Search results

I would really appreciate advice from those who have used the Tap-A-Draft system. I have a 6 Liter bottle carbonated and almost ready to use. I think I understand how the dispenser unit is attached and so on. --Is it okay to run some StarSan through the dispenser before attaching to the...

I've tried one brand of low cost vacuum sealing bags from the local grocery with lame results. The bags lose seal over time. Anybody know of a good quality brand of vacuum storage system? And a related topic that has no doubt been around: Will crushed grains sealed in vacuum bags keep as...

I'm new to using liquid yeast. I'm planning an ale using White Labs WLP005. The vial label says 'best if used by April 20-10'. Is this April of 2010, or April 20 of 2010? So I'm a little confused. I'm told White Lab products are manufactured 4 months before the 'best by' date. Does this...

I'm want to start kegging my beer, but don't have fridge space for 5 gallon corny kegs. So I'm looking at the 2-3 gallon systems that use disposable CO2 cartridges for charging. The idea is that I can chill and use smaller kegs in less fridge space as needed. Does anyone have experience or...

Do clarifying agents such as Irish Moss and Whirfloc pull yeast out of suspension, or only unwanted proteins? Anybody think the yeast might clean up better in conditioning without the additives?

The slight ovoid shape of the cap shows is subtle but for real. It apparently is caused by the cap itself, as it recurs with caps from one certain bag only. I've matched the "mystery caps" with caps that crimp on evenly, and they look exactly the same size. The crimp appears normal when...

I've noticed something odd about carbonation and heading properties of most of my beers. The beers usually have decent head and lacing at 2-3 weeks in bottle. As they age, however, heading and lace diminish; even though the beer appears well carbonated judging from bubbles coming out of...

I know the questions in this post have been answered many times over somewhere on HBT. Hope the forum doesn't mind me asking again. I used an immersion chiller and pre-chiller for the first time last night. IT'S GREAT! -What is the best way to clean the chiller after use? -Do you also...

I read varying opinions regarding the importance of leaving some or most of the cold and hot break behind when transferring from brew pot to fermenter. I'm wondering if problems I'm having with inconsistency from bottle to bottle and irregular carbonation might be caused by racking too much...

I'm having to use a heavy duty bottle brush to remove scale from some of my bottles. I there any concern with scratching the glass with the wire part of the bottle brush?

My electric stove will bring 4.5 gallons of water to a simmer but not a rolling boil. As it turns out, 4 gallon batches work well for my current situation. I'm wondering if just taping a clean towel around the brew pot might make enough difference to get to a rolling boil. I know that some...

Just wanted to put in a good word for customer service at BetterBottle. They consistently helped me work out a stubborn cleaning problem via email as we tried various methods until finding ones that worked. The problem is now solved. I've always found them to be notably detail oriented.

This is a simplistic question regarding a very basic project. The answer is probably somewhere on HBT, but I can't find it--so apologies in advance. I'm swapping out my Ranco 1 stage controller with a Ranco 2 stage ETC 211000-000. In short, I don't want to drill holes through the...

I'm having a (maybe) unusual cleaning problem with one of my BetterBottles. After repeated soaking and shaking with PBW and numerous acid rinses with vinegar, I'm left with a very thin, hazy white ring on the inside of the carboy. The ring's location corresponds pretty much to the bottom...

I'm too old to be playing with plastic bags. But this appeals to the kid in me, somehow. Solar balloon products - Solar-Balloons.com

Apologies in advance, because this subject must have been covered somewhere on HBT. I've never thought much about the effect of water ph on steeping specialty grains. One of the smoothest beers I have brewed was as kit using only LME and hops, while most of my recipes with steeping grains...

Can anyone tell me what style of beer has the highest alcohol to carbohydrate ratio? I ask because I'm diabetic, and calories from alcohol don't set off my diabetes as much as calories from carbohydrates.

I notice many good recipes call for the addition of 2 row along with the usual steeping grains. I just did one that included 0.5 lb of 2 row plus 0.5 lb of crystal. Questions, please: -what does the 2 row do for the brew in terms of body/flavor? -If I steep at 150-160 degrees and...

A short disclaimer: I think Starsan is a great product. I'm in no way dissing it. But I've had a particular problem with the foam. When transferring from fermenter to bottling bucket, it blocks my view of the tubing placement. I can't tell whether the tubing is lying on the bucket bottom or...

I do extract brewing with re-hydrated dry yeast. I just took a look at past notes on time from pitching to formation of a "wall to wall" krausen for my past brews. Times range from 6 to 18 hours, with an average of about 11 hours. My beers are turning out mostly good, but this seems a...