Search results

I enjoy my brew days and don't rush through things, and I can go from setup to cleaned up in < 4 hrs for a 5 gal batch. 10 gals takes an extra 30-60 mins for heating and transfer. Compared to the OP, I don't mash longer than 45 mins (usually 30-40), I batch sparge, which takes less time, and I...

No. If you're not chilling with a plate chiller (or CFC + whole hops), there's nothing wrong with dumping the whole thing into the fermenter and racking it off the trub after fermentation is over.

I'm not sure what difference the flaked barley vs oats will make. The biscuit will give a different flavor, but not necessarily bad for this beer. You can prime w/ honey. I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure how much residual honey flavor you'll end up with. Adding a touch of honey malt next...

Maybe a slight oak hint would be ok, but I wouldn't overdo it. If you try it, let us know what you think.

Yeah the oats can make it cloudy. Don't sweat it, it should settle out OK in the fermenter.

Sorry for the late response. I've been out of town for a few weeks. I think with a nut brown, extract or AG, you absolutely need the biscuit and a little chocolate - it's really hard to replace what the chocolate adds with something else. If that makes your extract too dark with the amber...

I've done it with/without. Kind of depends on your MLT setup. In any case they certainly don't hurt, and it's cheap insurance against a stuck sparge.

Yeah, dude - make it your own. Recipes are mostly guidelines for ingredients. Use your own process, tweaks, etc. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Two weeks is probably plenty - for most other beers too. If it's done and clear, go ahead and bottle.

FB work fine as filters and the lift the edge thing is nice, but I wouldn't want that setup with a plate chiller. A lot of hop material would through before the FB started to catch everything (clog) and then again after you have to lift the edge. Shouldn't be any problem w/ your CFC though.

I'm sure there are some things you can do that can cut down on the time. 10 gal AG batches regularly take 4 hrs for me. The key is having water heated/things ready before needed. For example, the first thing I do is start heating strike water. While it's heating I'll mill the grain and get...

Sure. 81% isn't unreasonable, especially when you sparged with 5.5 gal. Sounds like things went good. What's your efficency usually like?

I've got weldless like DM, and mine have been trouble free for many, many brews, but if I had the tools/skills I would've welded mine. You can also look into silver solder. I didn't hear about this until after I'd already installed mine or I probably would've tried it.

my guess... tonight he'll dine. ;)

pedalbiker has been selling those for quite a while and I think several people on here have bought some of his wares. Keep in mind that the welding, couplers, 3 pc stainless ball valve and sight glass aren't cheap/free. With that in mind, if you don't want to build one yourself, and you want...

what's the stopper made out of? I'd probably just leave it. I bet it'll be fine.

Put a stainless hose clamp on that dip tube to keep the FB tight against the bottom. The edge lifting up and letting grain by can turn into a clogged MLT in a hurry.

Nope, not my recipe. The thanks goes to Denny Conn. I just thought I'd share it again here because I thought it was so good. Good to hear it worked out so good for you!

It's at least as good, but not necessarily a dead-on clone.