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The first time I tried all grain, I used a grain bag and did it 100% wrong. My OG was super low, had 100% attenuation, and the beer came out tasting like soap.

So I got these mad scientist's gloves. Now I can use fluoroantimonic acid. It kills everything.

@MaxStout Hey! Thanks for the hot tip on a pump thingy. That looks like something I could use. Probably solve half to five eighths of my problems.

@MaxStout I always use it diluted to the minimum strength. I still have most of a bottle to use, so I'm stuck with it for the time being.

I recently began using Star-San (3-4 batches ago). The first thing I dislike is the foam. It makes bottling a bit more of a pain in the butt, trying to keep things from running over. Second it's caustic. I burned the tan off my hands (yes, I have a tan - I live in SoCal) a few weeks ago when I...

@RM-MN So I would probably buy a grain mill (I've been looking at them anyway) but I'm not quite ready. Northern Brewer has the hand crank one but it strikes me as entry level and I don't want to be buying another one in 2 years. If I get a mill, that means I start buying grain in bulk and...

@hotbeer I'm putting 5 gallons in the fermenter. I tried a 6.5 down to 5.5 (or so) gallon boil a batch or so ago and still had low OG numbers. @jrgtr42 I may try batch sparging next time.

@bracconiere Next brew day won't be for a month or so. All my bottles and kegs are full. I will be using some of this stuff. Like I said, the book I have is unclear on exactly how to sparge. I think I know now.

@jrgtr42 I'm off by .008 to .022. Readings are taken after boil. From what I'm reading here, I've been sparging completely wrong. The books aren't really clear on this stuff.

@bracconiere If I keep 2"s of water above the grain, I'll leave a lot of water/wort in the mash tun, right? " WAIT!!! is your effec too HIGH, or low?" I didn't get it. Please explain.

@bracconiere I use a large strainer with sparge arms. That's all I have. @day_trippr I may be draining too slowly? That's a comfort. I have a problem with patience.

@day_trippr After I vorlauf (I don't speak German so I am just using the English equivalent) I do add sparge water to the mash tun as I drain off the wort. As a gallon drains off, I add a gallon from the hot liquor tank.

@day_trippr I have been only taking readings post boil. Are the OG numbers supposed to be pre-boil numbers? @Sam_92 I guess I have been leaving a lot in the kettle. Should I be straining the last of it and using a 6.5 gallon boil? I did that with a recent batch but the numbers were still low.

Is it realistic to hit original gravities as a garage brewer? I have never hit an expected OG. I hit my mash temperatures. The literature is unclear about wash process (since I don't know the proper term). After mash, we're supposed to pull off the water from the bottom of the mash tun and pour...

Oatmeal Stout hands down beacuse oatmeal stout is awesome.

I'm having a Capable Rodent Brown Ale, ABV 7.22%. 15 lbs 2 row, 1 lb 60L, .5 lb Chocolate Malt, 1 lb 40 L, 2 oz Willamette (preboil, boil, and finishing: .5oz. + +1oz. + .5oz.), 1 oz E.K. Goldings (@15 Minutes left) 1 oz. Centennial (@5 minutes). I'm pretty happy with it.

@rburrelli The guy I bought them from said he had one break while moving it. I can't imagine the mess. I guess the key is to be mindful of that at all times. I like watching the fermentation process, so I'll accept the risk.

So this question hasn't been asked since 2014 it seems. What's the best deal you've gotten on brewing equipment and, separately, what's the best thing you've gotten for free? I just got 2 - 6.5 gallon glass carboys for $50. I got a copper wort chiller coil for free pretty recently.

@DBhomebrew I'd buy six if I had space. @IslandLizard Yeah, it's going to sit in its little special fermentation cupboard until it's done this time.

Alright, thanks. I've had patience issues with other stuff as well. I always want to rush on to the next batch. I think I'll just buy another carboy so I can get that Oatmeal stout going that's next on the list.