Guate Brewing

[nsaubes]

I will be ordering ingredients. Probably from Austin Homebrew. If we order some common base grains it might be worthwhile to share shipping on TransCargo.

I will definatelty be brewing more Pils this season so a Pils malt and very light DME are on the list.

Any ingredients that might be useful for you?

Curtis: I was thinking about getting a good bulk of base malt, plus maybe a couple specialty grains in a more moderate quantity (medium caramel + chocolate maybe)... I was actually checking the possibility of getting a 50 pounds sack of base malt... I think pilsen malt would do the job too for base malt, though I would prefer 2 row... Would you guys be interested in sharing the 50 lbs? Though you should know that the shipping within the US for such a weight is quite expensive: e.g. with Midwest it almost double the price... though the price for the 50 lbs sack without shipping is only 36$... Then I don't know if Austin is selling the whole sacks. Let me know if you're interested by the idea...

 

[Curtis2010]

Curtis: I was thinking about getting a good bulk of base malt, plus maybe a couple specialty grains in a more moderate quantity (medium caramel + chocolate maybe)... I was actually checking the possibility of getting a 50 pounds sack of base malt... I think pilsen malt would do the job too for base malt, though I would prefer 2 row... Would you guys be interested in sharing the 50 lbs? Though you should know that the shipping within the US for such a weight is quite expensive: e.g. with Midwest it almost double the price... though the price for the 50 lbs sack without shipping is only 36$... Then I don't know if Austin is selling the whole sacks. Let me know if you're interested by the idea...

I might be interested in that. Austin Homebrew offers inexpesive shipping w/in the US.

I will check into the details via AHB.

 

[Curtis2010]

I might be interested in that. Austin Homebrew offers inexpesive shipping w/in the US.

I will check into the details via AHB.

AHB list their 2-row at 1.45/lb so about 72.5 for 50lb. Dont know if they offer any price breaks on larger amounts, but their shipping is only $4.99 for orders over $100 and $6.99 if less.

 

[Patzaquel]

I don't know what happened to my last post, so I'll introduce myself here. I am very new to brewing and have very basic kit here. So far I have been making Woodfordes Wherry and Woodfordes Norfolk Nog from kits, and both have turned out very good, although after Gallo/Moza/Cabro/(insert GT beer name here), it's bound to taste good! I'm very excited to hear about other people brewing here, and where to get supplies. We all know about getting stuff here without bribing friends into putting it into their luggage when they come to visit. I've been here about 4 years and am still learning about where to get stuff and how to get it out here to the lake. We make a lot of fermented foods and herbal medicines, so I have an idea about some things. I was originally a chemical engineer, so brewing seems to be the next step, let alone to say one of the more enjoyable things to do with my education ;-) Now I will go back and have a good read of all the other posts to find out more about what I need to get hold of next. Cheers all!

 

[nsaubes]

AHB list their 2-row at 1.45/lb so about 72.5 for 50lb. Dont know if they offer any price breaks on larger amounts, but their shipping is only $4.99 for orders over $100 and $6.99 if less.

AHB doesn't seem to sell whole sacks, so you don't have any price breaks, but the flat rate shipping is pretty interesting indeed, so the tradeoff seems to be fair... I guess it would be almost the same, given that at Midwest one sack costs about 38$, but you have to add 39$ for shipping, which give us 77$... Yeah it's the same! Let's order from AHB. But how should we proceed? I guess we should make one single order right? Any suggestion?

 

[pacayaforhops]

We make a lot of fermented foods and herbal medicines, so I have an idea about some things. I was originally a chemical engineer, so brewing seems to be the next step, let alone to say one of the more enjoyable things to do with my education ;-) Now I will go back and have a good read of all the other posts to find out more about what I need to get hold of next. Cheers all!

Welcome, it seems great minds think alike... JK, in all seriousness though I also started out studying chemical engineering, but switched over to food tech engineering a couple of years ago (hopefully I'll be done by the end of next year), a few years after I started homebrewing.

