Search results

I have read a few posts referencing discoloration and flavors left behind by previous batches. This is both concerning and confusing. In 15 years of brewing the only thing I’ve ever had that has discolored my bucket was iodine based sanitizers. I can’t recall ever having my bucket discolored or...

Whenever one of my customers asks this question I always give the same answer: are you initiating a secondary fermentation meaning are you adding a secondary yeast strain? Are you aging for an extended period of time? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then there is no reason to...

I hate hearing new brewers get discouraged when things don’t go right. I think this is the number one reason people drop the hobby before giving it a fair chance. To combat this, I teach a beginner brewing class which runs new brewers through an entire brew day and gives them hands-on in the...

If you asked this question ten or fifteen years ago I’d say move to all grain. Today the answer is a bit different. The quality of extract has made leaps and bounds in this short time, and with good brewing practices and a full wort boil I can’t tell a well brewed extract/partial mash beer vs an...

Very solid answers above. I’ll just add that the term whirlpool is a little misleading in the homebrew world. Most homebrewers aren’t setup to complete an actual whilrpool like a commercial setup can accomplish. With this being said, we can get close with things like the Ss Brew Tech brewmaster...

Mr beer is probably the last thing I’d recommend. When it comes to quality craft beer Mr. beer is a joke in the industry. The pre-hopped extracts are the worst quality available on the market, the yeast is usually dead, and due to poor brewing practices, it usually ends up full of off flavors...

I can totally get onboard with lazy. I’m probably the epitome of a lazy brewer. I like the method of soaking the bucket in hot water and PBW for about an hour then using a paper towel to wipe it out. That’s pretty lazy and efficient

Splashing is okay, but it is really the least effective way to introduce oxygen into solution. When I teach my beginner class I tell all my students that the goal is 8 volumes of O2 in solution for healthy cell growth. If you do the math, after we figure there is nitrogen, C02, and about 30%...

Sorry, I did not realize you were talking about a water softener. Using water softener. As mentioned above water softeners are not ideal for brewing. Definitely start with a good quality RO water or drinking water. I recommend avoiding distilled water for the same reason that you are missing...

I can see the benefit, but I’d be worried about using a trash bag in my fermenter. Many trash bags on the market have a scent added to them and I am not sure any of them would be considered food grade. We have to remember that alcohol is a solvent, and therefore will strip whatever chemicals...

I too am curious how you’ve brewed your batch sans a kettle... I would suggest visiting your local homebrew shop and getting setup with a good quality stainless kettle, burner, preferably a chiller, and a recipe which could be this coveted IPA you speak of. Usually a setup like this is going...

Congrats on your first batch being drinkable! As for the metallic taste, what did you use for sanitizer? If it’s iodine based, that could definitely lead to a metallic taste in your finished product. Others above stated water, and that could play a part too, though usually we will see a medical...

Forgive me, but I am unfamiliar with the beer. What type of IPA is this? Is it a hazy/juicy? At any rate, with that much movement I’d say the ends don’t justify the means. Usually when we cold crash we move the beer to a keg and bring it down rapidly to 35* F and add either gelatin or polyclar...

The first thing we look at when talking about water is what does your provided water consist of? Without knowing that variable it’s like trying to do algebra and only having half the equation. You really need to test your water and figure out the chemical and mineral content before trying to...

There are terrific responses above, and I applaud your advancement in this wonderful hobby. When new brewers take my class I always recommend the first two upgrades any beginner make are a kettle large enough to accommodate a full wort boil and a wort chiller designed to accommodate his or her...