Recent content by Gary25

Joshbuhl, I just bought some Abstrax Quantum (Citra and Galaxy) and am planning to give it a try on my next batch. I was planning to add 5ml to a 5 gallon keg and will unscrew the pressure relief valve and use a syringe to dispense the extract. I’m also going to use a fair amount of whirlpool...

I have not had any issues with grain getting into the kettle. I have followed the recommended 10 minute rest after dough in, then recirculate for 60 minutes followed by mash out. Seems to work fine. My numbers are pretty dialed in, so I’m sure you’ll solve that in short order. OG can be a...

When I started with my BrewEasy a few years ago, I documented my process and also kept records of volumes, pH, temperatures, etc to help dial in the system. For example, for and IPA, I typically need 12.1 gallons of wort into my fermenter to get 10 gallons of IPA into two kegs. At any rate...

BrewinSoldier, I also have the 15/20G Brew Easy (10 gallon batches). I use the 1.5 gallon orifice and it works well. There is a small temp drop between the kettle and the temp sensor (about 3 degrees) but my sensor is under the flow valve, just above the flow meter. Looks like yours is in the...

Wonderful thread, not sure how I missed it as hop flavor and aroma are obsessions of mine. Though I’ve used various dry hopping techniques, I’ve had positive results keg hopping. I use fine mesh bags and typically use 8-10 ounces of hops per keg. No weights. Closed transfer beer to Star San...

Putting WLP618 in Beersmith, it puts the final beer ABV at 1.3%. Changing to a typical 152 degree mash gets it up to 1.5% ABV. Lower than I’d like, but perhaps worth a try. I’ll definitely check the pH of the finished beer and add some acid if necessary…

Quick update on my rye ale. Made a second batch with carapils added and would say the beer was about the same as without. Perhaps a bit better on head retention and body, but nothing remarkable. A have another batch substituting wheat for carapils. Here’s what I’d like to try next: a low...

I have a couple of stainless steel Blichmann conicals and my Tilt Minis work fine, even transmit through my glass door refrigerator fermentation chambers (within 6 feet of the fermenters). That said, I did my first pressure fermentation and the Tilt lost contact. I moved the iPad it transmits to...

My thinking is wheat may work better for foam (I use wheat in most of my beers); carapils better for body (I rarely use carapils). I purposely didn’t combine them here to see how carapils does on its own. Of course, I raised the ABV, so that unfortunately introduces another variable. I think a...

Good idea. I’ll do this before making the next batch. Had not thought about the specialty malts vs ABV. Makes sense.

Good point—this may well be too much. I purposely went high to try to reach an upper limit….but didn’t notice I was double the recommended amount. Good thing beer is forgiving! 😀 Once it’s in the keg, I’ll give it a try and compare it to the first version. Hopefully there is a noticeable (and...

I have a new version fermenting. Everything the same but added 2 lbs carapils. Malt bill: Two row: 61.5% Flaked rye: 15.4% Munich: 10.3% Carapils: 10.3% C40: 2.6% 45 minute mash @160F US05 yeast OG rose to 1.042 (estimated ABV 3.8%) so a bit higher than the previous version. I’ve read...

Great suggestion. I’m going to try both wheat and carapils- but carapils first. Given the already low ABV, I can probably just add carapils and not affect the gravity too much. I’m thinking I’ll go big with it; perhaps 10% of the malt bill and see if it makes an appreciable difference. If the...

Rye Pale Ale in all its glory.

Had to laugh at myself: The mash was for 45 minutes—something I picked up reading this thread. Thanks for catching it. I like the idea of increasing the Munich and will also try the carapils or wheat. Yeast change is a good idea as well. Ringwood Ale (Wyeast 1187) is one I’ve used before...