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I have brewed with friends and family, I think I prefer to go it alone though as I can get more things done while brewing. The garage has never been cleaner! My wife may start brewing with me after we have baby number 2 and she is able to drink again! I started brewing when she got pregnant so...

I have started with my full water volume in a 10 gallon pot and fit most of my grain bills in, however, the efficiency is typically pretty low since there is not a lot of room for the grain to move around. I can fit about 15lbs of grain with an 8gal starting volume.

Don't you just hate when that happens... Time to brew! :D Welcome to the obsession!

Agree with what RM-MN said on the crush of the grain. I have been fiddling with my barley crusher for the last few batches and with the last batch I managed to hit a 75% efficiency with a 10lb grain bill (5.5 gal batch Blonde). For the larger grain bills I use for IPA's I am probably going to...

2 beers in the secondary fermentors means two empty primary fermentors... Just sayin :mug:

I did stir quite a bit at the beginning of the mash and had to drain about a 1/2 gallon out of the kettle because I had no more room. I saved that and added it back at the end. I did squeeze a good amount back into the kettle but I still have trouble getting good mash efficiency... I have my...

Temps maintained pretty well which is what the heater was for. It was F'ing cold out side so I did what I could to manage the temperature loss during the mash. All in all I am excited for this one, I just shifted to the airlock today and it is still bubbling. Good layer of kruasen(SP?) and it...

Can I ask what a typical pre boil gravity reading is for some of you folks? I always hit my OG's but not necessarily my pre boil, although it really hasn't affected anything so far. I have been doing grain bills around 12-15 lbs and see about a 1.05-1.06 gravity reading. Thanks!

Just got the bag and pulley set up, best 30 bucks I ever spent. :mug:

I did not use the basket this time and just let the grains sit in the kettle for 75 minutes without stirring after I poured the grains in (of note I think my limit is 16 lbs of grain for the 10 gal kettle!) I have a temp probe in the kettle so I was able to monitor for the entire mash. Here is a...

So just did my first beer with Wilserbrewers bags and I have to say they really helped! Still maintaining my 65% efficiency but the bags worked great and I hit my OG dead on the nails. Had a 17lb grain bill for this one and the was able to let it drain over the kettle while bringing it up to a...

I am thinking about leaving it in the garage since it is pretty cool out there (around 40-50 degrees) then warm it up inside before pitching. Other thought is to move it to another location since it is taking up some counter space in the kitchen and keep it on the stir plate, that's what the...

Probably going to brew Sunday since that looks to be the nicest day (I brew in the garage so the rain/snow doesn't matter just the temperature). Was thinking about putting the starter in another bottle or filling a bucket with some cold water and placing the flask in that for the next two days...

I made a starter last night for brew day today but the weather in VA decided not to cooperate! What should I do with the starter? Is it worth it to save it? How would I save it? Should I just chuck it? Don't exactly have a great place to stow the flask in the fridge, can I move the starter to...

I am gonna try a few different methods until I find what works for me! Besides, drinking home brew that you might have messed up is the best thing in the world! Here's to brewing in 2014 and brewing a lot! :mug:

I have been following the process in the sticky and it talks about raising the temp to mashout. So I was attempting to do that. If it isn't required then I won't be doing it.

I ordered the bag combo from Wilserbrewer, the fryer basket just sits to high up and I think it might be affecting efficiency (my opinion only). I have been hitting mid to high 60's with super fine crush and the right mash temps but with the grain bills around 13-15 to even 17 lb's for some of...

Starting to believe this myself! Just sent you a PM with a couple of questions.

Anyone have any problems with the water heating to a boil before the grain gets to mash out temp? I might have had the propane up a little high as time started to become a problem yesterday (either way she is bubbling away now...) While waiting for the grain to hit mash out the water started to...

Went ahead and bottled this evening just to get it done since we have company coming tomorrow, I really need to start kegging! Thanks for the help!