Search results

I've gotten my best results with my last few brews using Irish moss in the last 10 minutes of the boil (same stuff as Whirlfloc, I think) and also trying to filter out as much brewing trub as possible into the fermenter. You do end up losing quite a bit in the bottling bucket, even if you're...

I would second taking apart your bottling wand and inspecting bottling bucket spigots, etc. The end of the bottling wand comes apart - just be sure you take it apart over a container as you may otherwise lose the little spring which makes it work. There's a spring and a small plastic piece that...

If you haven't tried http://www.malt.io it's pretty cool and allows you to scale recipes up and down. I have a few 1.5 gallon all grain batches that used a 2-gallon boil on my profile if you'd like to check it out. Even with a 4 gallon pot you can easily do 5-gallon extract brews (boil 2-3...

I know that it may mean added expense, but I've just been using the individual bottle drops. Only had a gusher or two because I bottled that particular beer too early (wasn't done fermenting) but other brews have come out perfectly. Avoids the hassle of measuring priming sugar.

I only ever used the Oxiclean Free but I've noticed it's more expensive. Is there any harm to using the "normal" stuff?

I honestly wouldn't worry - correct me if I'm wrong but the skunkiness from light exposure is more due to UV (sunlight) than something that would be generated by fluorescent bulbs, right? :confused:

I scrub used bottles with oxyclean and a bottle brush, then rinse with a bottle washer and allow to drain. When needed, I use the vinator to squirt starsan up there, and it doubles for cap storage while bottling. Haven't had any issues yet.

Howdy! I'm a fairly new homebrewer and last night I brewed my first 5 gallon batch. I've done 3 - 1.5 gallon all-grain beers before hand, but since I still lack equipment for complete all grain at larger size, this was just an extract kit. :mug: The kit came with Danstar Munich dry yeast, so...

This would be a great gift for my dad :) I remember fondly making wine and beer with him numerous times when I was younger!

We just bottled our first IPA which was dry hopped for about 4 days with some pellet hops, right into the fermenter. Unfortunately when we siphoned it into the bottling bucket we picked up quite a bit of hop residue and most of that made it into the bottles (to the point that it clogged our...

It's only a 1.5 gallon batch. Does that make a difference?

Great to know, thank you!

I'm also in the process of brewing my first IPA and should probably dry hop; however - what do you do to sanitize the hops before adding them? I have half a package of Centennial left over that would be great in this small batch, but I'm worried about just chucking it in there with no...

I started with all-grain, albeit with 1-gallon batches. For me, the limitation for doing a larger all-grain batch was the equipment. I don't have a burner to boil 5 gallons of wort, I don't have a method to cool 5 gallons of wort. As an experienced 5-gallon brewer, you probably do! The...

Is it possible that you didn't cap your bottles snugly enough? Someone in another thread had the same issue, and it ended up that they were reusing Abita bottles and their capper couldn't get the crowns on as tightly as they needed to be so CO2 was escaping.

It's been very quiet for over a week, and I'm assuming its done. There's a very noticeable trub on the bottom. I was going to put it in my fridge overnight tonight and bottle it tomorrow. Should I just wait another week?

Another +1 for Beersmith. I actually just purchased a copy last night because my trial was about to expire and it's been extremely useful so far. For kicks, Birdmanbrewing is having a sale right now and you can get it for $19 instead of $27 directly from Brewsmith, and it was fulfilled within...

Meh, it's Michigan and it will be cool enough down in the basement soon enough (50 or so) :)

I've been messing around with Beersmith and it's pretty useful. There are several 1-gallon recipes that I've found here: http://www.bullcityhomebrew.com/recipes.aspx?category=onegallon also http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/recipe-kits/small-batch-beer-recipe-kits...

Well unfortunately 71 is the best I can do as it's summer and my basement is what it is. It *tastes* fine, it just smells like apple juice so it should be okay. And it's my VERY FIRST BATCH. Should still be okay for drinking and get you :drunk: