Search results

Brewing today. I heat my strike water a little over strike temp to heat my mash tun. While stirring to bring the temp down I dropped my thermometer. Instinctively I tried to catch it. I did catch it, but below the surface of the 165 degree water. For those of you who are not aware, 165 degree...

I have some 11.2% Horizon hops (pellets) that I vacuum sealed and placed in the freezer some 18 to 24 months ago. I'm considering using them to bitter a Scottish 80/. Should I (A) not do this and use fresher hops; (B) use them as normal; or (C) use them but over shoot my IBUs a bit to account...

I had to take a forced vacation day. Just to annoy the Man I scheduled it for a Friday. Sad I know, having a Friday off and all. I mean, I’m a hard working American, what am I supposed to do with a day off? Then I saw it. One of my YRPs was approaching it expiration date? You know, my Yeast...

I’ve brewed 22 five gallon batches, the last five being all grain. Which means I’ve read enough and have just enough experience to be dangerous. My last two batches I thought: “I know carbonation levels are different depending on style. I should use a carbonation calculator to determine the...

I’m at the point in my brewing career wherein I know fermentation temp control should be my next investment. However, I only have room for a mini fridge. I typically leave my beer in primary for three weeks even if I have a three day stable gravity before that. I, at this point, have three...

milk stout Recipe calls for wlp006 Bedford Brittish LHBS does not carry it, which of the yeasts they do carry should I use: 002 English ale 004 Irish ale 005 British ale 007 dry english ale 008 East Coast Ale 011 european ale 013 london ale

My second batch was an extract porter brewed in March 2011. It had been bottle conditioning for 11 months. I don’t know if I over primed, it got an infection or what, but every bottle was a gusher. I tried burping each and every bottle, twice. I tried chilling it for 6 weeks, but every bottle...

I just racked every single ounce of beer off of an English ale yeast cake and not a single scintilla of yeast/trub went through my auto siphon. The only beer on the yeast cake afterwards was the 1/2 oz left in the tubing when I tossed it back into the fermenter after racking. Flocculation is a...

I began brewing in March 2011. After doing fifteen concentrated boil stove top extracts along comes November and December. Also known as birthday and Christmas. On December 30, 2011 I brewed my first 5g all grain beer with the new brewery. Before I continue, I want you to know I support my...

Heretofore I have used beer kits to brew with. I’m trying my first extract recipe gleaned from the internet. The recipe calls for the following: Perle: 1oz at 9.2 AAU for 90 mins Cascade 0.8 oz at 3.3 AAU for 15 Cascade 1.2 oz at 3.3 AAU for 5 Cascade 1 oz at 3.3 AAU dry hop So what did...

Today, my wife told me that if I buy her a stand up freezer, I can do what I want with the chest freezer. I'd have taken her right there but we were in a restaurant. For those of you who don't see the golden nuance: I get to spend money on HER thereby collecting the points for spending...

For the record, I am relaxed, I’m not worried, I’ve had several homebrews. However, I am new to this and I thought I’d run my recipe and process by those in the know and who better than the HBT community. The recipe calls for an OG of 1.049, I got 1.043 and that is adjusted for...

For half the morning and most of the afternoon, I de-labeled, washed, sanitized, filled, capped and stored 89 bottles of beer. I hope those of you who keg your beer can contain your envy. What with your ability to keg 10 gallons of beer in a few hours, including prep and clean up. I mean I got...

My first 5g extract batch was an American Wheat. As an impatient noob I drank it all during weeks three and four of bottle conditioning. It was still a bit green, but it was MY first batch and I loved it. My second batch is a London Porter. Its been conditioning for six weeks now and it still...

Today outside temps approached 100 degrees and my air conditioner drain line clogged forcing the unit to shut off. I have a pale ale and an IPA in primary, 6 days and 3 days respectively. I don’t know when the air conditioner shut off but when I got home at 6 pm the sticky thermometers on the...

Is it ok to cover the wort to achieve a quicker boil prior to the 60 min hop addition?

I’m boiling an American Pale Ale right now with 60, 25, 10 and 0 minute hop additions. I know too do the boil with the lid off the kettle. However, I usually cover the kettle during the ice bath for chilling. With a 0 minute hop addition should I cover the kettle for chilling or leave it...

On March 7th I brewed my first 5g extract kit, I have about 96oz left. I brewed it using the cheapest bucket kit at simi-LHBS. I took the equipment home an washed it with Planet dishwashing liquid and began my boil. Post hot break I began my sanitation with the sanitizer that came with the kit...

Its been six long weeks but as of today I'm finaly drinking beer I brewed myself. You guys were right (but you already knew that didn't you), drinking a beer you made yourself is 1000 times better than what you can buy. The best part, my second batch has been in primary for three weeks now. Next...

Prior to expanding my beer knowledge (much thanks to HBT members) I purchased on average two 12 packs a week. Yes, its BMC, Amber Bock, and it cost me $24 a week. I just spent $20 on four pints. An English ale, a doppelbock, a pale ale and a double chocolate stout. Luckly, SWIMO (is mostly) has...