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My homebrew kitchen and equipment setup.

Yep, the problem was that the external drain tube had a larger internal diamter than the pickup tube inside the keggle, which apparently prevented a good siphon. (Some fluid dynamics expert could probably explain why.) All I did was add a 1/2" to 1/4" reducer fitting to the end of the drain...

Damn, probably posted too soon. Noticed that the outlet copper tubing was larger diameter than the pickup tube in the keggle, which was hidden inside the hopstopper. Installed the original SS barb fitting and the outlet flow fills the inside diameter of the barb fitting. Headed to Lowe's to...

Testing my keggle's new ball valve and pickup tube operation and I can't get it to drain much below the valve body. On the outlet I first tried with a 90 degree copper fitting and short piece of tubing that extended just below the keg bottom. Keggle is up on a counter draining into a bucket on...

Thanks. I don't mind the various advice given. I'm as lazy as the next guy and if I can skip secondary, fine. But my refrig size limits me (1 bucket/1 5gal carboy or 2ea 5 gal carboys). I have put enough money into my setup that I don't want a new frig or two new 6 gal carboys leaving the 5...

I have the opposite problem - most recipes I see are for partial boils and I want to do 5 gallon boils. Where are you getting your recipes?

AHA! Thanks. So maybe with a second 5 gallon Better Bottles and two blow-off tubes, I can just ferment in the bottles and use the bucket strictly for bottling.

OK, little confused by some of the answers saying wait until the hydrometer settles out for consecutive readings, which one post says indicates fermentation has come to a halt. If fermentation has stopped, why move to a secondary fermenter? I thought that, even with a primary and secondary...

First off - I know a secondary is not needed but I want to have two brews going at once and my problem is my equipment. I have a fermenting refrigerator in an unheated garage (dual-temp Ranco-controlled) that is only big enough for one 6.5 gal bucket and one 5 gal Better Bottle (already owned)...

Okay. Feel better. Thanks for all the input. I enjoyed putting my equipment through its paces for my first brew and planning a second when I get a free weekend. Just have to pick something different this time around. (First was a Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale clone).

Thanks. I'm a little disillusioned at the knowledge of my LHBS. I can understand if they don't do this, or recommend their own tried-n-true methods. But I would think they would be a little more knowledgeable about other techniques.

Thanks!

Anyone know the height and width of a 6.5 gallon plastic carboy? I want to see if I might be able to fit two in my refrigerator as primary (only) fermenters. I currently have a 6.5 gal bucket and 5 gal plastic carboy to use as primary and secondary and I want to stop racking to a secondary...

I was talking to the clerk in another LHBS today and he was surprised to hear I was doing full-boils with extract. This seems to be the going reaction of those I meet. I've only got one brew under my belt and even though the first LHBS owner was a little taken aback by my plan, he still took...

Research the web for info on how to cut the top off yourself. If you think you would ever see a future use for either a Dremel (will work) or angle grinder (works even better), consider this as a reason to finally get one or the other. If this is the only keggle you will ever build, find the...

Thanks. I've been a little worried about differences between what my LHBS says and what I have read here but decided that his methods would at least work. I'm not sure my LHBS was keen on me going full-boil (but he was very helpful to adjust the recipe). On my first visit, his pitch was...

Figured to just scan and attach the recipe. Originally written for a partial boil, the hand-written notes are corrections made by my LHBS owner to adjust for a full 5 gallon boil. If you can't read, pm me and I will send a PDF file.

Thanks for the replies and here's some more info as requested. Early transfer based on LHBS guidance (weekendbrewer.com) which from all indications is a reputable store in the Richmond, VA area. Recipe also called for fermentation between 68 and 72 and to transfer when fermentation slows. I...

Joy over. :( Came home to see the primary fermenter had slowed drastically since this AM. While transferring to secondary and just about done, a fly fell in the secondary. :mad: Grabbed the clean turkey baster/sampler, doused with sanitizer being used for the stopper and airlock and sucked...

Thanks. Hope to brew many more. Interesting to see that the first reply was all the way from Ireland. Rather than obsess during the entire brew process, when all was going well I would sit in my chair and play Celtic tunes on my mandolin for my dog while drinking some Legend Brown Ale...