Home brewing in Japan

[Fencdar]

For anyone that isn't watching the hops thread, I'm going to be making a bulk purchase of rhizomes this weekend. If you want to grow your own hops, PM me your order and address ASAP.

 

[Fencdar]

so I'm working on a fermentation chamber, and I need to figure out how to place my temperature probes. Most people recommend putting them in a bottle of water in the chamber, but that only works if the whole chamber is cooled, whereas I am directly chilling the fermenters. Leaving them dangling is asking for trouble, too, so I am hoping to find some thermowells to slap onto my fermenters. My search on monotaro and amazon only turned up some JPY3000+ glass 温度計保護管... does anyone have any idea where I can find a couple on the cheap?

Right now I'm thinking of getting some fine stainless tubes and getting someone to weld them closed at the tips, then run them through rubber stoppers.

 

[mpearce]

I am using a 6.5 gallon bucket. and it is about 68 degrees.

Does the lid fit tight on it? What yeast were you using? 68 is pretty high. It might have just attenuated out super quick. Do you normally use that temp? If so do you have any esters? Or alcohol bombs?

 

[mpearce]

so I'm working on a fermentation chamber, and I need to figure out how to place my temperature probes. Most people recommend putting them in a bottle of water in the chamber, but that only works if the whole chamber is cooled, whereas I am directly chilling the fermenters. Leaving them dangling is asking for trouble, too, so I am hoping to find some thermowells to slap onto my fermenters. My search on monotaro and amazon only turned up some JPY3000+ glass 温度計保護管... does anyone have any idea where I can find a couple on the cheap?



Right now I'm thinking of getting some fine stainless tubes and getting someone to weld them closed at the tips, then run them through rubber stoppers.

I tape my probe to the side of my carboy then cover it with a few layers of bubble wrap to keep the ambient air/chamber temp off of it. I only cover the probe though. Works like a charm for me.

 

[Fencdar]

I tape my probe to the side of my carboy then cover it with a few layers of bubble wrap to keep the ambient air/chamber temp off of it. I only cover the probe though. Works like a charm for me.

Are you sure it is consistently the same temp as your beer though? That's my biggest fear, but if that gets a decently accurate reading then I'll give it a try.

 

[mpearce]

Are you sure it is consistently the same temp as your beer though? That's my biggest fear, but if that gets a decently accurate reading then I'll give it a try.

If you know what you pitch at and then put the probe on it should read the same. I will see that then cover it and set my temp. As long as it doesn't jump temp too quickly any one way you are good. After all it will take time for the mass to uniformly level out temp wise whether you have the probe inside or out. One thing I like about it outside is it will change slower. It it is in the middle of the carboy then the cooler it heater will be working a lot longer to reach the middle. By then your temp will be too high or low and it will have to reverse to get balanced at your temp. For me it works great no problems and no off flavored. I can keep it within .3 C at all times.

 

[mpearce]

And it is just one more way to introduce bacteria into the beer. You have to sanitize it and all that and put it in your beer. I don't like that. Once I pitch I don't want anything to touch it.

 

[Fencdar]

And it is just one more way to introduce bacteria into the beer. You have to sanitize it and all that and put it in your beer. I don't like that. Once I pitch I don't want anything to touch it.

Ok, yeah. I'll try taping it to the side first.

 

[mpearce]

Ok, yeah. I'll try taping it to the side first.

Do you have a strip thermo on your carboy too? That can give you another check point.

 

[Fencdar]

Do you have a strip thermo on your carboy too? That can give you another check point.

Yeah but I don't trust those.


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[Fencdar]

Double post

 

[mpearce]

Yeah but I don't trust those.


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Actually they tend to be pretty damn good. But what I mean is you can see if both are reading the same. If so you should be good. If not then one of them is off and you can look into which.


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[Fencdar]

Last day to get in on the bulk hops pre-order. PM me ASAP if you want some.

 

[Altered7151]

Hello everyone, I know this is off topic for the post but this seemed like an active thread so I figured it would be my best chance for a response. I'm a homebrewer/beer geek in Yokohama for work. I'm free today (Feb 7th) after 12pm and was hoping to hit up some brewpubs and taprooms. If anyone is in the area and would like to meet up, it would be nice to not drink alone. First round it on me!

 

[OppamaBrendan]

Hope you had a good time! Which places did you end up visiting?

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

Hi Everyone. I made my first post over on the Bulk Hop Rhizome ordering thread and then found this thread. I had no idea there was such an active Homebrewing community here in Japan. I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Steve and I have been in Japan for about 14 years. I used to Homebrew back in Canada a bit, but have really gotten into it here. I live in Machida. I have been brewing here for about 5 years, and these days I am pretty much doing nothing but 10 gallon all grain batches and kegging with cornies. This year I am looking into growing some hops!

The information in this thread alone has been eye opening!

Really looking forward to learning from everyone, and meeting up sometimes to perhaps share some brews!

Cheers,

Steve

 

[Fencdar]

Glad to have you, Steve!

Where do you get your cornies? All the ones I've seen in Japan have been over 10,000 JPY, with the exception of the one I bought from Guzzibrew on here. I heard a rumor that you could buy them on Yahoo Auctions, but all I can find are Asahi/Kirin/Sapporo kegs.

