up the bottle supply. Drinking Homebrew while brewing is a time-honored tradition!

I bought this same setup, minus the bottles & kettle. I bought a 7gal kettle locally for about $50, saved up some Sam Adams bottles & bought a few from a friend, & ordered a wort chiller from Midwest. I got the Autumn Amber Ale kit with it (my first-ever brew). Couldn't be happier with any of...

Wow! Way too cool! Really nice site...user friendly, nice designs!

OK, y'all: I've done lots of research (thanks for all the great advice & resources, guys!) and takes to TONS of folks (actually only a bunch of beer drinkers...collectively weighing a ton or so!) & I've got enough info to make my first attempt! This will be several "firsts" for me: first lager...

I've used dry & Wyeast smack-packs. Most of the time I've been fine, but after needing to kick-start a batch & having to wait for new yeast to arrive I just wanted advice as to a "generic" yeast to keep on hand that would fit any bill. I have an extra Safeale in the fridge, so reckon I made a...