Some of the knowledge gained in college has gotten me out of a pickle a few times, sometimes it's made me MacGuyver some stuff that didn't work out as well as I thought it would (my ghetto counter-flow chiller for example, which I'll get to work yet...).

All in all, considering my lack of funding, I think I've done well with what I have (hopefully if you can join us on 09/07/13 you can judge for yourself).

Good to have you on board, if you need any help, feel free to let us know.

 

[roastquake]

sorry, this just made me think of how much I love Guatemalan coffee, especially Antigua and Huehue. Ya'll should put that in a stout or porter!

 

[pacayaforhops]

I'll do that with a porter I usually make for the holiday season, It'll probably be Coban because of the aromatics though. I'll substitute all of the roasted barley in my previous recipe with ground coffee this year.

 

[Patzaquel]

I had a look through the threads, sept 7, but where? I may be able to make it, it will depend on business at the time. If you want some organic atitlan coffee from my land to try in your porter, let me know. Did anyone ever try a roasted amaranth or ramon nut in a brew? I saw about rosa de jamaica and maracuja, i was wondering about other easily available grains here.

 

[Curtis2010]

Welcome aboard Patzaquel !

 

[Curtis2010]

sorry, this just made me think of how much I love Guatemalan coffee, especially Antigua and Huehue. Ya'll should put that in a stout or porter!

Yes, a coffee porter I think's a fine idea...haven't brewed one yet but have thought about doing one w Diesledorf Kaffee (awesome coffee from Coban).

I have brewed a Chocolate Stout using cocoa powder from the highlands...it was delicious.

 

[Curtis2010]

I had a look through the threads, sept 7, but where? I may be able to make it, it will depend on business at the time. If you want some organic atitlan coffee from my land to try in your porter, let me know. Did anyone ever try a roasted amaranth or ramon nut in a brew? I saw about rosa de jamaica and maracuja, i was wondering about other easily available grains here.

Time is not set yet, but location is Cheers on calle 13 in Zona 10.

 

[Curtis2010]

AHB doesn't seem to sell whole sacks, so you don't have any price breaks, but the flat rate shipping is pretty interesting indeed, so the tradeoff seems to be fair... I guess it would be almost the same, given that at Midwest one sack costs about 38$, but you have to add 39$ for shipping, which give us 77$... Yeah it's the same! Let's order from AHB. But how should we proceed? I guess we should make one single order right? Any suggestion?

I am already putting an order together so can include the 2-row in that order. AHB will pack into seperate heat sealed bags on request so I am thinking break it into 10 x 5lb bags...this is easier to use and store and to divide up.

Not sure exactly what the shipping will be w Transcargo but will check. We can just allocate shipping costs based upon # lbs of grains taken (5 lb, 1 bag, min).

Work for you? Anyone else interested?

 

[nsaubes]

I am already putting an order together so can include the 2-row in that order. AHB will pack into separate heat sealed bags on request so I am thinking break it into 10 x 5lb bags...this is easier to use and store and to divide up.

Not sure exactly what the shipping will be w Transcargo but will check. We can just allocate shipping costs based upon # lbs of grains taken (5 lb, 1 bag, min).

Work for you? Anyone else interested?

Curtis: That would work for me but when I was thinking of the 50 lbs sack, I was thinking about sharing it... So if you still order 50 lbs, you would keep a share, right? I'm cool with 20-25 lbs... So if you're placing the order yourself I could deposit money (quetzales) if you have a bank account here in Guate. What do you think? Moreover, I was also thinking about getting some Chocolate, Black patent, crystal 10, crystal 60, 3 pounds each... Do you think you could add that to the order too?

 

[nsaubes]

About Transcargo's fees: I had checked with them, and they charge per volume, not per weight... They charge a minimum fee of 40$ if you are under 4 cubic feet, and beyond 4 CF they charge 12$/CF...

 

[hopbrad]

what do you all ferment in? i have been using the 5 gallon water jugs with a #10 stopper and airlock. so my batches are usually 4 gallons to leave room for fermentation and headspace. it would be nice to find something bigger

and what methods do you use to keep ferm temps down?

