Recent content by danrb

I had problems with the fittings leaking at the coil connection the first couple of Brews. It all had to do with how we hooked it up. Originally we tried adding the connectors to the kettle with the triclamps, then adding the coil to the connectors. It leaked. We changed to add the...

Late reply. My TDS goes from 200+ to 25 through RO and DI gets me to 0 TDS. I've been using RO/DI on the mash and trying to match profiles for the beers I make. Been happy with the results. The latest batch I made had a ph of 5.2 and an overall efficiency of 92%. I only use DI on the mash...

I have the exact same setup. I'm actually able to get my penquin down to about 5F before they glycol starts to freeze. I run it at 20F to hit the 36F in conical. I use two measurements, the provided probe from spike i put where the analog temp monitor goes and I also use a tilt. The tilt and...

Thanks. Stirring every 15 minutes is what I've been doing also, but isn't that against conventional wisdom? As for the cold crash, not sure what is going on, it's been a hot summer so maybe there is a significant difference between the outside and inside temps? Maybe I'm using their equipment...

We have just finished our 7th batch with the Spike System. Right now I'm making the best beers in my 30 years of home brewing. This batch actually hit a 92% efficiency and fermented in 3 days. It's an amazing system, no complaints, just a couple of things we're looking for improvements on...

Recommended by whom? It really depends on you starting tap water.

Not really if you do the tests. My city water runs between 200 and 250 TDS. RO takes it down to about 25 TDS. With Calcium is 5 PPM, with Magnesium 10 PPM, the rest is mostly silicate. The DI is 0 PPM for over 30 elements tested. That is pure water and allows me to build the profile I want.

Same here. Using the RO/DI to give me 0 TDS water and then build back a water profile with brewing salts. Need to repack my DI, was wondering what DI Resin to use or if it even maters?

I just purchased the spike+ system with a 50A panel. The recommendation is a 60A breaker hooked up to a NEMA 14-50 outlet. Before I have my electrician come out and replace my 50A with a 60A breaker, is it really necessary and safe? NEMA 14-50 is rated at 50A. 50A is 12,000 Watts. Looking...

Can I get the recipe? I roast coffee and got some cacao beans with the roaster. Just nibs is easy, chocolate seems hard. Dan

Did you ever get one started in Loudoun? I live in Leesburg. Dan

Any brewing clubs in Leesburg/Ashburn? If not anyone interested in starting one up? Dan

This is my best ad hoc recipe yet. It was so good it redefined the way I think of high alcohol beers. The balance between hops and alcohol was spot on perfection. 10% ABV, with 140 IBUs. About the name. This was my first use of slants for yeast. I was using Jello instead of Agar in a...

We started about the same time. Unfortunately, a brewing accident followed by being a road warrior, ended my brewing until last year. Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do.

This is my introductory post. I've been lurking here for about a year now and find myself jumping down this rabbit hole. I first started brewing in the early 90's, but had an accident with a carboy that cut my hand up pretty bad. Well last year my son turned 21, so I decided to start...