Any brewers in the Conway Area?

[estricklin]

I have twin Grand Daughters (my first Grand-Babies)that should be born sometime between Mid-January and Mid-March. God willing... I am hoping they will hold out until at least late February. They need as much time in the oven as they can get. As soon as I get word that they are coming I will fly home. I've been planning on hooking up with you fellas over the last year but the two trips I have made home have been bad ones.... My mom and dad both passed this year.

I will keep monitoring you Yeah-Who's and as soon as I get close to heading your way I will let you know. I would love to hook up and brew (and drink a few) with you Gentlemen! I still have a brand new brew stand, 2 - 30 gal Blichman kettles, Mash Tun and the works that haven't even been assembled yet. Would love to get with you guys to pick your brain while getting the system up and running!

Cheers Brothers!

We can work something out no worries. Sorry to hear about your parents, but congrats on the Grandkids!

 

[estricklin]

Merry Christmas from the Petit Jean! Gotta do in the in-law thing today.

 

[iblandford]

Merry Christmas!

 

[BowAholic]

Merry Christmas to you guys too...

 

[MoodyLane]

Well I received my Mr Beer kit as a gift yesterday around this time and I've already outgrown it. I just bid on a True Brew 5 gallon parts kit that hopefully I will get cheap. I'll eventually go all grain after tinkering a bit with extracts but for now going full grain seems a bit over my head. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

 

[BowAholic]

Well I received my Mr Beer kit as a gift yesterday around this time and I've already outgrown it. I just bid on a True Brew 5 gallon parts kit that hopefully I will get cheap. I'll eventually go all grain after tinkering a bit with extracts but for now going full grain seems a bit over my head. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

If you don't win the bid, let me know and I'll try to help you get what you need for 5 gallon batches... I'm brewing one right now... and I do it as simply as it can be done with All Grain...
Bob

 

[estricklin]

Well I received my Mr Beer kit as a gift yesterday around this time and I've already outgrown it. I just bid on a True Brew 5 gallon parts kit that hopefully I will get cheap. I'll eventually go all grain after tinkering a bit with extracts but for now going full grain seems a bit over my head. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Got lots of tips and tricks on how to save some $$$ on equipment, so that you can spend it on grain! The True Brew equipment kits, are in my opinion, the absolute best. Their ingredient kits, are also very good.

Going all grain is not as scary and complicated as you might think. I would say that getting your fermentation process down is more important though; things like temperature control play a much bigger role in the taste of your finished beer.

Where in this great state do you call home?

Welcome to the hobby, this forum, and our little thread. This rabbit hole is deep, you were warned as I was not!

 

[MoodyLane]

Well I lost the bid, but I'm putting together my own kit. I'm headed to Lowes to get my food grade buckets and gasketed lids and some tubing. I have a $50 gift card for my birthday this year from there so I may get either 4 or 6 buckets. Got a few S bubblers coming from eBay and a brewers kit that has an auto siphon, thermometer, hydrometer capper and assorted other things. Other than some odds and ends I should have a good start. I think for my 2nd batch I'll try a True Brew extract/grain kit to get more comfortable. In sure if i saw how all grain brewing was done I wouldn't be so nervous. Oh I'm over here in NEA near Jonesboro.

 

[BowAholic]

sounds like a good start...

Eric and I live near Morrilton, but I have a buddy that is from your area, and he is in Conway now. When the weather is better you can sure come watch or brew some with us. I brew 3 or 4 times a month since I retired.

 

[estricklin]

Well I lost the bid, but I'm putting together my own kit. I'm headed to Lowes to get my food grade buckets and gasketed lids and some tubing. I have a $50 gift card for my birthday this year from there so I may get either 4 or 6 buckets. Got a few S bubblers coming from eBay and a brewers kit that has an auto siphon, thermometer, hydrometer capper and assorted other things. Other than some odds and ends I should have a good start. I think for my 2nd batch I'll try a True Brew extract/grain kit to get more comfortable. In sure if i saw how all grain brewing was done I wouldn't be so nervous. Oh I'm over here in NEA near Jonesboro.

Your off to a damn good start! Your invited to brew with me anytime, although I realize the drive to "God's Country" is a bit much just to brew.

I use 5 gallon buckets as well, although I just buy the white ones from Wal-Mart, or from the doughnut shop for 2 bucks. Here is a thread on the topic that I posted in very recently, it may help you:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=566083

TRY, not to drown Arkies!

