Recent content by rikfxsts

I am a woodworker, and make beer in my woodshop. I am sure plenty of sawdust gets in the beer, but it all settles out with the rest of the trub :). SawDust Brewery "It'll give you wood!"

SOrry about that, you are correct: OG: 1.052 FG: 1.013 (5 gallons)

I made a New Castle "knock off" a few months ago. Had to run out of town, so couldn't keep up on the ice bath during fermentation. Long story short, it tasted like lighter fluid and kind of sour. I waited out a "runied" beer before, and after 9 months it was quite tasty. I am willing to...

I brewed a Kolsch twice. First time was good. I compared it to a kolsch on tap at Ram's head Tavern in Maryland. My second one was better. I cold crashed it in my keezer for a few weeks, then kegged it. My first on was bottled. I had decent carbonation after the cold crash. Did you let it...

I searched for a while, and couldn't find an answer. I just got a freezer, and Johnson controller. Should I put the temp probe in some liquid? Does it matter what liquid? Should the jar of liquid be at the bottom of the freezer (cold falls), or does none of this matter?

As an update, this beer keeps getting worse! Started out with a lighter fluid taste...a week later, tasted like someone dropped some hard candy in it. Two weeks after that, sorta tastes like someone used it for an ash tray. I learned a lot while makint this batch (hydrometer, thermometer...

Last night I cracked open my third homebrew, since finding this site. My first post on HBT was about an Oatmeal Stout. I did everything wrong! Pulled out of the primary too soon, pitched the yeast too hot, etc. I found HBT a day after pitching the yeast. To be honest, this beer still sucks...

I buy from MidwestSupplies.com and have had pretty good experience there. Northern Brewer has a flat rate shipping $9.95. I will try them out too. My Local Home Brew Supplies are a little more, but I like to support the local guy, if the price is reasonable.

How long and what temps did you primary? How about secondary? I have a Kolsch going now, but see mixed reviews on temps and times. Thanks!

I buy the Grolsch top growlers, from Sweetwater Tavern(s) in Virginia. They are filled with beer, and cost $14 bucks. If you bring it back, you can get a refill for $7. They look an awful lot lot like the ones Midwest sells for $25 bucks a piece. I am going to use them for yeast...

I have an enamel stove. Lucky me, I had some boil over. Tried everything to clean the stove without scratching the enamel. Tried Oxy clean, vinegar, etc. Final solution was Mothers Body Clay. Mothers® California Gold® Clay Bar System I use it to get boot marks off of my...

Thanks for the info. I understand it's a learning experience, and I have already learned a TON from this first batch....Time to brew the next batch!

This is my first batch of beer at home. It is an Oatmeal stout. I made a lot of mistakes (but learned a lot for the next batch). After one week in the primary, and 2 1/2 weeks in the secondary, I am reading a gravity of 1.020. I read the same thing about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Any thoughts...

OK....I measured it again tonight and got the same reading I got the same reading I got when I moved it to the Secondary...1.020. 1/3/2009 - pitched Yeast (didn't take a OG reading) 1/10/2009 - moved to secondary (Gravity reading of 1.020) - tasted like beer 1/20/2009 - took another reading...

So, I measured it a week ago, and it was 1.020. Should I measure it tomorrow (one week later), and see if it is lower? Or should I wait another week, and measure, then wait an aditional week after that? I am new to this, so bear with me. Should I measure every couple of days, or wait a...