Was supposed to get my new SS Brewtech FTSs yesterday, but UPS apparently had an issue with my address. Now I likely won't get it until the middl e of next week due to the weekend and New Years Day.
Practically speaking, the type of stir plate most people use for stirring a yeast starter would not be capable of stirring a 5 gallon batch. It might also not be able to handle the weight or be properly balanced. A larger stir plate with an equally larger magnetic stir bar would be needed. In...
One thing to keep in mind is that there will always be differences (slight or greater) in the hops. The same hops from the same location in different years may not taste or smell exactly the same.
IPA's may be a fad, but they sell. The local grocery store's beer section is about 90% IPA/pale lager styles (from the big breweries). There have been some IPA's I've liked, but they tend to not be incredibly bitter/boozy or exotically fruity/hop flavored.
I've met people who claim they are...
What is the recipe for this stout? I would think, given your starter size, that the Omega Labs yeast would become pretty established well before any contaminant strain could.
I've heard scare stories relating to Brett several times, but then I've met or read people using it all the time with no issues in their non-Brett brews. I think it all comes down to cleaning and sanitizing properly. Sometimes I think people skip on the cleaning part and trust the Starsan to do...
My experience would make me learn more on the side of 'less specialty malt' (or at least crystal). 4 lbs of a crystal type malt seems pretty high to me. It is easy IMHO to over complicate a recipe. At this high of an OG, you will have plenty of flavor without that much being added.