Recent content by RickFinsta

Snuffy: I use a stainless basket for my hops and do a lot of post-flameout additions (I think the kids call it a "hop stand" these days?). So I just connect up the chiller and start circulating through that basket and it sets a bed at the bottom of the kettle and filters all the floating trub...

I appreciate all the feedback and ideas. I have reached out to Grainfather to see if we can get the application changed. With the "boil power" option on you can set the PWM on time to 59%, 70%, or 83% (there are more but those are in the useful range for my setup) and when using the controller...

I'm also not worried about any kind of lid. I spent a long time distilling in a production chemistry setting (I'm a biochemist) and reactor domes with condensers will pull off anything that is volatile with steam (I know DMS is one a lot of brewers fixate on). As long as there is a pressure...

It takes a few hours to boil off a gallon. I'm coming from a HSLD setup where I could do a few gallons an hour so this significantly adding to my brew day length (used to be about four hours maximum from strike to pitch). I always used to have to top off after a 60min. boil for a 5gal batch (I...

I'm having issues with low boiloff, so I picked up the alembic dome and it just wants to boil over - I was going to either change boil temperature in the settings or cut a larger hole in the dome until the problem goes away... anyone else tackle this in an inventive way that didn't occur to me?

FWIW, I've had a fresh 1728 cake take a 1.1+ OG wort to 11% ABV in less than 24 hours, so I think you're doing it wrong... :mug:

1728 is a beast; 05 always takes significantly longer. 1728 also doesn't slow down much even down in the high 50s for temperature. I don't know Conan.

Dicetyl rest is finished up with this, I think. I got a bit more attenuation than I wanted, maybe I didn't mash high enough. FG is 1.021, and this stuff is BOOZY. I'm actually a bit worried as this strain is only rated to 9% ABV and different calculators put me right there, or as high as 9.7%...

Roger that; I hear 2206 is supposed to be good about throwing no diacetyl at lower temps. Next time I'll certainly pitch at 48-50*F, but I'm just glad this brew is good to go. I've got a Wee Heavy about which I cannot say the same... :mad: Oh well, after a few hundred gallons I had to...

Thanks for the reply; I do adjust refractometer readings for the alcohol content. I bumped it up to diacetyl rest on Saturday morning, and as of yesterday, she's sitting at 1.028 (only 4 points to go), and activity has noticeably slowed. Next time I will chill it as you suggest; I was having...

I took a refractometer reading last night for ****s and giggles, and I'm at around 1.054 right now (expecting 1.024 FG). So, it's not moving as quickly as the visual activity led me to believe. I think I'l just wait until Sunday, and move it out of the freezer for a few days for a diacetyl...

You could always drill a hole and throw an air fitting on there; my point was simply that an apparatus for bladder testing already exists and is relatively cheap (much less than a beer engine!).

Just saw this - you could do the bladder experiment with a Party Pig. Just throw a sparkler or stout faucet on there and if the head is thick and creamy, then debate=over.

Made my first dopplebock this weekend; 3 gallon batch at 1.095 OG, shooting for mid 1.020s FG. I used a stepped starter of 2206 (4oz. DME into 1 quart, fermented, cold crashed, decanted, repeated). I pitched the starter at high krausen at 60*F wort temperature and tossed the carboy into my...

I just got my Danby DAR440BK from Amazon for my kegerator conversion, and FYI the molded inner door is held in place by the insulating foam, and is not screwed in anymore (it used to sandwich the gasket). I cut the panel and foam with a flexible molding saw (super fast and smooth cut), and used...