Recent content by mybrewshop

I have found a relatively cheap digital refractometer that was originally designed to measure the salinity of sea water however it also displays specific gravity. There is no Brix option. I’m wondering if this will be able to measure the S.G. of a post fermented beer without the use if the...

I would use a glass carboy for secondary if you're set on transferring. Those buckets don't seal real good and are actually gas permeable to some degree. Oxygen can spoil your beer.

I believe that is why a Kolsch is categorized as a hybrid beer. Brewed like an ale and then cold lagered. (That's what BJCP guidelines say anyway). I think he could crash it to cool ale temps and then lager it for 2-4 weeks at lager temps.

1-2 days is normal for primary fermentation of an ale yeast but it is considerably more difficult to gauge the transition from primary to secondary fermentation with lagers. Since you don't know what your true OG is it's kind of a moot point to take gravity readings now. No need to risk...

Don’t transfer that Kolsch. According to “Dave Millers’s Homebrewing Guide”, the main reason people transfer to a secondary is the fear that the yeast will start to autolyze. If you have a refrigerator, (which you should if you are brewing a Kolsch), then you should never need to transfer to...