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Def recommend Belma for hops. I use it in a strawberry rhubarb wheat and feel it helps bring out the strawberry flavor and aroma. i add fruit by freezing it, then thawing, smushing with a sanitized handheld blender, adding a calculated amount of vodka, letting sit in refrig a few days, then add...

I bought a new box of Domino Dots a couple weeks ago since I had run out, and these were a lot bigger than all the previous ones I bought. I don't know if they changed the size, or if there are different sizes now, but I wasn't happy about it since they wouldn't fit at all and it threw a big...

I do this too, and have used them a few years later and they’re still fine. I also run a dehumidifier with the fans. I think it’s important to dry them down to approx 10% of their original weight before freezing.

If you’re going to add the coffee as a cold brew, you could add the pumpkin spice to that until you get a nice balance of flavor in the cold brew, then add that to secondary, or even primary. I’ve found a little spice goes a long way, and same for coffee.

I haven't used chai spice, but I do use a blend of other spices in my pumpkin ale. For a 2.5G batch I use 1.25tsp of the blend, so for a 5G batch it would be 2.5tsp. If chai spice isn't too strong in flavor then 1T may be about right for 5-6 G.

I’d also recommend Ritebrew. I get mine double crushed, and usually order a couple grainbills at a time to save on shipping. Can order pounds and ounces. They do a great job.

I use the same blend of spices but not in equal amounts. For a 5G batch it would be 1tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp each of all spice and ground ginger, and 1/4 tsp each of nutmeg and clove. So, total 2.5 tsp spices but not equal amounts, some are stronger than others. To me the spice level in the beer...

I highly recommend a recipe on here for Da Yoopers Haus Pale Ale that I have made many times using my homegrown cascade. I use purchased pellet hops for the first hop addition for bittering since the IBUs are known, and use mine for the rest. A couple changes - I don‘t do the 5min and flameout...

+1 to using a bag rather than a strainer. I also do what NSMike does with a colander and collection pot. Works great and simplifies things.

+1 to the above and I'll add that you will need to either put a little mesh filter on the end of your auto siphon when ready to bottle/keg, or put the rum soaked nibs in hops socks before putting in the fermenter. I found otherwise the nibs can clog up in the siphon and/or tubing.

I do 2.5G batches using a 4 gal kettle on my stovetop. Most grainbills fit fine. The one or two that don’t I remove 4 to 6 cups water when strike temp reached and put in a small covered kettle while doughing in, then pour back in. After the mash is over and bag of grains removed, I have plenty...

I was nicely surprised to see him post the other day and thought it had been awhile for him too.

I wouldn’t ditch the grain bag. Maybe I’m missing something but how will the strainer make it possible to remove all the grain from the water at the end of the mash.

For #4, I aim for one pound of fruit per gallon. I’ve done this with raspberries and strawberry/rhubarb and gotten a nice level of flavor. But with blueberries, not so much. First attempt I couldn’t taste them at all, second attempt I used more but still could barely taste them. I thought of...

The color is beautiful! What type of berries were used?

In regards to the question about rice hulls, I make a 2.25G batch allgrain biab method. My total grain bill is 5lbs, with 6oz of that rice hulls, and I use 24oz pumpkin puree. You have less grains but almost 2x the pumpkin puree which makes me think you need more than 1/2 cup rice hulls. I'm...

You may want to include some rice hulls in the mash. I’ve made a pumpkin ale biab method a few times using canned purée pumpkin in the mash. One time I skipped including rice hulls and had a really hard time getting the bag to drain. Was a hot sticky mess.

@day_trippr , curious about how you add the hibiscus?

Thanks, one is 8ft, the other 7ft. I have them in my raised bed garden area and wanted something decorative. Plus I can easily reach the hops to pick at harvest time. The bines would love to grow higher and instead grow back downwards and wrap around themselves. I keep the obelisks out all...

Growing on an obelisk with twine wrapped around it. By the end now you can't see the obelisk anymore. This is a photo from five years ago early in the season. I used to have 2 of them.