Recent content by GarrettLaneBC

Just as I was about to reach a boil, the outer casing of my floating thermometer broke in my wort. The inner part is fine, so there is no worry about mercury or anything like that, but there is broken glass and metal shot in my brew kettle. It is currently boiling away. I am continuing with...

My uncle started growing hops in his garden this year simply because he heard that they are a nice vine that grows well and the deer will leave alone. I told him that I would be willing to take his harvest off his hands for him. Well last weekend he brought me a gallon ziplock about half full...

Back to a whole number 19148.5 + 5.5 Kolsch = 19,154

Yikes, this thread has become a bit of a flame war. I don't want to fan the flames, but this seems like a good place to share my experience. A few brews ago, I sanitized everything as usual, brewed as usual, sprinkled notty as usual, and put the bucket in my brew closet (67-68F) as usual. I...

Another alternative would be to add the hops loose in the boil, then hang the paint strainer (sanitized, of course) on your fermenting bucket and pour the wort in, then simply remove the strainer and the hops along with it. This only works if you are using a bucket as your primary. And where...

+5 Raspberry Chocolate Stout 14,424 + 5 =14,429

+5 Midwest HopHead IPA +5 Bitter Old Men ESB +5 Cascade APA +5 House Amber Ale = 13744

As I said, the yeast was resting on top of the foam from shaking the wort to aerate. Usually I shake it again to incorporate the yeast better, this time I was lazy. I think as the foam dissipated, the yeast (that had been on top), was laid "gently" on the top of the wort, where it hydrated...

So I brewed an APA last Saturday. Once I got it to pitching temps, I dumped it in the fermenter (Ale Pail), put the lid on, and shook the hell out of it. I then removed the lid, poured my dry yeast over the top of the foamy mess below, put the lid back on, and set it aside to ferment. Usually...

Full-time Electrical Engineer and Part-time Grad Student

I had never heard of Bigfoot prior to it popping up on this forum over the past week or so (I just got into homebrewing and craft beer drinking within the past year). With all the hype it was getting, I figured I needed to pick some up. The grocery store right behind my house has a fantastic...

I use BeerCalculus. It's online and free and gives me all the info I need. Not as good as the others in terms of being able to save reference old brews and all that, but if you are just looking to calculate IBUs and be done with it there's no point in spending the money. That said I've just...