 

[MoodyLane]

Well I'm back from Lowes. I ended up with 3 5 gallon food grade buckets, some tubing and a rubber mallet for seating the lids. Cost 14 cents after using what was left on my gift card. I got one bucket for primary, secondary and priming. Is anybody bottling in a large container to carbonate? 5 gallons worth of bottles is a bit pricey at the moment and I really would like to have a large container without spending a fortune on a keg. Anyone have any ideas? BTW we are floating over here and southwest AR had a few tornados earlier..

 

[BowAholic]

Well I'm back from Lowes. I ended up with 3 5 gallon food grade buckets, some tubing and a rubber mallet for seating the lids. Cost 14 cents after using what was left on my gift card. I got one bucket for primary, secondary and priming. Is anybody bottling in a large container to carbonate? 5 gallons worth of bottles is a bit pricey at the moment and I really would like to have a large container without spending a fortune on a keg. Anyone have any ideas? BTW we are floating over here and southwest AR had a few tornados earlier..

you just need a couple of cases of bottles... save them as you try new beers and ask friends for empties... it doesn't take long.

 

[hawgwild81]

you just need a couple of cases of bottles... save them as you try new beers and ask friends for empties... it doesn't take long.

^^^ +1 you'll have cases of bottles in no time.

 

[MoodyLane]

All of my friends either drink cans or twist bottles. I wish I had all the bottles of craft and German brews I've drank over the years.. After seeing all the stuff I've bought to upgrade, my wife said she can see this is going to be an obsession

 

[BowAholic]

if you were closer, I'd send you home with a few bottles... cleaning and removing labels is a PITA, but I managed to save a couple of hundred. I mostly keg now, but send a few beers home with friends and family.

 

[hawgwild81]

All of my friends either drink cans or twist bottles. I wish I had all the bottles of craft and German brews I've drank over the years.. After seeing all the stuff I've bought to upgrade, my wife said she can see this is going to be an obsession

You can also check craigslist. I see people selling/giving away bottles on there. I primarily keg too. I just keep a few cases on hand to bottle my big beers and sours.

 

[MoodyLane]

Yeah I'd tried removing labels before.. Sheesh. I've seen some cleaner/label remover stuff but seemed a little pricey. I may just do some saving and buy bottles for now and keg later. There's a store near me that sells brewing supplies so I need to check them out first.

 

[BowAholic]

Yeah I'd tried removing labels before.. Sheesh. I've seen some cleaner/label remover stuff but seemed a little pricey. I may just do some saving and buy bottles for now and keg later. There's a store near me that sells brewing supplies so I need to check them out first.

not hard to do at all... just buy a wash tub or even use a bucket...soak them over night in an oxyclean mix... most labels just slide off... any that want to stay on... just leave 'em.

Sounds like you need to introduce your friends to Abita, Sam Adams, and New Belgium... great bottles and some good beer too. :rockin:

 

[yeahfairly]

Ha.... I will be back in the State for probably 21 to 28 days in the February/March time frame... I'll have about 4 cases of good SN, Guinness and Founders bottles if anyone wants them.... I could produce a lot more than 4 cases in 28 days....... but I buy a lot of canned beer too....

 

[estricklin]

I don't even use soap anymore, just rinse them, sit e'm by the sink until I get a dozen or so, then soak them for anywhere between an hour or overnight, labels come right off especially a little steel wool. If it takes more than 15-20 seconds to get one off, in the trash it goes.

 

[estricklin]

Here is a thread I've been reading for a while Bob,

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=155782

I can't decide if it would be better to solder a nut, or nipple on. Sure hope I get the spa panel at a decent price. I also seen this on amazon while looking for stainless 1 inch nuts:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146L1NKE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Everything needed less the spa panel, and a 3 dollar heat sink for the SSR for very simple heat element control.

 

[estricklin]

Never mind, why mess with a nut when for the same price you can get a coupling?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K0D6ZS8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I meant to say coupling in my above post, not nipple. Geez you think workin in the oilfields going on 11 years I'd know something about pipe fittings.

 

[BowAholic]

I'm waiting to see yours... LOL.

 

[estricklin]

A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of OTHERS. haha

The Arkansas River is at it's 4th highest crest at Morrilton since record began in 1927.

 

[iblandford]

I've got a question regarding fermentation. I'm going to try and brew a banana vanilla stout soon using a Bavarian wheat yeast. From what I've looked up, it needs to ferment at a higher temperature, around 80-82? How much will the fermentation temperature affect the final product. I've fermented everything going else I've brewed at 70-72. What's the best way to keep the carboy heated? I've seen the heating pad type heaters, but are they very effective? I've been thinking about looking for an old mini fridge I could transform into a temperature controlled fermentation chamber some how. Maybe put a couple small fans computer fans or something in it to cool and heating pads or something on the walls to keep it warmer? What do yall think?

