Recent content by Bikerbrewgal

Thanks for the info. I'm a new homebrewer (1 yr. extract brewing) and this is the first of my 12 batches that showed absolutely no airlock activity for the first 3.5 days. Brewed a Torpedo IPA clone. Hop heavy with an OG of 1.060. Pitched dry at 72 degrees. Set in basement where temp...

Do you (or should you) give the wort a little stir with a sterilized spoon after pitching the yeast? Will this harm/affect the beer?

I had the same problem when I fermented my 1st 2 Hearted ale batch, although I didn't harvest the yeast from the Bell's bottles. The thing went super crazy and I just caught it in time from blowing up! Cleaned up the clogged airlock and she immediately started up again with wild percolating...

High School days: Old Dutch, Pearl, Little Kings College days: Genesse Cream Ale, Goebel, Rolling Rock, Meisterbrau Nowadays: PBR if it's the only thing around (I stopped drinking cheap beer) :fro:

Okay, so I thought I had "Beginner's Luck" on my first batch coming out so well, but yesterday I pulled my first pint of Two Hearted IPA clone from the keg and oooohhhh my... excellent! (if I do say so myself. :D ). I let this one sit in primary for 2 wks, then secondary for a week, then...

This is exactly what I did last wk. with my first ever batch. Racked to keg and set in icy cold fridge overnight. 1st thing in the morning filled to 30psi and turned CO2 off. 8 hrs. later purged, set to 12 psi and drew a pint. Had enough carb to be drinkable, but not optimal yet. It got...

I'm a newbie and am afraid of opening the lid on the primary before 2 wks but was curious as to how it looks while the yeast is working their magic. I appreciate those other newbies who have no problem opening theirs up so I can take a peek as I'm too paranoid to do it myself! :D

I have an Oberon clone in primary (wheat beer w/ hints of spice and orange). To kick up the orange taste a notch, how much should I use? This is a 5 gallon batch. Should I use orange zest or can I simply cut up some oranges (how many?) and throw them in? Tks.

Was finally able to pull a pint of my first ever brewed beer (Mackinac Red) and I am very pleased with the results! It came out much better than I could have ever hoped. My hubby said it tasted "just like the microbrewery's red" and another brewer really liked it as well. Me, I'm just...

Almost had the same problem. Brewed my first every IPA (Two Hearted clone) on Sat. night. Put it in the basement where it is relatively cool and dark. Noticed some activity in the airlock the next morning-temp was 66bySunday afternoon the airlock was purcolating big time. Kept an eye on it...

I've been back and forth on the secondary debate. there is so much talk on this issue from various websites that it was driving me crazy! Do it, don't do it... etc.. Was going to let her sit in primary for 3 wks, then keg, but I needed to free up my primary for my next batch so a guy at my...

I have the same question. I transferred to secondary after 12 days in primary. I knew I'd lose some volume. The level is just below where the glass carboy curves up to the spout. I immediately airlocked it and plan on letting it sit for 1 wk. till I keg it. I think I'll be okay, but know...

I'm also from the SE MI area.... quite a few brewers around these parts. I'm also an avid mountainbiker and for some reason a lot of them are also brewers. :rockin: so I have quite a few resources for brewing tips. I work right down the street from Adventures in Homebrewing (dangerous!) and...

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'll keep her in primary for 2wks (want to free it up for another brew), then transfer to secondary for 2 wks for clarifying, then to keg. Think I'll try CydahMastah's method of keg carbonation as I've read that many folks do it this way with much success...

Howdy my brewing buds :D I've read up on alot of stuff and had discussions with my brewing pals, but found this site and am happy I did. Seem the more I read sometimes the more confusing some things become due to the diversity of brewing techniques. Anyhow, here's my ???: Last wk. I brewed...