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Timely thread as hop harvest time is approaching and I'm in the market for a new vacuum sealer. The foodsaver I have now was a hand-me-down from the inlaws. No idea how long they had it. Last few years it's been really inconsistent drawing a vacuum. The sealing foam is worn and deteriorated.

Are you saying something like 'Munich' Malt is written in German?

Got my house brew - New Glarus Spotted Cow clone (cream ale) that I always have in the pipe line. So, if I'm out of that it's pretty easy to decide what to brew next. I've been on a light lager/pilsner kick lately so now I'm going to swing to the other extreme and do something more complex...

I always think about doing this whenever I'm cleaning up after a brew session and see I forgot to pitch the yeast and it's still sitting on the counter. Doh! The reason I don't is because prior to transferring my wort, my carboy is fully foamed up and saturated in StarSan. I figure I need...

It happens. I once was sloppy filling a carboy and spilled wort on the outside of the carboy. I first checked on it after a week in the fermentation fridge and the brewhauler strap was full of the white fluffy mold. I freaked, but the beer inside looked fine so I let it ride. After the...

I do this all the time. Saves money on yeast and saves me a carboy washing. I plan my brews and brew schedule around this. Always pitching darker, more complex brews over lighter ones since flavors of the first batch with transfer over to the second batch. As soon as I empty a carboy, I...

For me...I kind of went all in. I got hand-me-down equipment that got me started doing extracts on the kitchen stove. Did that for about two years, the whole while contemplating a move to all-grain. Gave me lots of time to plan it out and then I went all in building a semi-automated...

My local brew shop also sells beer and wine. They sell pretty much every unique/exotic beer you can think of. Because of this they get a good amount of foot traffic from people who really like beer, but aren't homebrewers (yet). Great way to bring in people and then get them hooked on home...

I would keep all the gear, but put it in storage. New baby, new job, different living conditions...hobbies may have to take a little hiatus until you get some stability back in your life.

Not sure what it is, but I'm going to cast my vote for 'not hops'.

I always boil with the priming sugar in RO water. The heat helps completely dissolve the sugar. I'm not too worried about the water being sanitary, but can't be sure something isn't in the corn sugar. I keep mass quantities of it in Tupperware containers in my pantry...next to onions...

Been thinking about getting a bench capper for a while now, but I think they are a bit overpriced. Just can't get myself to spring for one as my winged capper still gets the job done. Thought maybe the bench capper would be easier to use so it might be easier to recruit help at bottling time...

I can fill a 5# at a fire extinguisher place for about $10. Only did that once as their location and business hours kind of suck. Then I discovered a paintball place just down the road from me that will fill 5# tanks for $20 cash (he charges slightly more if using debit/credit card). Best...

I don't even want to admit to myself how much I spent building my semi-auto electric brew stand. Of course people always ask, "How much money do you have in that?" I usually squirm a bit and say, "oh, probably about $1000" Then I started thinking...It was $400 alone for the HMI touchpanel...

First was Midwest Supply's Autumn Amber Ale extract kit. Personally I thought it was kind of ...'meh'. Looking back on my first 5-10 batches I'd say they were all 'meh'. Now 3 years later, all-grain capabilities, fermentation control and 40+ batches of experience I think my latest brews...

No issues with mine and my tap handles are 30mm dummy rounds from an A-10. They do actuate very effortlessly, but never had an issue of them opening up on their own.

Had mine for two years. Works just fine. Did upgrade the tower to a 3-tap. Found out I could squeeze a 2.5 gal keg up on the bump in the back. Two 5 gal kegs still fit as normal. Just have to be careful not to freeze that keg as it then sits up against the plate. This fridge will get...

I've noticed many CO2 regs sold to homebrewers tend to be poor quality. Adjustments are rough and crude with tons of hysteresis. If you've ever worked with regulators in other industries you know how smooth and precise they can be. Hysteresis causes you to always overshoot in whatever...

Seems likely these guys will be easy to find. They likely aren't going to be able to sell anything and eventually word will get out when someone has one epic stash of Sweetwater. Maybe even get ratted out by the garbage man or recycling center when one individual seems to an abnormal amount of...

The only bottles I don't wash (just sanitize) are those that have already been in my rotation. I know those got washed when I first received them and they get a good rinse immediately after being emptied.