Recent content by RallyFanatic

Whenever I open a package of hops, my dog comes running. She loves the smell to no end. Unfortunately, I don't have a place in my yard to grow hops where she can't access, so I'm out of luck for now. Don't know if she'll have any reaction to eating them, but I certainly don't want to take the...

I've just experienced my airlock filling with krausen tonight. I've never had it happen, should I use my siphon tube to a small bucket filled with sanitizing solution, or just not worry about it for now and clean out/re-sanitize the airlock after? Making an IPA, OG was about 1.065, fermented...

Not only do I like the recipe, but in my reserves I have a pound of extra light DME (for the extract version) and an 1 oz of both centennial and cascade which will cut down the shopping bill. Only thing better than a good beer is a good cheap beer! Thanks for the idea.

My wife and I have @ 30 people over for Easter, and I wanted a little variety in beer selection. I have an IPA that's almost done fermenting, but I'm not sure an IPA with Easter dinner (ham, lamb, lasagna and the veggies) is the best combination for everyone. Any recommendations for a good light...

I'm no expert, but my first 2 batches I did 1 week in primary and 2 in the bottle (I was a slave to kit directions) and the beers were simply OK. My last batch sat for about 2 1/2 weeks in the primary, dry-hopped for a week in secondary, and 3 weeks in the bottle. So much better! I've...

I've seen the phrase 'pitching second yeast' thrown around a bit, and I was wondering what the purpose was. My concern (read: paranoia) is that I've read up on 'modern' fermenting practices, and for the IPA I'm making this weekend I plan to leave it in the primary for a couple weeks, then...

Wow - I'm new to the forum and I wasn't expecting 2 pages of great advice so quickly! This is the first recipe that I made (brewed 2 kits, that's it so far). Looking back at my notes, I'm not sure why I added the chocolate. I think I'll ditch it, but keep the Crystal 60. Good advice by pfooti...

Hello, Looking for some words of wisdom on the following IPA recipe: Steep @ 150 for half hour, then strain/sparge: 4oz American Crystal 60 4oz American Chocolate Bring volume to 2.5 gallons, bring to boil and add: 7.25# Muntons Extra Light DME 1oz Citra Boil 30 minutes, then...

This. For the record, it doesn't taste awful, just not as good as when I first started drinking it. I've sampled a bottle or two a day and no matter what I ate...etc, it always tastes the same. I seem to think it over-carbonated, just not enough for my bottles to explode or for them to erupt...

Recently, I bottled my second batch of beer. 1st batch was great, no problems. Now my second batch is acting a little strange. After 2 weeks of bottle conditioning, the batch tasted great when I first started drinking it, then after 4-5 days its starting to taste odd. It tastes weak with an...