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ok this is the lesson I have learned: I batch sparge and use beersmith for my calculations for sparge amount. From now on I will add an additional amount (maybe .5 or 1 gallon) of extra sparge water then just stop when I reach my pre-boil amount. Thanks. Charlie

I was making a 4 gallon batch of pilsner (the big carboy won't fit in the freezer) a few days ago and ended up with less preboil volume than I wanted. I ended up with only 5 gallons and I know my boil off rate would make me end with about 3.75 so I added one quart of water before I boiled. Is...

I brewed last years 777 for the second time a few months ago. It tastes wonderful but is very cloudy. Here is the recipe: 11 lbs. pale malt 2 lbs. flaked rye 8 oz. crystal 20L .5oz columbus 60 min .5oz columbus 40 min .5oz amarillo 20 min .5oz cascade 10 min 1oz cascade 5 min .5oz...

I bought a bc from nb last week and had the same problem with the handle. I installed the handle then wanted to try a drill, but couldn't get the thing off for the life of me. I guess I'll cal nb and see what they can do. By the way, I was having 60% efficiency before I used this thing. The...

Thanks for the reply...It's nice to know that my tap is ok since it takes so long to dispense 9 gallons of water out of the fridge. I have been having 60 percent consistently throughout my 4 all grain brews. That's fine since it seems to consistent, but I would like to improve by focusing on...

I just sent two samples to Ward Laboratories. One was my tap water in Lexington, KY and one was filtered tap water from my fridge. I was extremely impressed with them. It was $15 per sample and the results were emailed to me the day after they received them. So here's the thing...I am no...

I have had this same problem before. The only time this happens is when the fermentation temperatures are higher than they should be. Now I put the carboy in a tub with a couple of two liter bottles of ice and just change them every other day. The temp usually stays around 62. Charlie

Johnoswald: I would be very interested in your mash stirrer. It sounds like it would be very cheap to put together since I already have a drill. Can you post a picture of it? Thanks. Taygel: It's nice to hear about someone else who mash's in a polarware pot, I was beginning to think I...

1.5 gallons might be an exaggeration, it's probably more like a gallon. The thing that irritates me is that this is the false bottom that is sold with this brew pot. It is completely flat just above the spigot. I assume a conical false bottom would work much better. To answer your question I...

This may seen like a stupid question to some people, but how else am I gonna learn? I want to mash in my pollarware 10 gallon brewpot with direct heat. If I mash with the false bottom installed a mash/water ratio of 1:1 would make the mash pure dough since about a gallon and a half of water...

Thanks guys for all of your replies. I have read in books to do an iodine test but I need to learn what to take out of the books I read and leave some comments alone. There have been suggestions that I use a space blanket, I am assuming they meant on the outside. I think it would work...

I was making a simple APA for my first attempt. I was mashing in my brew pot and for the first 10 minutes it seemed that the temperature was holding very well. After this, the temperature started to drop so I turned on the burner and started stirring. Well, I guess I had the burner on to...

Thanks for your reply guys. I did an experiment to see how much of a temperature drop I got with just the lid on and it was about 3 degrees every 10 minutes. The author of "The Joy of Homebrewing" also talks about making a box with styrofoam so I built that. Unfortunately I had to have a box...

My wife bought me (I guess that means I bought myself) a 10 gallon polarware kettle with spigot. I have never done ag before but I figure I will try to just mash in this pot. I also bought the false bottom. I have read in numerous places that mashing in kettles tend to have more problems...