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First off, im a little new at the mead/wine biz. Ive done several batches of melomels but i still dont know if Im going about it the right way. My question is this: Do i need to stabilize the mead before bottling? If so, does it still benefit from bulk aging once the sorbate has been...

Well, i don't have any for you...but i am looking for some input on recipes and most importantly bottling. I did a 2 gallon batch of kiwi chard but i used champagne yeast and it has that sharp character, so i wanted to bottle it up as such. Here's the deal, i have a party at the end of the...

I found this on a deal site: http://www.midnightbox.com/cgi-bin/item/10031870-110/total-dissolved-solids-tds-meter-make-sure-you-always-drink-pure-water-.html Would this be useful to me enough to justify the few bucks to know how hard or soft my water is? Or should i just go get a water...

I had a thought that i wanted to get some input on before i try it out. Do you guys think the Aspergillus will grow on oats instead of rice? I had this idea of trying a similar rice wine or Sake with oats as a substitute for rice. I think the whole process of either rice wine or Sake could...

From all that i have read, true Sake yeast is a lager yeast. And i see that a short portion of the fermentation is at lager temps, but for the most part, the main fermentation is done at room temps. The reason i ask is this: Will my WLP705 yeast thrive and produce less off flavors at...

Hey guys, has anyone used plumbing lube for keg gaskets? Seems like it should work. I have some of this already for lubing the gaskets on Moen cartridges. Anyone think it might be a problem? Thanks in advance!

I am so excited to see these little spikey boogers! These are first year (rhizome) Cascades and i have a couple bines up to about 12 feet or more already. It seems the cones are developing on the taller bines first. Im really wondering how much these first year bines will produce...

So, whats the consensus on buying and using expired yeast? It sells for half price at my LHBS. Today i was talking to the guys there and they were all against using it for anything but nutrient. I was wondering thinking, even if its 50% viable, if i am making a starter...whats the problem...

Hey guys, I recently discovered that i had a Budweiser keg in my attic. I want to convert it to a keggle but i dont have any metalworking tools. What is the best/cheapest way to remove the top on this thing? Should i take it to a metal shop? Thanks in advance!

I just finished my fermentation chamber and im loving it. I've found out that moisture builds up on the freezer coils and drips into the fridge portion of the chamber. I'm thinking it may be that I've been checking on it a lot and its been very rainy lately. Is this a common problem? Is it...

Hey guys, I'm not new to the garden but i am new to hops. I planted some cascade rhizomes and they shot up my trellis with a single sturdy runner. In dealing with other plants ive learned that pinching the growing tip off, cuts off the growth hormone from the tip and distributes it to the rest...

Hey guys, Is there any problems with having a C02 canister in contact with ice inside a modified cooler for dispensing? Do i need to make a barrier to insulate the C02 tank from the ice? Its a 20oz tank made for paintball by the company Spyder. Its a thick walled, solid tank. My plan...

Hi guys, im trying to create this ale i have in my head, but i have very little experience with recipe generation. The following is what i think will yeild a tastey peach cobbler ale. What do you guys think? Any suggestions? Peach Cobbler Fruit Beer Type: All Grain Date: 3/12/2013...

After tasting many of the meads being made at my LHBS, i tried my hand at a 1 gallon test batch. I was hoping someone might look over it and tell me if it sounds palatable or if i jacked it all up. First the gal at the LHBS only had local wildflower honey left. She was pretty insistant that...

So i caught some wild yeasties and stepped them up until i had a healthy starter. I then split some fresh wort into 2, 1 gallon carboys. The one on the left i pitched S-23, the one on the right got my yard yeast, some type of funky Brett. What i found interesting and i wanted to share, was...

Hey guys, so like many of you ive built an inexpensive stirplate using a USB powered PC fan, a fender washer and some neodymium magnets. It seems to be working fine after spending a while getting the stir bar to get going from the center of the flask. Otherwise it just sits in one place and...

I recently bought a pound of whole leaf Sterling that was said to be this past years harvest. I made a 2 row Smash to really familiarize myself with this strain. Well i just bottled and i find the results to be kind of off putting. It tastes to me like a simple bittering hop with little to no...

Hi guys, I had a pretty nasty infection in a glass carboy about 3 weeks ago. I have since scrubbed it very well, used some really hot water on it, and starsaned the heck out of it. I am hoping this would be sufficient to make sure there wont be any lingering bacteria in there. Ive heard...

Hi guys, Im sure i didnt handle the stress of my first pellicle properly, i kinda freaked out. I recently had an interesting pellicle show up in my Belgian Dubbel. Well, i siphoned off 3 gallons out from under the pellicle and left a couple gallons as a buffer to make sure i didnt pull...

Hey Guys, Ive been reading up on the Son of Fermentation Chamber build. Im good with the AC adapter and fan. I'm not real technically inclined so i could use a hand. Does this project need a thermometer or a thermostat? If anyone has had success with a certain item for this use please let...