Recent content by MNBrewDad

I pitched 1.5 liter starter of WLP670 at 64, allowed it to free rise to 68 until temp started to drop, then bumped to 70 for 4 days, then 72 until the bulk of the krausen and pellicle had fallen. Unplugged the temp controller and let rest at 66 for 12 days. Drew a hydro sample on 08/17 and the...

I'm down for the 2pm group too! Cannot wait!! Don't have a corny unfortunately so I'm bringing either a better bottle or a bucket.

+1 on the woodstove idea Jacinthebox^^ I would imagine any type of overhead radiant heat should help a little but you'll still need some seriously warm boots, Carhart bibs, winter coat, hat and fingerless gloves. I brew in an unheated garage and one night last winter it was about -10F. I was...

Is it wrong to drink the last 1/2 a beer or so that remains in your bottling bucket directly from the bucket? As I gulped down the remnants of my latest beer last night I realized it would probably look pretty bad if SWMBO or my daughter walked in to see me tipping back a vessel of that size.

Not quite Fairbanks here but I've brewed in subzero temps several times (-5 & -10) and with all of the steam I can't see the surface of the wort but it's definitely boiling in there. My biggest problem is keeping my toes warm!

I always like to crack open one of my most recently finished homebrews before I turn the burner on and another one after sealing up the fermenter. I like to have everything clean and organized before imbibing, so come boil time it's generally smooth sailing. Since I only brew extract it's pretty...

I absolutely love this beer and it is by the far the best extract beer I've brewed yet! I didn't have the opportunity to sample 2012 or 2013 but the 2014 is phenomenal. I pitched a 2l starter of WPL001 at 65 degrees, oxygenated the wort with my new O2 system and fermented at 62 for the first...

That's what I was thinking but thought I would throw it out there for other people's thoughts on the matter. For $20 it's hard to pass up the chance to upgrade my boil kettle:)

Hello Everyone! I have an opportunity to purchase a SS keggle that was previously used by a taxidermist for boiling animal skulls. They generally boil the remains in either water or a sal soda solution. Apparently the process stinks very bad. If I were extremely meticulous in cleaning and...

Update to my 11/28 post: Temp corrected FG for my extract Belgian IPA ended up at 1.005 after holding at 88 degrees for the last three weeks. It will be six weeks total in the primary fermenter when I bottle on Saturday and is starting to taste pretty good despite finishing so dry. Definitely...

Great info Mario! Wish I would have found this thread before brewing my Belgian IPA on 11/2. OG was 1.058, pitched 1.6l starter at 70 and then ramped temp up gradually to 88. Checked at 3 weeks and it was only at 1.023:( Gave it a good swirl and it started chugging away w/ CO2 bubbling out of...

I will be traveling for business later this summer and was wondering if any of you have recommendations for microbreweries to try while in Billings, MT? From what I understand, brewery taprooms can only be open from 4pm-8pm and you are limited to 3 pints at each brewery. Are they open on...

Sweet set up! One day I hope to have something similar. Thank you for sharing:)

Congratulations! Looks very tasty. I might have to give that kit a try. Used a blowoff tube for the first time on the Honey Weizen that's almost ready to bottle and glad I did. I used a starter with Wyeast 3068 and within 3 hours the blowoff tube was bubbling. I found that my bottling hose...

Congratulations! HBT rules!! Just got my 3rd five gallon batch in the fermenter on Saturday after a five month long hiatus. Did my first yeast starter and used my DIY wort chiller for the first time. Let us know how the beer turns out. I've been looking at that same kit.