Recent content by BrewVA

ahh, just now saw the post below. Guess I'm not the only one. Sounds like i seal and refrig. Thanks!

OK, so I made yeast starter on Thursday night with the intention of brewing on Sunday, but then my wife had to go into labor and have a baby. I'm thrilled and all, but that doesn't change the fact that I've got this yeast starter sitting around. So, my question is, how long will it last? Will it...

yeah, i had to shell out $10 for a 12 oz bottle of the 120, but it was worth it. I'm planning on making a pilgrimage to Delaware for the real thing

you can add them (cocoa, lactose) to the boil but their effects will be less noticable, which may be exactly what you want. You would definitely need to stir the bottling bucket very well after adding. but it does work. beware the "concentrate" with sugars. Extract is sugar free. I don't...

I brewed a chocolate cherry stout last week. I like the lactose, i use about 16 oz in the bottling bucket. Just for fun, I threw 2 oz into the boil this time. Don't know if that will matter. The baker's chocolate doesn't mix well if you try it in the boil, but 6 oz of cocoa is about right...

I'm no expert, but i think the difference is due to the fact that you bottled just 1 week after brewing for the pale ale. The extra carbonation may be on account of "primary fermentation" still occuring. As for the maibock, just give it another 10 days

Yeah, I've been waiting for this one too...

so i'm a total hophead, I can't stop brewing highly hopped beers. been doing my own recipes for quite awhile now, and I'm got a good handle on using hops for bitterness and for flavor. However, I come up short on nailing the aroma. I love the smell of hops, I always inhale directly from the...

Did you try just urinating in the bottle? no really, the rice syrup is the key. Throw in some corn sugar too.

Congrats on your retirement! I just got out myself. Didn't quite put my 20 in, but had 3 months of leave to brew. Best part is, even when you start working again you'll have more brewing time than you did before. Cheers.

why cali over 1056? I just did a SNPA clone w/ Perle and Cascades and 1056, it's great. What is it that you think the other yeast will improve on? just wondering

i think you need to seriously consider giving your roommate the boot if he/she isn't willing to trade space for quality homebrew

i've used ice everytime i've brewed- i ususally try to freeze my own sterilized/filtered water, but have often cheated with store-bought bulk ice and haven't had any problems. For the quickest cooling put the ice directly into the fermenter and siphon the wort onto it (once it cools to at...

yeah, but hickory would probably give the effect I was looking for- what type of beer did you use them in?

I'm up in Herndon, 20 mil west of DC. I was down in your area (sandbridge, actuall) a few weeks ago. Wish I still was...