Search results

It does have handles on the sides. They make it both easier and more difficult to carry than a bucket (just a difference in where you grab it). I can take or leave the stacking and the conical-like bottom. The racking valve is really useful, though. No need to siphon to a keg or bottling...

I use a short piece of tubing attached to my kettle's ball valve with a siphon sprayer on the end. It works great.

I went with a brew bucket and don't regret it. Much like you, I don't intend to harvest yeast. Also, I don't like super hoppy beers or fruit beers (at least not enough to brew them myself) so secondary is a non-concern as well. Further, a conical is more to clean. Fitting in my existing...

If I remember correctly, Blichmann recommends letting the grain sit uncirculated for 10 minutes before starting the pump. I believe that this helps, though I can't provide any details as to why.

I doubt it too. I'm interested but at the same time, I'm not. My long-term plan is to get a direct fired RIMS setup going, so I might as well wait until that is more of a reality for me (well, it's really the wife who's stopping it for now).

I assume others have received the announcement email? I like the idea but would like to know if it can be directly heated and how much dead space there is under the false bottom. Also, I'd want to know just how well it can hold the heat. They'll be taking 1/3 deposits for early adopters. Link...

Personally, this is my hobby, and while I am a precise person that takes a more scientific approach to brewing, not precisely hitting a target doesn't particularly bother me. My OG is generally spot on, but the FG is more up to the yeast than me. As my experience has grown, though, my ability...

So, since my original attempt, I received one of these as a gift. Frustratingly, it has a small, deep scratch on the back. Apparently they're just cheaply made. Anyway, I am really happy with it. The lid seals rather well, though my tripel was a bit too much and some leakage occurred, despite...

If you're making a Belgian, you'll probably have better luck with liquid yeast, though.

You're better off rehydrating the yeast. Make sure to sanitize the container you're rehydrating in.

If it were a minor scratch, I wouldn't worry too much. That's a fairly large chunk of bucket missing, though. I'd replace it personally.

If you pitch two yeast packages, it will be fine. It's certainly better to make a starter, but your job for your first brew is to make drinkable beer. I think you'd be best served by keeping it simple. Add a new step each time you brew. Consider the yeast starter next time.

Personally, I tend to leave all of my beers in the fermenter for four weeks.

Brewing a big (strong) beer your first time is ambitious but not impossible. I'd suggest getting a recipe kit instead of following a recipe, though. Northern Brewer, Midwest Supplies, etc. are good sources. I also would encourage you to research yeast starters, but don't make one for your first...

I spoke with one of Five Star's chemists at the NHC a few years ago. If you're using tap water, use the diluted solution on brew day only. Star San reacts with the minerals in the water reducing its effectiveness. If you use distilled water you won't have the same problem but as it's used it...

I just scanned the thread and couldn't find whether or not you have temperature control. I know just about everything you read says to under pitch and ferment on the warm side, but I can tell you that hefeweizen is my thing and in my experience, a proper pitch rate and low (62-64) is the way to...

Looks normal. I had one that was pitted inside and one that was dented. Neither of those were acceptable to me. I received a third as a gift with a small but deep scratch on the exterior, which irritated me, but better than the other two. I asked SS Brewtech about it and they basically said that...

I like Zymurgy, the discounts, the fact that they'll lobby on our behalf, and the National Homebrew Conference is a lot of fun.

I attach a short piece of tubing with a siphon sprayer to the ball valve. It works well.

Either way, that's BS.