Recent content by RichardShivers

I believe the general consensus around here and just about everywhere is to make a starter with a starting gravity of around 1.040. However, according to info on my LHBS website (and a couple other sources as well), they say, "Make the starter to the same gravity as the beer you are intending to...

Interesting info here, i had a discussion (regarding light belgian candi rocks and the light belgian candi syrup) with the owner of my LHBS owner, who has been in business since 1991, about belgian light candi sugar and he said that it wouldnt contribute to the flavor or body at all and i might...

Alright, thanks for your input, i was leaning more towards the D180 based on what their website says about their product, however, was worried that they were hyping their products up a bit.

I was wondering if anyone has had experience using both brands of candi syrup. I have found a couple recipes that include several pounds D180, however, my LHBS only carries the D2 SRM 160 (I understand there are two brands that use D2 as their color rating/ flavor profile?). They can special...

I contacted Shelton Brothers a couple days ago and this was there response. "Thank you for your message. We know that the Westvleteren announcement has caused much excitement, but at this time, there is not much information we can provide. We are still working out details with the Abbey...

Alright guys, thanks for your input. Yeah, $50 is quite steep but i have been wanting to try this beer for many years and i guess i am willing to pay it just to try one of the greatest beers in the world. I havent tried most of the Trappist beers, but i must say Westmalle Dubbel is one of the...

I recently met someone who went to Belgium in 2004 and visited Westvleteren Brewery and bought a case of the famed Westvleteren 12. He says the beer was bottled in 2003 and he has 7 beers left from the case. He offered to sell me a bottle for $40-$50. I have read that many people prefer to...

my OG was 1.084 but i had an accident in the kitchen with the kids resulting in a broken hydrometer so i dont have a current reading, going to the brewshop today to get a new hydrometer to take a current reading. the yeast attenution is 71%-75%, so if its done fermenting i should be in the...

pinch the hose where it connects to the racking cane?

Yeah, i was worried that the fermentation prematurely stalled. My previous batches had 1-2" sedament/yeast at the bottom when i racked to my secondary after 2-3 weeks and were a thick slurry of colors of white/brown. This batch only had about 3/4" of white that almost looked like powdered...

Alright, thanks everyone. After todays experience i am sold on getting an auto-siphon. I have done several batches before this one without any issues so my only concern with not having a auto-siphon was the increased risk of contamination. As for why i racked it to the secondary so early, i dont...

Today i racked my beer from my primary fermenter into my secondary carboy . The beer had been in the primary fermenter for 5 days, all activity had ceased within the first 3 days (dry yeast). The issue i was having is i would start siphoning the beer and the stream was solid throughout the tube...