Recent content by ApolloSimcoe

I'm no water expert but if it were me i would ditch the Baking Soda, i mean all of it. I believe Its counter productive to the gypsum and calcium chloride. If you need to lower your mash pH try lactic acid or acidulated malt. Baking Soda is used more commonly in darker beers I'm sure someone...

I use approximately 1' per PSI. I have my beer around 39 degrees, 12psi for 2.5 volumes of CO2=12' of line. You will need to consider that your lines will be warmer if they are near the top of the keezer as warmer air rises warming the lines. A small fan installed in the keezer helps keep...

Ahh! The good old days! But you didn't mention that you wrapped that in your best sleeping bag!

Dookie Schmutz

They are typically used to make Madeira wine where the temp is held high for an extended period of time. In your case, if you are concerned about holding temps in your preferred fermentation range one could be built out of a sheet of insulation foam and duct tape. It would basically be an...

Yes, both will work. However for cheap money you could build a Estufa of sorts. This would help hold in the heat.

Oh Man, I love the Blanket debate!

I'm not familiar with the recipe per Denny. However you could mash thicker. 1.25qt H2O per lb gives you 24.4 qts divided by 4 gets you 6.10 gallons strike water. Or you could even mash at 1.1 qt per lb or grain

Temp Control is Huge!

I for one don't think its all in your head. There is, IMHO lottsa crap on the shelves these days. But i digress. When I first started brewing I was the same way. There is that euphoric moment of "Wow! I made this!." and you're hooked. I believe that most home brewers will go through...

Oxi and very hot water soak. cleans inside and out. I have noticed over the years that some labels come right off. Others not so much.

The magnet i used is strong enough to stick to my palm with my hand between it and the fridge. I don't think magnet strength is my issue. Neither the ring nor dip tube are magnetic. I'm guessing they are both SS. What i do have is a slight draw on the ball itself.

Update! I brewed a NEIPA and was ready to Keg. Lots of hops in the bottom. Had my Super Magnet ready! Turns out neither the draw tube or the metal ring that connects it to the ball are magnetic.... In your photo it looks like you have two rings. Did you add a second that would attract a...

This has not been my experience. YMMV as it did for Loud Brewing. I am also not using the keg lube he is on the O-Ring. This may be something I will try moving forward. Most of the time i hear a slight hissing noise coming from the lid. Other times I don't. The lid is the only complaint I...

When I bottled i did the bake the bottles method. All my bottles were already clean and dry. The day before bottling I took the number of needed bottles and covered each with a small square of aluminium foil so it was snug around the neck of the bottle. Put all the bottles in the oven, turn...