Recent content by zhopper

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this question but I still want to ask just to see if I'm right. Would there be anything wrong with mixing up a 5 gallon batch of honey and water and instead of heating it up on a stove let it sit outside in the summer heat for a few hours? Yeast...

Hey team, I'll be heading to Dallas for Thanksgiving this year and have been asked by family to provide to beer for our dinner. There's no way I'm going to ship that much beer to Texas from California so my question is as follows, Where is the best place to buy commercial beer in Dallas, TX. I...

So I'm taking some root beer to a fourth of July part where some of the kids are allergic to gluten. I know I didn't put anything glutenous in the mixture but I'm wondering if the extract itself is gluten free. The extract comes in a small brown box. Thanks. Z

I had an imperial stout in the secondary for about 7 months. When I bottled, there was quite a bit of trub on the bottom of the carboy but I figured there was still enough yeast for it to carbonate. Alas, after 6 weeks in the bottle at the appropriate temperature, I heard no wonderful "fpsst"...

I understand that we all live in different places where electricity costs different but I live in the Central Valley of California where PG & E rules our lives. I just got a chest freezer and a temp control and just wanted to get a feel for how much I can expect on my electric bill. Again, I...

I've been there before, uneven carbonation and all that. The question I have for you is, how are you combining your priming agent with your beer? To ensure that you get the most even distribution of priming sugar, I suggest you boil some water, add your priming agent, cool it down in the...

I have a 40 quart (10 gallon) mash tun and I want to make a 5 gallon batch of Russian Imperial using 20 pounds of Grain. I usually use a ratio of 2 quarts per pound but could certainly use less if necessary. This is my second all grain and it would suck if I got to brew day and learned my mash...

Okay, I'm sure someone in this monstrous thread has already asked this question but I couldn't find anything using the search function, but has anyone ever tried putting the Fermented wine into a secondary with fresh sliced apples to give it more of a apple taste? Also, and this question is...

I've heard the argument that it resuspends the yeast and gives it more opportunity to ferment. I know what you're saying though, I'm just wondering the benefits or negatives.

I know people have posted about this in the past but is it alright to give your Primary Fermenter a little shake every once and a while? I'm not talking about picking it up and shaking it vigorously, just tilting to one side and then putting it right again. Thanks

I love how new and shiny your equipment looks, I remember a time when my stuff looked similar to that. Now most of my stuff looks all crappy and beat up on the outside but clean on the inside. I wish you a happy brewers life.

Northern Brewer sells a bunch of different types of corks and you can call their retail store in Minnesota (or wherever they are) and the staff is really knowledgeable about the product. Call them with specific questions. As far as bottles are concerned, I think the same rule of thumb for beer...

Visiting my brother in Irving brought the wonderful Gingerman into my life. We went there twice in one weekend on my incessant suggestion. I often sit in my classroom in Central California and think fondly of the GM.

I'm sure there is clarification on the subject here somewhere but I can't find it using the search function. What exactly does SWMBO stand for. I understand that it is a way to refer to our lovely wives who put up with our habits but before i refer to my wife as one I would like to know what...

On my first batch ever when I was in college I added ice to my cooling wort in order to drop the temperature faster. As soon as the ice hit the wort my roommate asked me if that was purified ice. I shrugged my shoulders in ignorance and he gave me this look like I just killed his favorite dog...