 

[estricklin]

If your looking to get some strong estery characters out of it, and you don't have temperature control then try and sit it near a heating vent in your house or something. Wrapping a blanket around it will help a tiny bit, as fermentation does generate some heat.

Most of us, find that for temp control we prefer a small-large deep freeze, and we use an STC-1000 (which you can buy for less than 20 dollars) to control the temperature with. The cooling side of it is connected to the plug in of the deep freeze, and the heating side would be connected to a light bulb or a space heater. There is a pic of my STC-1000 that I used to temp control a kegerator with in this thread. If you buy one, I can help you flash it to read F instead of C if you like.

I'm sorry but that Bavarian Wheat yeast is one of the few I haven't used, at least that I can remember, so cannot give you any advice on what temperature to ferment it at. I would think that room temp would be fine though. For most yeast, room temp is a no no. 64-67F is generally preferable.

Edit:

Oh and believe me when I say, temp control plays a bigger factor in the taste of your beer, then pretty much anything else.

 

[iblandford]

Thanks for the advice. I will look into getting a deep Freeze.

Another question I have is about water. I know it's important to have good water, but what kind of water do you all use? I buy nestle pure life water and brew with it, but have considered getting a water filtration system if it is worth it. I know you don't want a rodi system, but I've seen others. Didn't know if just plain tap water would leave any unauthorized desired flavors.

Oh, and my Irish red should be ready to drink! If anyone would like to try it. I may try to brew the banana vanilla stout this evening if I get around to it! And I have a Belgian golden ready to bottle!!

What do you all have planned for upcoming brews?

 

[BowAholic]

Thanks for the advice. I will look into getting a deep Freeze.

Another question I have is about water. I know it's important to have good water, but what kind of water do you all use? I buy nestle pure life water and brew with it, but have considered getting a water filtration system if it is worth it. I know you don't want a rodi system, but I've seen others. Didn't know if just plain tap water would leave any unauthorized desired flavors.

Oh, and my Irish red should be ready to drink! If anyone would like to try it. I may try to brew the banana vanilla stout this evening if I get around to it! And I have a Belgian golden ready to bottle!!

What do you all have planned for upcoming brews?

I live about 15 miles north of Morrilton and use the local tap water. It comes from Lake Brewer. From every test I've seen I just add a little Lactic Acid, Campden, and Calcium Chloride. It made good beer before I started adding things and it makes good beer now...

Your beers sound great... I had a friend from Conway over yesterday and we brewed a Red IPA and my wife's Yellow (6.5%) beer... :rockin:

My 35 year old deep freeze has 5 buckets fermenting in it right now...

 

[estricklin]

I believe people tend to focus on water WAY too much. There's 99 other things that will impact the flavor of your beer in more significant ways, than if you brew with decent tasting tap water. I've tried many different methods, and I have been using tap water with a campden tablet added to remove chlorine for years. I adjust my pH with some lactic acid or brewing salts as needed. Here, I usually need a small amount of lactic, or nothing at all.

Basic Brewing Radio has some podcast episodes where they blind taste test different brewing salt additions the results are very interesting. Which reminds me, The Brewing Network also has loads of archived free podcasts, really good info too. Basic Brewing is one of the most popular brewing podcast in the world, and it's recorded here in AR!

I LOVE Irish Reds, is an understatement. I'm still working on my electric setup so brewing is on somewhat of a hold at the moment, I would like to brew a celebratory beer when this thread reaches 20,000 hits, which should be soon! Any name or recipe suggestions are welcome.

I ordered some parts for my electric BIAB setup, most of them from China, last night. I spent less than 20 bucks and got everything less the 220v supply stuff (like the GFCI and wire) and heating element for the electrical part of it. I decided to just use a cheap $9 LCD screen and a $.20 rotary encoder (for a knob/switch) to work as a menu/display for the control. The system will be quite simple, basically it just controls the heating element to a desired temperature, and the different modes (boil, strike etc) have the option of setting a timer, at which the end of an alarm goes off. The temp probes were $1.50, the Solid State Relay was $4.00, I also ordered extra stuff such as 100 white LEDs, pin headers, capacitors, wires and some various other things I didn't really need. haha

Everyone stay cool........I mean warm..........I mean dry...........I mean........something!

 

[iblandford]

Well....tried .you Irish red for the first time today. It tastes good, but not much head. It's not flat, but what can make it have a small head? It's been bottled for three weeks.

Also, got the banana vanilla stout brewed late Friday evening. Saw some activity in it late this morning. I added dehydrated bananas and a vanilla bean to the primary fermenter just to see what it does.

What successes and failures have you all had with adding things to the fermenter?