pokerfreak2
Well-Known Member
Once you have a moment to reflect, it would be really interesting to hear your "lessons learned". What went right? What would you do differently if you had a "do over"?
Anyway, congrats on what you have already accomplished. You are living the dream dude!
Bart, overall things have gone pretty smoothly but I will tell you that by puchasing 12 of the 115 gal fermentors instead of the original plan of 5-6 was a real good move. If we had bought 6, I would be rushing from fermenter to the Keg in order to keep up. As it is with 12 my beer is getting to sit in the fermenters for 3-4 weeks before kegging. (I attribute this to the reason the beers are being so well recieved.) Then I cold crash them for another 10-20 days before force carbing them. I built a 6 head carbination line that seems to be working as designed.
Also by purchasing 72 1/2 barrel kegs I have a good size pipeline and don't have to rush them. Most of my beers are clearing very nicely and are getting beautiful at the 5-6 week point. With the exception of My Rattlesnake IPA. It is still cloudy
Out of the 150 comment cards that have been filled out and returned all but a few have rave reviews. ( I will tell ya it's a rush to watch people ordering the beer you made and wanting to meet the brewer because they liked it so good. I have got to meet and visit with alot of people from all parts of the world already).
The most common complaint has been that the IPA is not hoppy enough. I designed these beers in Beer Smith and the IPA is 53 IBU. I thought that would satisfy the hop heads while not getting them sent back by the folks that didn't know what they were ordering. (the general public) I may pump up the IBU next brew.
One thing that went wrong was the feds sent back our licence to be refilled out because we put the address as 7701 Interstate 40 and they wanted it to say I-40. It cost us a month of waiting but that is our government at work for ya. I also have gotten a couple of beer showers so I am a little more careful when tapping a keg
Sorry for the long post, Ill try to upload a video next time.