Brew Balls

I was wondering if anyone has used these? I was thinking about picking some up, but at $25 a set, they are pricey. Just wanted to see if they are really as good and as easy as they say they are.

http://greatfermentations.com/prodinfo.asp?number=GF221&variation=&aitem=1&mitem=1

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to toss a hydrometer in the carboy and leave it?

0.o

...

In theory, yes.

Thats just silly!

Hummph, too bad 1.015 isn't in the set. I'll stick with my refractometer.

I've had good success just leaving the fermentation alone for about 2 weeks, if I think about it I check the FG but I've never had a problem. Spend the $25 on quality yeast and drink a home brew.

exspensive balls! i like the wine theif better. and it only costs $5 for a glass one!

Ha! Brew balls are what you get when it's been way too long since your last brew.

EarthBound said:

Ha! Brew balls are what you get when it's been way too long since your last brew.

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So that's what my problem is...I was starting to get concerned

I think those look pretty cool.

The brew balls I'm thinking of would introduce an undesirable yeast strain to the wort.

One hangs lower, its normal. Sometimes tits are like that.HE to the HA. Here we go...

They would save time.

Just a quick glance compared to sanitizing the wine thief, opening the airlock, filling the wine thief, filling the test tube, measuring with the hydrometer, and then cleaning everything.

Disadvantage - you would not get to taste the sample.

Anyone have an idea if those guys went out of business? These seem like a very useful way to track fermentation without increased risk of introducing infections, not to mention saved time.

Don_Coyote said:

Anyone have an idea if those guys went out of business? These seem like a very useful way to track fermentation without increased risk of introducing infections, not to mention saved time.

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You can still get the balls here http://www.brewballstore.com/

The Website says the balls are currently unavailable and they have not responded to my email inquiry in the last month...

zanemoseley said:

I've had good success just leaving the fermentation alone for about 2 weeks, if I think about it I check the FG but I've never had a problem. Spend the $25 on quality yeast and drink a home brew.

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I haven't checked the OG or FG of a brew in over a year. Seems like a waste of time.

Most of the time when I test with a hydrometer I have to either shake the sample to get out some of the CO2 or give the hydrometer a spin to shake off the bubbles.
If there is CO2 sticking to your balls this may cause a problem..

bosco

Since the one review i found here with someone raving about the balls was using them in cider, i figured the problem was residue from the kra:usen clinging to them. I was hoping someone was working on a solution for that.

Even so, i'd get a set to help with meads and ciders. They would be even more helpful given the unpredictability i've had fermenting mine...

Did anybody buy a set and want to part with it?