Recent content by kbowman

Phunhog--This is exactly what I was considering. Is this just theory or have you (or anyone else) tried this. There were no other mistakes. Mashed at 152. I just was brewing a lot of beer after Christmas (to resupply and because I was on vacation) and I became a little too "automated" in my...

I recently kegged my IPA (made with mostly Citra hops w/Magnum for bittering) and I neglected to take a gravity reading. Today, after a week in the keg, I tried a sample and it was awful. I have made this recipe before and loved it. Has a "sweat sock" smell and a buttery taste. I checked the...

Pete's Wicked Ale. Now I want to find/make a clone. I'm curious if I would still like it.

I guess that I am confused. Just because there is "stuff" in your chiller, that doesn't equate to bacteria. There is "stuff" in your wort. Chemicals/heat kill bacteria. I always run boiling wort through my chiller before turning on the the hose. Sanitized.

You will want to place your brewmometer below the 5 gallon mark on HLT or lower if possible. Also, I would put a sight glass on boil kettle. It really helps to know when you have hit your preboil measurement. Otherwise, your SGs and wort yields will be all over the place. Hope this helps.

I use a Johnson Controls temp controller to run my mash tun pump and then I use it to control fermentation temps. I keep it busy and it is well worth the money.

Not a chamber, per se. I use a ceramic space heater and a Johnson controller. I just have the heater 6 inches away from bucket on garage floor. I don't like the idea of a heater in an enclosed space.

One pump and two tiers. I love my set up. Two pumps=twice the headache. You can put your HLT higher or your MLT (my set up) and use gravity (free and always works). $.02

This.

I am upgrading from my igloo with braid to a stainless mash tun with a false bottom. Has anyone else put a false bottom in the Bayou Classic 62 quart pot and which one would you recommend?

Then the dry hopping will happen in the secondary. Drop your hops in the secondary 7 days before bottling.

Definitely need to check your hydrometer. I had two (dropped one) and they both read differently.

Tasted this today. Definitely not the same. I do not taste the "coffee" like I do in the original. Tastes more like a porter than a stout. Not a good substitute in my book.

Sorry, just saw this. I have 2 15 gallon Bayou Classic pots. HLT has thermometer, boil kettle does not. I know what boiling looks like.:cross:

I've had my 15 gallon pot for two years and I have never brewed anything but 5 gallon batches. Last week, I met a new homebrewer who asked if we could split a batch. I suggested trying 10 gallons. It was great. Will I brew more 10 gallons? Probably. Will I brew more 5 gallon batches...