Recent content by wadner

I'm back. Brewing a partial mash Cascadian Dark Ale and I'm using some wild hops for flavor. These were probably planted shortly after the civil war and were just rediscovered about a month ago. I have no idea what they are but they look, taste, and smell fantastic. What a great day in...

I keg with pinlock Coke kegs because they are a little shorter and fatter so I can fit two kegs in my little kegerator. Ball lock Pepsi kegs are thinner and taller. Too tall in fact to allow two kegs in my kegerator. I have to put one in at an angle. Something to consider if you have a...

The last few brews I've done I've mixed either Safale 04 or 05 with Coopers brewers yeast (an amber, an outmeal stout, and a black IPA). I've had great results. Today I brewed a porter and threw some Windsor and Safale 05 on top. Am I really using two yeasts, or do you think one just takes...

Advantages: You get better hop utilization. Disadvantages: Takes a lot longer to cool.

It's 6 am and I started my oatmeal stout partial mash. I am excited for this one. It is a kit from Northern. I wish the kit sellers would develop a program where you could buy partial mash kits and determine how much grain you want. Then their program would calculate how much extract to add...

Nice. I remember my first... She was brown with a great head. Some called it love at first sight, but I didn't really fall in love until I tasted her. It was amazing... I've never heard one hiss though. My all go gurgle into the bottom of the glass. I bought a kegerator to fill with...

The Northern Brewer recipe uses 9.5 lbs of dark LME plus some dark specialty grains. This stuff is black!

www.northernbrewer.com has a black IPA kit. It is fermenting in my basement right now. It looks fabulous! Order that. 5 ounces of hops in the boil and another ounce of dry-hop. Mmmmm

Go fot it. It will be a number of years before I go all-grain due to time. I don't think it is that difficult.

I've never done an all extract kit. It is simple to add specialty grains. Go that route.

Okay, so when my nutbrown is out of primary I'll cut those slits too. Doh! I knew there had to be an easier way. It sure tore up my hands opening the bucket by pulling it off with my fingers. :o I almost threw the buckets out and ordered some glass carboys! It's a lot easier for a...

Doh! Nice work. Thanks for the suggestion. Off to the hardware store.

If that is the case you are doing an extract brew session with specialty grains. Steeping and mashing are NOT the same process.

Is there any easy way to get the lid off of my fermenting bucket that I don't know about? I'd hate to struggle with the process if someone knows an easier way.

My 'Fuller's Clone' with rye, flat and warm is the best beer I've brewed yet. When I get back from watching the University of Montana Griz whip up on Appilacian State tomorrow I'll have the best beer in the history of beer. You beer makers want to watch real playoff football watch ESPN at...