Recent content by kirkpierce

Yes it has a gauge. What if I condition at 70F until the gauge gets close to 7psi, then move to 50F? Maybe I'm splitting hairs...?

Maybe I should be conditioning at 50F, so I can get to 1.5 volumes without blowing off pressure? That's at the lower end of the Nottingham temperature range.

Ok, there's a vote in the opposite direction. I'm only using dry yeast so far... perhaps I'll stick with just Nottingham for this one, then I won't have two half-packages lying around. I tend to want to only change one variable at a time. (I'm still at the stage of seeing one batch through to...

I'm brewing today-- waiting on the mash at the moment. Do you think 50/50 Windsor and Nottingham? (Windsingham? Nottsor?) I'll give it a try.

I've got a refractometer, too, for the same reasons. I think a good working definition of "real ale" is an ale style (top ferment), carbonated naturally to traditional volumes (1.5-2.0) and served at cellar temps. All the rest (allowed to oxidize, etc.) seems to me impractical, at least for...

Yes! And quite overdue for an update. I've had some success developing my "baseline" recipe, using Maris Otter malt, East Kent Goldings hops and Lalbrew Windsor yeast. After experiencing and then reading about Windsor (lower attenuation and low flocculation -- I know what those mean now!) I...

Update: the (second) new fridge arrived. I tried the alcohol-corn starch method twice, to no avail. Someone suggested a FLIR camera, which made me remember I have an IR thermometer. So I marked out a line where I'd like to drill, with marks every 1/2" and started taking measurements after...

Spot on. My plan is to brew small batches (3 gallons) and condition and serve from the collapsible cubitainer (polypin) so oxygen doesn't get in and the beer stays fresh longer. And drink it in short order. And I can't remember the last time I only had one beer. I'm no quitter! :D

I'm only just getting started. My first ever batch was an extract kit that I bottled, just to get my feet wet. The second batch was an all-grain kit that went into a cubitainer, but ended up mostly flat because I vented too much CO2 and conditioned too warm and too long. My third batch will be a...

In case my story helps someone down the line... Bought a new Vissani beverage cooler from Home Depot, intending to drill some holes and feed my beer engine from a cubitainer in the fridge. Drilled small holes from the inside to explore, found nothing but foam insulation. Fire for effect...

Hi, everyone, and thanks for helping me come this far! This forum has been a valuable source of info for me in this new home brewing hobby. I've finally learned something that others may not yet know, so it's time to contribute. Got interested in home brewing after our first trip to England...