Recent content by izg

That seems very likely tbh. Mine has the advantage over the one in that photo in that it has sides, so has inherent stiffness. Still don't think that was the whole problem tho.

I would agree, except the pump only ran for a second or so before wort stopped coming through. Definitely no time for grain bed to be compacted, plus I then stirred it A LOT, then transferred to another mash tun, all with no pump. So I think we can categorically rule out the pump as the problem...

Pump, but I would definitely rule that out because I stopped using that ASAP.. Yes, all barley. Bolts through the false bottom are a good idea, will definitely do that before next time to make sure collapsing isn't the problem. The ratio probably didn't help - just over 2l/kg, rather than the...

Hi all, So today I fired up my new 82l system, planning to start gentle with a 69l batch of porter (3 times my usual quantity). All went beautifully, hit mash temp etc etc, until the end of the mash, when I started recirculation (plan being to recirculate just for 5 mins or so to help clarify...

Meant to post back sooner, but forgot. I got some PH test strips and it seemed the starsan was bang on ph3, despite being a thick cloudy white. Anyway, have used it now to sterilise bottles for many brews and have not had one infected bottle yet.

An expensive filter is rather different to being able to pick it up at the supermarket...

That's very interesting - I will get hold of some PH strips and do a proper test. Just did some follow up googling and it seems that actually if it goes cloudy instantly (as mine does) PH might be fine. Re RO water, think that's what I meant, but not available in the UK either. Really hoping...

Hi all, I'm in the final stages of putting together an 82l system, due to demand far outweighing my ability to supply! But I still want to bottle - just makes drinking the stuff so much more flexible, plus I like to give it to friends etc. I have one of those excellent vinatore bottle...

Hi there, I've got a big shiny pot (100litres) and a mash tun all insulated with foil and bubble wrap (75litres), and I'm about to go and buy the tank connectors (I believe you call them bulkhead fittings in the US) and ball valves. But I've just realised, will 1/2 inch be big enough, or...

Just to give a sense of perspective...I ferment in 5gal plastic buckets, and just leave one side of the lid not completely sealed down which lets gas escape while making it difficult for dust etc to get in. Have never had an infection yet, so I suspect it's neither here nor there whether you...

Is it possible this is simply caused by an infection in the beer? The first bottle I tried of an IPA I made a month or so ago was almost undrinkable with a sour, overly bitter taste. I was lucky in that the infection seems to have only been in that bottle only - all the others I've had have been...

The 'use by' date on the bags of grain I order in crushed is 1 year after crushing. That's sealed, of course. If I have stuff left I generally roll up the bag and tape it shut. Have brewed with this stuff a couple of months after opening and noticed absolutely no problems.

Nice setup frodus! Saw something similar the other day and reckon that's what I'll go for. Not sure if the pots I'm ordering come with lids so might have to improvise there. Also with that setup i reckon it'd be easy to put a stirrer thru the middle of the lid, and have it paddling away in the...

Good to know it'll work even with cheap pumps. I was planning on something like this (http://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/en/pumps/120-12v-homebrew-pump-type-1.html), only thing I'm not sure on is if 10litre/min is too slow when it comes to pumping wort from one vessel to another. But they sell a...

Thank's guys! With that knowledge, I'm not sure I can really see any advantage to the built in HERMS coil...just more holes in pots.