 

[pacayaforhops]

I usually use corny kegs to ferment, have a couple of blow-off hoses made for the sole purpose of using the kegs as fermenters, then I clean the beer and re-keg/force carbonate. For the longer drawn out funky stuff I use my old bucket fermenter.

The only time I keep tabs on temperature is when I'm brewing lagers and even then it's just for the first week, then I let it go and cold condition in the temp controlled beer fridge that I don't usually use the temp control on any more, 'cause my folks have veggies in it most of the time...

 

[Patzaquel]

Another question, did anyone try disinfection of equipment or bottles with MMS or ozone? I have been using MMS, then oven drying for bottles, which seems to be effective. MMS is sodium chlorite, used in meat industry for disinfecting carcasses without damaging flavour. I have an ozone generator here, which we use to disinfect our drinking water after filtration. Apparently I could put veggies in water and ozonate it to disinfect (I actually prefer to use MMS for this), I was thinking about trying the same with bottles. just wondered if anyone else had tried it.

 

[pacayaforhops]

Don't usually bottle any more, unless it's samples for that same week, so I don't usually bother sanitizing bottles any more (just soapy water and rinse with water). If I do need to sanitize a keg 'cause I'm switching to a different yeast, I use straight bleach and rinse with lots of water.

 

[rappyfreak]

Hey Curtis, I would be in for around 20-25lbs of base malt and 2 or 3 specialty grains. I found this place that might be a bit cheaper because it is in Orlando: http://www.heartshomebrew.com/

 

[Curtis2010]

Curtis: That would work for me but when I was thinking of the 50 lbs sack, I was thinking about sharing it... So if you still order 50 lbs, you would keep a share, right? I'm cool with 20-25 lbs... So if you're placing the order yourself I could deposit money (quetzales) if you have a bank account here in Guate. What do you think? Moreover, I was also thinking about getting some Chocolate, Black patent, crystal 10, crystal 60, 3 pounds each... Do you think you could add that to the order too?

Yes, I was assuming we would share the 50lb. Im Ok w placing the order and then sorting out the cash at the reunion. If you cant make it I can leave it w rappy or pacaya in the City. I do have a BAM acct. I need some specialty grains too so we can combine that as well. Once we know how much I can email TransCargo for an approx cost. I need to do a little recipe work to confirm how much I want. Will post in a few days.

I would ask AHB to package all grains in one box and other stuff in my order in another. I need some specialty grains too.

Im OK w about 20lbs...we can spilt up the rest and then place another order if this works out OK...reduces storage issues too.

 

[Curtis2010]

what do you all ferment in? i have been using the 5 gallon water jugs with a #10 stopper and airlock. so my batches are usually 4 gallons to leave room for fermentation and headspace. it would be nice to find something bigger

and what methods do you use to keep ferm temps down?

I use mostly use kegs for ferm and conditioning now. Use carboys for mead.

Living on the Rio Dulce temp control is more important for me. I use chest freezers w external thermostats.

 

[Curtis2010]

Hey Curtis, I would be in for around 20-25lbs of base malt and 2 or 3 specialty grains. I found this place that might be a bit cheaper because it is in Orlando: http://www.heartshomebrew.com/

Checked their price and shipping. Their 50lb bag is a less at about $50, but their cheapest shipping option to Miami is $25.38 = 75.38 total so only a few $ better. AHB flat rate shipping is hard to beat.

 

[nsaubes]

Yes, I was assuming we would share the 50lb. Im Ok w placing the order and then sorting out the cash at the reunion. If you cant make it I can leave it w rappy or pacaya in the City. I do have a BAM acct. I need some specialty grains too so we can combine that as well. Once we know how much I can email TransCargo for an approx cost. I need to do a little recipe work to confirm how much I want. Will post in a few days.

I would ask AHB to package all grains in one box and other stuff in my order in another. I need some specialty grains too.

Im OK w about 20lbs...we can spilt up the rest and then place another order if this works out OK...reduces storage issues too.

