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I have used Beersmith 3, Brewfather, and Brewers Friend, trying to figure out which one suits my game the best. I brew mostly all grain, with an occasional extract brew, and my standard batch size is 3.25g; this I am small batch! I tried, but I just don’t like Brewfather. I don’t know how to...

Original poster here; just wanted to provide an update. My Krausen finally disappeared. The lid is still covered with the sticky stuff (because it had no where else to go), but the beer is clear. Will be dropping it in a keg tomorrow with a little CO2 purge for a few days of cold crashing...

Looking for opinions/experience. As I understand (from brewing techniques texts), it is not necessary to mash Crystal grains and dark grains (chocolates, roasted barley, grains above 80 or so lovibond). Actually, I was surprised to find out that you shouldn’t mash your darker grains, as you...

Made a batch of Uncle Fezziwig 11 days ago; it took about 24 hours to see any activity through my blowoff tube, but then it went to town. Didn't have a great amount of headspace in my mini brew bucket (a little over 20%, and I definitely blew some krausen into the blowoff bottle. After about...

I’ve topped off my full grain generated wort a few times and never had a problem, but there is one thing I want to remind you about. Based on your original gravity before you diluted your wort, it sounds like you calculated your mash based on your final volume. With your dilution (and be...

Thinking about putting together some “beer gifts” to my golfing buddies. Have the bottle labels picked out, but looking for bottle carriers. Could easily re-use commercial carriers, but would like to use plain or my own labeled carriers, if I can find them. Anyone seen them or know where I...

My two cents: 1. Boil off is determined by the ambient temperature, geometry of the boil vessel, and the heating medium and BTU output. 2. Many schools of thought on boil time; depends on malt type. You will have to decide for yourself what you prefer. Some will say only 30 minutes is...

jamil (Classic Brews) has a good recipe called “nut castle” ( if I remember correctly). It utilizes Maris Otter as the base, and uses some special roast, a little Crystal 40L, a little Victory Malt (Biscuit), and a small amount of Pale Chocolate (150 SRM). I just brewed it today with EK...

Hey all - original poster here. Thanks for all the comments, even though they drifted off topic to get into cold steeping and volume limitations and the like. Big Ed gave me some input I was looking for, related to Gordon Strong’s and other’s comments about getting astringency/harshness in...

Getting ready to brew some Brown Ale and Stout and have read some info lately (including “Brewing Better Beer Master Lesson...”), and they talked about leaving Crystals and Dark Grains out of the mash and just adding them in and steeping, to avoid potential astringency and harshness in the...

I have a mini and like it a lot. No problem with the valve, but I remove it after each brew, soak it a short bit, and clean and dry thoroughly. I left mine by the rim of the lid, and I put a bunch of two-sided Velcro tape on my base and mini to keep them “connected”. I don’t try and lift and...

Thanks a lot for the replies! Wit is one of my favorite styles, but it’s one I haven’t made yet. It’s on the “brewboard” to make; just have to make some final decisions around hops (EK Golding vs Saaz, or maybe both). Sounds like M21 is a viable yeast.

Does anyone know of or has anyone used a dry yeast for a Witbier? Yeast plays a definite role in this style, but getting a liquid yeast delivered to me here in Houston Area is tricky with the hot temps we have. Dry ice doesn’t seem to do it. Thanks!

I live near Houston, so my seasons are “warm”, “sweaty/sticky”, and “hot as hell”. Through the sweaty/sticky and hot as hell periods, I usually brew blondes, Wheats, and crisp ipa’s featuring “c” hops. As we enter the warm fall and winter months, I’ll turn to more malty, flavorful beers, like...

Great idea! I never used that but have heard of that. That maybe eliminates the issue I’m trying to find a solution too. Thanks!

All, After many extract brews, going to be starting my first all grain brew shortly, and have a question on how to set up my recipe in Brewer's friend. I am starting with 2.5 gallon batch size primarily because I am limited on boil size due to my Gigawort electric brew kettle (4.4 gal...

All, After many extract brews, going to be starting my first all grain brew shortly, and have a question on how to set up my recipe in Brewer's friend. I am starting with 2.5 gallon batch size for a couple reasons, but one primary reason is that I am limited on boil size due to my Gigawort...

Cascades Brewer - I have two reasons why I don’t brew in the house - the wife and the feeble boil I get out of my gas range. I just open up my garage door and brew there. But you have given me something to think about - I have a 5 gal brew kettle but never considered BIAB because I thought I...

Thanks for the advice Island Lizard! I plan on using White Labs Belgian Ale Yeast #WPL400. Plan on brewing right after the 4th, so I’ll run up to my local Houston Brew supply and pick up some. Not planning on a starter; just going to use the entire package on the 2.5 gal batch.