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I would agree with you in general, but I've made some really tasty beer wit Munich LME recently. If you are doing a darker beer anyways, i think you can get some good flavors from your extract.

ya, I figured I would lager it a little warmer because of the ale/lager yeast combo... I guess we will see!

Thanks for the input. I'll be sure to watch the gravity carefully before I start lagering. I was planning on refrigerator temps, around 38*. Is that too cold, do you think?

Well, my batch of Graff is starting to come into its own. About half of it has been drunk or given away, but what's left took a solid 4 or 5 weeks in the bottle to go from dry like champagne to a little sweet and tart. I have half a case that I am going to age for another month or two and try it...

I'm working on a cream ale right now and my LHBS recommended White Labs Cream Ale Yeast Blend (WLP080) as opposed to a package of ale and one of lager yeast. Took him at his word (although I did realize the yeast is a week past its best by date... to late now, wort is chilling as I type) and I'm...

I guess that I figured a racking/secondary fermentation would improve clarity because... everyone says it will? Dunno... anyways, if I think I have time to brew another batch after the two week point (almost sure I will!), I will rack it to make room. Otherwise I will leave it in. I've got...

First, thank you for your speedy reply! Second, the only reason I would/will move it is to improve the clarity of this brew (I'd like it to be a nice bright beer) and to free up the primary for a new batch. ;) I do appreciate the advice though. If I don't think I will have the need for my...

I'm starting a brew where the recipe calls for 1 week in primary, and a week in secondary with some dry hops. First, this seems like a short time to ferment and age a beer. Second, I will be heading out of town for about a week just before the end of the week in primary. Can I leave the beer...

Well I brewed a batch of Graff (first brew other than a couple gallons of cider right in the gallon jug) on 1/28. Popped it open today (8 days later) to do a hydro reading and make sure it was closing in on the FG. Had some trouble getting a good reading (think I need to get a little test...

Well, Midwest hasn't even replied to ne yet... I will have to give them a call tomorrow, just so busy at work lately that it's a pain and frankly would rather deal with this via email - it's one of the reasons for doing business over the internet, I don't need to be free during the day...

Funny you say that, as I actually ended up much preferring the long "lab thermometer" in the kit. It was able to get a reading much, much fast and was easier to read. Maybe I can send the floater back for a refund. ;)

Thanks for the input. It should be warmer than that during the day when the temp kicks up a little (warmer outside and programmable thermostat) and not much cooler than 61 at night time...

Ya, I gave them a good rolling and my steeping looked very dark and smelled very rich, so I think I had them crushed enough. I'm not too concerned about the cap. My hands were sanitized and cleaned and its not like the caps were covered in filth or anything. :p My airlock had some gas in it...

Well, all done... Graff in the fermentor. Thanks to everyone! Had some small mishaps right towards the end... one that I am really concerned will cause me trouble. Dropped an apple juice cap right in the bucket. Last bottle of juice, of course. Nothing to be done about it so I just covered it up...

We'll see what the say tomorrow. On a good note, I crushed the grains with a rolling pin and have some Graff nearly ready for the fermentor! (The yeast they forgot wasn't for this - it was a packet for a friend who I am gifting my old "make hard cider in a gallon jug kit" to). Hopefully I didn't...

It was Midwest Supply, who I thought had a pretty good reputation. There was several issues about this order. Aside from the grains, I was also shorted a packet of yeast ($0.80 item, but still), had a substitution made without being contact before hand (they were out of stock of the Briess...

Thanks for the heads up... I am unimpressed with Midwest Supplies today.

OK, this should work... (sorry for the low quality cell phone pic)

Hm, I think I am too much of a newbie to post pics on the forums, so I will to take them, upload them somewhere else and post a link... might take a moment, but I appreciate you offering to help!

I appreciate the input - I was also unsure of whether it was possible to over-crush them so to speak. I think they are crushed, though. I found the DVD in my little kit and popped it into the computer. The guy mentions that the grains need to be basically cracked and not ground or powdered, and...