Recent content by iancl

If the centennial was your first batch in your new equipment, may have been some leftovers from converting raw metal into something great. Let us know how the Red turns out. Meantimes, I am going to make another batch of CB tomorrow. The original recipe works! Enjoy brewing, and the fruits of...

I don't think my cooling coil, or any other part of my CF10 has ever been dry. Process: Transfer the beer, release pressure and open it up, pull the coil, hose it off and soak in a corny filled w/ caustic cleaner, hose the vessel out, (I have one of those adjustable jet attachments that fits on...

Question on the carb stone, or more accurately, question on how to handle the 10 gallons of carbonated beer: How do you transfer it in to a keg without a considerable head of foam in the keg, and a keg that's only 3/4-7/8 full when you are done. (and beer left in the fermenter). I don't have a...

The seal on the spike lid stays put if installed correctly with the wide side in to the lid. Had the same frustration of the gasket falling out when I first got mine, and then I did the Man thing and read the directions. Works fine ever since.

Short & sweet, if any vessel used in the process of fermenting/ storing beer is constantly in use or stored under CO2, and the only exposure it gets to nasties are during the time it takes to spray out the gunk, and then get cleaned (one step, PBW, or other), and then sanitized (star san, or...

RPh, I would be interested in your take on the science of the boil. Please.

Adding the bottled water without boiling and cooling could be the issue. Having a stale sour wet cardboard taste and smell may be a result of oxidation on the hot side, that gets bound up and not available to the yeast, but frees up post fermentation, creating that yucky taste after a few weeks...

When I first began my quest for temperature controlled fermentation, I found a 24" wide x 72" Tall wine fridge on craigslist for $50, and for the following 5 yrs, it was perfect, and the same equipment will be perfect to ferment ales for years to come. Used to slip my 2 buckets of 5 gal each...

Recently doing dry hops in my cf10 and have had the dreaded clog on the first few tries. The racking arm is designed to rotate, which after a few tries, found the right angle to get both kegs full without a bunch of gunk, or trying to get the hop/trub cement to go through. A partial dump the day...

To NeoBrew and specialkayme, I apologize if my comment/ post was taken in offense, this is a great community here, and I'm sure you brew good beer, or you wouldn't be still doing it after 15 years. For what it's worth, my post regarding CF 10 vs CF 5 were the result of a multitude of comments...

You guys have way too much time on your hands. a) If you are brewing small (5 gal) batches and you biggest problem is "giving away your beer", work on practices that make your beer better. Good beer goes away faster than you can brew it, which brings point b. b) The amount of labor/ time to...

Have not used it at less than mid 50's, but at that range, I have no problem with keeping it at 70. Keep in mind it is a fairly low wattage unit, which will not necessarily get hot to the touch, but gets the job done in a slow, consistent fashion. In a cold snap, you could always throw a...

In the interest of sticking to the recipe, I ordered another # as this one is getting great reviews. Having a pint of the second keg tonight, 6 weeks in. Has mellowed nicely with age. Brewed another 10 today. Pretty awesome brew for a simple bill,single hop. BTW, I saw you prowling on the lake...

Bust out the rubbers!

AkTom- Go Brew, even a tea, but go get it out.