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The safest way to ensure the fermentation was done, and bottle bombs would not be created, is to take a reading when you think it's done, and then another 3 days later. If there is no change, bottle! Given your current situation, you could do what I did the first few batches: put the bottles...

yep, do a shorter boil (or as has been suggested elsewhere and by John Palmer) boil 1/2 DME at start and other half with about 20 minutes left in the hour boil. As for hops, be sure to boil the hops for the full time suggested (probably 60 minutes for the bittering hops). Also, if you are...

pardon these basic questions, but just so we all know: 1. you boiled the water before pitching to starter? 2. the water was sufficiently cooled before adding the yeast? 3. was the yeast relatively fresh/had been refrigerated? Otherwise, it should have fired off some krausen/activity...

It's intruguing, but not big enough for any beer which might produce major krausen. They need to make it in a 7-gal size for a 5 gal boil of a high-gravity beer. I do like the wall mount aspect. I'd also like to see how the valve/parts hold up over time. No, I wouldn't try it unless it was a...

I see the comment about Hefes, but perhaps consider this: a wheat IPA. I have a friend who makes one, and it kicks ass. Not fruity like some hefes, just a big IPA with an interesting character from the wheat malt. Kind of a hoppy weizenbock. Of course, you can do like all micros are doing...

Thanks! That looks great and good head on it, too. I look forward to making this once I knock out a couple "warm weather" beers. It's sweltering here in Washington, DC. Nasty stuff. Appreciate your sharing, and once I make this, I'll let you know how it turns out. I'll be batch sparging, so...

I always thought an alcohol booster was someone who supports the consumption of alcohol through money donations :cross:

I hear ya. My last brew day, I invited people to help while I was brewing. Sort of went with the potential interruptions, including them in the process and asking people to help out (mom, watch for boil-overs, dad keep stirring, neighbor, help with the sparge please). This way, the...

Nope, all should be just fine. Racking it may have "awakened" the yeast--if your transfer was a little rough, oxygen reintroduced, made yeast happy and active--something like that. Quite normal if not an every brew occurance. As others have said, once the bubbling stops again, take a reading...

good advice! Cheers and happy brewing.

I just fashioned an immersion chiller with 25' copper. Does anyone know if it will make a difference whether I more tightly coil the copper, thus making a taller and slimmer chiller, or a shorter, wider one, or any other configuration? FYI this will be placed into a 20-25qt metal brewpot which...

Andecks (spelling) monastery and brewery is a good stop (at least it was 21 years ago when I went). The best is just stopping in small towns and drinking what the locals drink, which I have found is usually what the town brewery is making that time of year. In my experience, you might have two...

I defer to those with more experience. I don't cold-condition anything. Clarity is not important to me, just my thang. I like a hearty, chunky, hazy, unfiltered mess of a beer! I want dinner and drinks all in one bottle.

I can answer the bottling part---no need to immediately refrigerate even though you cold conditioned the beer. Once everything drops out of suspension in cold conditioning, it will stay out of suspension. Assuming you gently siphon when bottling (or by other means do not disturb the trub)...

you should be just fine. I'm assuming you batch-primed, so you may waste a bit of initial carbonation as the yeasties start eating the priming sugar in your bottling bucket, but if it's only 24 hours, I wouldn't worry a bit. If you were conscientious about sanitation when bottling, and you...

Welcome, welcome! I've traveled around Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales; loved them all. You all live in beautiful places. Enjoy the brewing.

First, good luck, you'll do great it seems, based on your thoroughness. From my own experience, I find these things helpful on brewday cause I'm kinda slow:) 1. I still keep a checklist handy which covers step-by-step what I am going to do, even though I know the process well. It looks kinda...

Hi, I've never used a filter. I whirlpool the wort before siphoning into primary (6.5 gal carboy) and then later on rack to 2ndary (5-gal Better Bottle), and ends up great for me. Not too much junk in primary, mostly gone when transferred to 2ndary, so nice bottles with just a little sediment.

Hello. Since I just joined up here yesterday, let me say welcome! I'm in upper NW DC, so real close to MD. (hell, anywhere in DC is close to MD for that matter). Cheers!

Amen to you all! Lately I've been seeing all signs in my future pointing to AG brewing. Then I read a post like this and remember: ****! Enjoy the beer, man. (thinking Field of Dreams kinda James Earl Jones voice in my head). Don't know if/when I will go all grain, but thanks for the...