Recent content by orchidbeer

My first brew was the NB Caribou Slobber, OG 1.053, FG 1.014, ABV 5.1%. Primary fermentation temp 64F for 29 days. I used Wyeast 1332. Good beer, even better after 3 months aging.

I recently went through scaling a recipe. You have to scale using the potential fermentable sugars in the grain, not by the weight of the grain. Your original recipe will break down as follows: 75.49% Maris Otter 7.51% Crystal 80L 4.13% Roasted Barley 3.75% Chocolate Malt 9.11%...

When looking at recipes sometimes after the grain a percentage is listed, such as 2-row 68%. Does this refer to 68% of the grain bill weight or should 68% of the fermentable sugars should come from this grain? TIA Joe

I have brewed 3 all grain batches (3.5 gallon). The first one I stirred the mash at 30 minutes (60 minute mash) and got an efficiency of 72-73%. The next two I did not stir (also 60 minute mash) and the efficiency was 64%. Is it possible the stirring contributed to the difference or could it...

How does one go about saving yeast from a bottled beer? I want to clone a wheat beer from a commercial brewer. The beer is not pasteurized and has a layer of yeast on the bottom of the bottle. I would appreciate any info on the steps to be taken to accomplish this. TIA, Joe

My last two batches were AG, 3.5 gallon, full boil in a 5 gallon kettle. Pre-boil volume was 4.1 gallons, used Fermcap-s, rapid boil and no boil over.

My first brew was CS and OG was 1.053. I left it in the primary for 29 days, and had a FG of 1.013. The yeast I used was Wyeast 1332 Northwest Ale, finished with ABV 5.2.

In AG mashing I see it stated to take an iodine test to check protein conversion in the mash. What type of iodine is used? TIA, Joe

I am fermenting a dry stout. I want to add 8oz of toasted coconut to the primary during the 3rd or 4th week of fermentation (as dry hopping). I know you can add hops as is, how about the coconut? Does it have to be sanitized somehow or would it be safe to add it as is. TIA Joe

Brewed my first AG batch, 3.5 gal. I put the recipe through Hopville. The default was 75% efficiency and read 1.048 OG. My OG was 1.047, does that mean my efficiency would be around 75%?. Also had my OG been higher say 1.052 would that have indicated a higher efficiency? TIA, Joe

I just did my first AG yesterday, it was 3.5 gal batch and I have a 5 gal BK. The boil off rate for me is .12, so I started with 4.1 gal and boiled for 65 minutes and ended up with approx. 3.625 gal going into the primary. For my stout recipe from Hopville-1.048 OG-mine measured 1.047. Boiling...

I have done 3 brews, one extract w/speciality grains and 2 partial mash. I have a 5 gal BK. I would like to know if I can do an all grain and a partial boil for a 5 gal. batch? If so how would I proceed. I was planning on mashing the grains in a rectangular cooler. I could do a 3 gal full boil...

My first brew was Caribou Slobber, fermented in a bucket, Wyeast 1332, only had an inch or two of krausen. Pitched at 66ºF and fermented about 62ºF., in primary 4 weeks, OG 1.053, FG 1.013, bottled last Friday. Joe

Congrats, I bottled my first brew yesterday, Caribou Slobber from NB. Not knowing what to expect while bottling, a few days earlier I did a dry run (actually wet, I used water) to run through the bottling sequence. I didn't care for the spigot method, so I used the racking cane, that kept me at...

I plan on bottling my first brew tomorrow, Caribou Slobber. As of today it's 4 weeks in the primary. Took my first SG reading today and it read 1.014 @ 62ºF., OG was 1.053 @ 64ºF. I will take another tomorrow, but after 4 weeks I would guess the SG won't change. By the way the sample tasted...