Recent content by pdbreen

Update: The kegerator is gone and I did sell the original 2 carboys and 4 kegs, but realized I could sell another 2 carboys and another 4 kegs and still have more than I really need. So, here's what remains: - 10 cases of label free brown bottles (no screw tops) ($2/case) - 2 5gal glass...

Looking to find new homes for: - 2 tap kegerator/w CO2 ($500) - 10 cases of cleaned brown bottles ($2/case) - 2 5gal glass carboys ($10/each) - 4 5gal corny kegs ($20/each) Pickup or local delivery only.

A friend of mine suggested Blue Point from NY - I've never had any, so can't vouch for the recommendation. Personally, I'll probably be sampling a lot of the west coast brews that aren't available in Vermont.

Is there a set time for the talks by Chris and Patrick? I think I have tickets to the Farm Pavilion on Thursday, but might still sneak out early if I can catch one of the talks.

Ah - I used the wrong words - let me go back and edit. I'm not talking about strike temp, I'm talking about the starting mash temp (which I have no trouble hitting). Thanks for catching my mistake!

I've finally juggled some things around so I now have a fridge I can use to control fermentation temps. Since it's summer, that just means cooling so I'm using a Johnson A419 controller and a carboy cap that allows me to get the probe into the center of the fermenter. If I want to ferment at...

Hi - when I'm looking at a typical recipe that says mash at 153 for 60 minutes and I know my mash tun will typically lose about 4 degrees over that time, should I: a) start mash at 157 so the final temp of the mash is 153 b) start mash at 155 and finish at 151 so about half of the mash will...

Just kegged another batch. Didn't have any brown sugar or corn syrup, so the recipe this time around was: ~1/3 cup molasses (what I had left in a jar) ~9 cups Splenda 1 1/2 tablespoons Real Lemon 8 teaspoons Costco vanilla extract Initial taste suggest it might need even a bit more vanilla -...

Thanks for the tip. I had picked up some apple juice thinking I was going to start another batch of Apfelwein but ended up wanting something without alcohol. This was the perfect match! Got a keg of it chilling and carbonating right now.

I use the "Jumbo Large Nylon Bag" from AHS - it fully lines a 10gal igloo round cooler with several inches folded over the top. They list it 15lbs, but I'm sure I've done more - dimensions are 25" x 35" (according to their site).

Thanks so much - very helpful (esp. the info on not storing dry). Gave me enough confidence to barrel my first beer today.

Thanks to Infidel, I now have some oak rumble/whiskey barrels asking to be filled with beer (and I have the beer ready to fill them). I've read the threads I could find on oak barrels, but I couldn't find answers to some beginner questions in the threads or the FAQ. These are mine: 1)...

Killer deal - stacks with 30% volume discounts when you buy more than one bag pack (8 packs gives 30% and the coupon another 40%!!).. My checkout (plan is to replace and give away my 3825 with the Gamesaver): FoodSaver® GameSaver® Turbo Plus $179.99 1 $179.99 FoodSaver® WineSaver™...

I don't have any room in my keezer, so I'm serving at cellar temperature into an ice filled glass with a picnic tap. I'll keep it at about 40psi until it's carbed to my liking, then dial it down a bit. And, I definitely recommend getting some of these...

Had some friends visit for the weekend and guided them through their first brew ever - an all grain espresso stout loosely based on the Zymurgy recipe. They may have done better than me! Also had them do some racking to kegs and make a batch of ginger ale. And, help cut down a few trees.