Curtis: sounds good to me! I live in the city, and it seems like rappy will be part of the order so I can easily coordinate with him. By the way we could upgrade to 60 lbs 2 row, as we are 3 people willing to get about 20 lbs each... And yes it will be a nice test, as I'm curious to see what are the costs of transcargo for grains... If it works great we could easily repeat the operation soon, as getting ingredients and brewing the beer leads to more struggle than drinking it, hehe!

 

[nsaubes]

what do you all ferment in? i have been using the 5 gallon water jugs with a #10 stopper and airlock. so my batches are usually 4 gallons to leave room for fermentation and headspace. it would be nice to find something bigger

and what methods do you use to keep ferm temps down?

I'm using the same system to ferment: salvavida 5gals bottle+stopper+airlock... Works great but yes, these are 4 gallons batches, 4.5 if you use a blowoff tube.
About the sanitizer: I use a vegetable cleaner that I buy at the supermarket, it's called Biocyde... It says it's made of salts of: Poly (hexamethylene biguanide) and alkyldimethil benzyl amonium. 16.40 gramos por 1000ml... This sounds like chinese to me but you guys know about chemistry... I would actually be interested to have your opinion about the product!

 

[Curtis2010]

Curtis: sounds good to me! I live in the city, and it seems like rappy will be part of the order so I can easily coordinate with him. By the way we could upgrade to 60 lbs 2 row, as we are 3 people willing to get about 20 lbs each... And yes it will be a nice test, as I'm curious to see what are the costs of transcargo for grains... If it works great we could easily repeat the operation soon, as getting ingredients and brewing the beer leads to more struggle than drinking it, hehe!

Ok w me. So, we order 60 lbs in 6 x 10 lb bags...this makes it easier to transport and store. Work for you guys?

I always order mine milled...you too?

What specialty grains do you want?

For me I like to keep some Carapils on hand and plan to brew a dark lager this season so could use some darker grains too. I will likely still order some Pils malt as well and some light DME? You guys?

I think we should make this 2 orders (or at leasts 2 packages...one base, one specialty etc) so that SAT does not decide it is a commercial order and jack up the duties...Ive never had that issue w TransCargo but have w other shippers when shipping lots of stuff.

 

[rappyfreak]

I would also like the split you proposed, base, carapils and some choc or other roasted malts.

 

[Curtis2010]

I'm using the same system to ferment: salvavida 5gals bottle+stopper+airlock... Works great but yes, these are 4 gallons batches, 4.5 if you use a blowoff tube.
About the sanitizer: I use a vegetable cleaner that I buy at the supermarket, it's called Biocyde... It says it's made of salts of: Poly (hexamethylene biguanide) and alkyldimethil benzyl amonium. 16.40 gramos por 1000ml... This sounds like chinese to me but you guys know about chemistry... I would actually be interested to have your opinion about the product!

I use the salvavida jugs for meads....these are usualy smallish batches anyway so works great and I can pick them up cheap...a local tienda used to carry another brand that folded so they have a bunch of old ones in storage.

 

[nsaubes]

Curtis: that works for me. About specialty grains I was thinking Chocolate, Black patent, crystal 10, crystal 60, about 3 pounds each..

 

[Patzaquel]

About the sanitizer: I use a vegetable cleaner that I buy at the supermarket, it's called Biocyde... It says it's made of salts of: Poly (hexamethylene biguanide) and alkyldimethil benzyl amonium. 16.40 gramos por 1000ml... This sounds like chinese to me but you guys know about chemistry... I would actually be interested to have your opinion about the product!

I went for MMS as it eventually breaks down into sodium chloride and oxygen and so little is used I feel it would have a negligible effect on taste. At that level it's safe for internal use (can be used to cure malaria in fact). Maybe I'm a little over cautious at the moment, I am very much a beginner. I'm not sure what the breakdown products of the biocyde would be, but it sounds a little too full of organic compounds for my liking (especially when it contains the word benzyl). That is just a personal opinion, and if you have been getting the results you want then maybe it's OK.