Recent content by Hep

I rinse mine. The reason I do so is that I steep in a relatively small volume of water (1 gal) and I usually stir in 1 lb of extract and a tsp of 5.2 pH stabilizer before steeping. Probably overkill, but the small volume, extract, and stabilizer maintains a 5.2 ish pH for steeping to ensure no...

That's what I do and I learned a few minor but very helpful things my last round. Use a clip or something to secure the strainer to the fermenter. My strainer has a lip on it that is supposed to hold to the edge of the bucket but it invariably falls in. Keeps a hand free. Guess it wouldnt...

Thanks for all the replies. Fermentation temperature control is probably my next bogey along with getting additional fermenters to speed up my pipeline (which just sprung a major leak when my wifes friends came over and discovered my amber ale and apfelwein). I don't see spending alot on...

I agree with the pipeline capicity thing. Probably my biggest problem insofar as quality goes (as I tend to suck them all down once they hit the 3 week in bottle mark, though I realize they will be much better after that). Relatively cheap for an extra bucket and an extra carboy or two...

5 or 6 batches in and I realize I am hooked and willing to spend a few bucks on improving things. All extract w/ steeping grains to this point using a partial boil. I got a big pot/turkey fryer coming for christmas so that is going to be an immediate improvement going full boil w/ extract or...

Oil would be a problem. I know there are compressors for making breathing air (to refill SCBA tanks) but they are expensive

Items thrown away, given away, passed on that are in retrospect useful for DIY homebrew projects. I could name many things but the one that really breaks my heart is this: I am a contractor for the EPA. Recent project in Syracuse entailed cleaning out an abandoned facility which...

My last brew was 3 weeks ago and I was excited to use a new plate stirrer that I had found at work to make the starter. Problem was no stir bar. I improvised with a safety pin that I could get to spin just enough to make a dimple in the surface. Had a magnet set out with my brew equipment to...

Add about 1/2 of your extract later in the boil, 20 minutes left or so. Will make up the hops utilization that you lose with less than a full boil. Also reduces malliard reactions from hapening that darken your wort and may provide a certain twang from the extract

I am a fairly new brewer as well and I still get that "I made this" feeling with every batch (4 batches in). I am also finding that I am purchasing, and enjoying, styles of beer which I never cared for before, now that I know what goes into them (and my wife allowed me a 'research' budget)...

My second batch was brewed in mid August, it was gone by end of September with the exception of two 22 oz bottles which I set aside. I cracked one of those last night and it was so good that I want to cry knowing I sucked down all of his brothers way before their time. It was my first batch...

From my understanding, maybe truly authentic witbiers use oats, Hoegaarden does not for whatever reason. Decided to try to make a clone

I'm a fairly new brewer but here is a recipe I just used for a witbier. 5 gallon batch, 2.5 gallon boil 4 lbs Alexnders Pale LME 3 lbs Wheat DME 6 oz flaked wheat (steeped) 6 oz Dingemans Aromatic Malt (steeped) 1 oz Williamette at 60 .5 oz Williamette at 15 .5 Saaz at 2 .5 oz...

Hi all. New brewer from Audubon, NJ Been lurking for about two months since I bought a homwbrew kit in September or so. I'm on batch 3 already (4 if you count EdWort's apfelwein which I started yesterday) and starting to feel I got extract brewing with specialty grains somewhat under...