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Wyeast has a good video here on the subject: Looks like you can't over aerate due to physics of how much 02 is in the air.

I've made cider a few times. I've had best results with Nottingham dry yeast http://www.thegrape.net/browse.cfm/nottingham-ale-yeast/4,9126.html?gclid=CJvWrsnU8rYCFUWK4Aodq2UAqg Champagne yeast is going to make it VERY dry, like champagne.

All the LHBS in my area give some kind of deal on buying full bags. Usually between $50 and $60 for a bag of Briess 2-Row. Some will mill part of it for you, only mill the whole thing, or won't mill it at all. There are larger bulk buys, you'll see them on the forums here. I took that...

I'm sure it's fine. When I make cider I have to wait 6 weeks to get the gravity down. Warmer temps can help, don't go too hot though, around 70 is the highest I'd go. Different temps make different beers. It could be a few things that took so long: 1) It just takes that long 2) The yeast was...

It should be fine, low is OK, high is bad. I had similar problems during my first few brews, my thermometer could not handle much under 100 degrees. I now use a great digital one, I have a little write up here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/best-digital-thermometer-314825/index2.html

I would not worry about the grain at all, you've got to figure unmilled grain gets shipped around the country in big trucks. If the hops all all sealed up in nitro pouches I wouldn't worry about them either. It would have to be much longer for me to be concerned. If the hops are just in zip...

I did a little write-up a while ago on my experiences with thermometers, and my solution (which I'm very happy with): https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/best-digital-thermometer-314825/index2.html It's the same company that makes the thermopen, but I feel a little easier to use for all grain brewers.

I did a little write-up a while ago on my experiences with thermometers, and my solution (which I'm very happy with): https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/best-digital-thermometer-314825/index2.html It's the same company that makes the thermopen, but I feel a little easier to use for all grain brewers.

Awesome, I've been waiting for this! :)

I run around 150 to 200 rpm. My drill has a lock button on it and doing a quick guess of counting spins it's around there, about 3 times a second it turns.

I would give it a try. I have well water and it does seem to come out a little different then when I have brewed with city water. I suspect you'll make it and it will be awesome due to the story that comes with it, but in a side by side with well water it would be about the same. Just a...

Great advice from above, I'd also put the picnic tap in water just to see if any bubbles come out from it, or it's connection. If you do find that it's an o-ring use beverage lube on it (should be doing that anyways) and that should help. Good call on the little plastic things to avoid...

To help control our boil over we use a spray bottle with cold water in it. Something about dropping the temp of the surface slows the foam down, I'm not sure of the science but it works very well.

I'd mostly ignore the air lock to see when fermentation is done, you would be better off taking a gravity reading. That being said I've never considered dry hopping in my primary fermenter, I'm curious to see what others think.

I saw both of them at the Harbor Freight store, I ended up with the blue one because I believe it allows for lower RPM. It's also designed to run for a long time at lower RPM without getting hot or wearing out, it's made to bore through metal/stone. One of the first times we tried milling we...

I agree with big floyd, I went ball lock as well and mostly for the pressure relief valve. One more point to consider is the size of your fridge. For mine I can exactly fit 6 ball lock kegs in it (like a six pack), but if I went pin I could only do 5. Normally I only have 4 beers on tap bit...

I stumbled upon this thread and bought this the 1/2" Heavy Duty Low Speed Drill from harborfreight, item 93632, the blue one with the extra handle. http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-heavy-duty-spade-handle-drill-93632.html You can set the RPM nice and low and lock it in. We usually...

I've been told both ways on old yeast. One was "It's food for the good yeast" and I've been told "It will give you off flavors". I've had a few packs that were old and after opening them and smelling them... I wasn't going to put it into my beer! I'll tell you this, if you have a good new...

If you don't want to mess with dry hopping in a keg due to possible clogs you can always just make hop tea. I've done this, put a few cups of water on the stove to 150- 170 degrees, throw your hops in. Let it hang out for whatever time you like (I usually do 4 hours) and then strain the hops...

Good to know, I was not aware of that with steel. Nice.