 

[mpearce]

Hey Steve,
Welcome. You must have a house to be able to do 10 gal batches and kegging. Yes, there is a pretty good home-brew community here in Japan. Unfortunately you are not in Tokyo, there are quite a few of us there. What is it you do here in Japan?

 

[Fencdar]

Unfortunately you are not in Tokyo

He's in Machida-shi, which is just SW of downtown Tokyo, and still technically Tokyo (but not really )

I just ordered 4kg of candi sugar from hopandgrape.uk, because my last experience with them was so smooth... but the shipping was killer this time. It ended up at around 7000 yen. I really wish I could get estimates before purchasing there.

After comparison shopping on US, UK, and AU sites, it looks like the cheapest shipping is from AU. Does anyone know of any good sites there? I only know beerbelly.com.au.

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

I am only a 90 minute drive from Noda-shi I get up there every now and again. I do have a house, but actually can just barely do 10 gal batches on my kitchen stove. In addition to a house, I have a SWMBO and child, so for brewing purposes and apartment might be superior! As to what I do, I work in IT. What do you do up in Noda-shi Mr. Pearce?

About 4 years back, I wanted to get some better bottles. I ended up having them shipped from Australia. Since freight is based on volume and not weight I also had a metric crap tonne of cornies shipped along with them. I did buy a corny from Yahoo once for about 5000 yen. You need a keg? I'll give you one for all the work you are doing for the hop buy!

I make my own candi syrup using instructions I found on here. It works great and is cheap. It just takes a little time. I can make a batch while my mash is mashing away.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/20-lb-sugar-jar-yeast-nutrient-114837/

I love beer, and DIY so brewing is just the best hobby ever!

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

My Keg setup doesn't take up much space. Here are a couple of shots.

 

[mpearce]

I am only a 90 minute drive from Noda-shi I get up there every now and again. I do have a house, but actually can just barely do 10 gal batches on my kitchen stove. In addition to a house, I have a SWMBO and child, so for brewing purposes and apartment might be superior! As to what I do, I work in IT. What do you do up in Noda-shi Mr. Pearce?

About 4 years back, I wanted to get some better bottles. I ended up having them shipped from Australia. Since freight is based on volume and not weight I also had a metric crap tonne of cornies shipped along with them. I did buy a corny from Yahoo once for about 5000 yen. You need a keg? I'll give you one for all the work you are doing for the hop buy!

I make my own candi syrup using instructions I found on here. It works great and is cheap. It just takes a little time. I can make a batch while my mash is mashing away.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/20-lb-sugar-jar-yeast-nutrient-114837/

I love beer, and DIY so brewing is just the best hobby ever!

Very cool. If you are this way let me know and you can help me empty a keg or two. I am a headhunter for lawyers. While I live in Noda I work in Akasaka. So it is a long commute on the train. We are hoping to move into Tokyo later this year if all goes well. Please call me Michael by the way. I never thought of having cronies and carboys shipped from Aus. I go there every year but didn't know they ship by volume. Very cool. I haven't found the need for candi yet but interesting link, thanks for sharing. Haven't been brewing as long as you but I have serious compulsive issues so when I do something it is full on. SWMBO just loves it

 

[mpearce]

nice setup by the way.

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

Very cool. If you are this way let me know and you can help me empty a keg or two. I am a headhunter for lawyers. While I live in Noda I work in Akasaka. So it is a long commute on the train. We are hoping to move into Tokyo later this year if all goes well. Please call me Michael by the way. I never thought of having cronies and carboys shipped from Aus. I go there every year but didn't know they ship by volume. Very cool. I haven't found the need for candi yet but interesting link, thanks for sharing. Haven't been brewing as long as you but I have serious compulsive issues so when I do something it is full on. SWMBO just loves it

I think we are the same that way...go full on....and then onto the next obsession full on, but brewing is one that never gets left behind! My SWMBO loves the beer, but the full on has to be negotiated!

I would love to help you empty a keg or two!

 

[CB_in_Tokyo]

nice setup by the way.

Thanks! Much easier than a kegerator, but I would love to have space and authorization for a keezer!

 

[nachomancandysandwich]

Hi all,

I've read HBF for a while, but didn't realize there was an ongoing Japan thread.
I've done only 4 batches or so (extract w/ specialty grains for the last 3) with decent results. Just wanted to introduce myself.

Actually, I do have a question that maybe someone could help with...

I have visitors coming from the US in a few weeks and I was going to have them bring an 8oz bottle of StarSan with them. Should we anticipate any problems from customs regarding bringing it into Japan? I noticed many online retailers won't ship it to Japan. Anyone know if there's a legal problem?

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks,
//REW

 

[mpearce]

I think we are the same that way...go full on....and then onto the next obsession full on, but brewing is one that never gets left behind! My SWMBO loves the beer, but the full on has to be negotiated!



I would love to help you empty a keg or two!

Story of my life.


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[mpearce]

Should be no problem bring it in. I have brought it several times. I don't declare anything so they have no reason to open my bag.


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[CB_in_Tokyo]

Hi all,

I've read HBF for a while, but didn't realize there was an ongoing Japan thread.
I've done only 4 batches or so (extract w/ specialty grains for the last 3) with decent results. Just wanted to introduce myself.

Actually, I do have a question that maybe someone could help with...

I have visitors coming from the US in a few weeks and I was going to have them bring an 8oz bottle of StarSan with them. Should we anticipate any problems from customs regarding bringing it into Japan? I noticed many online retailers won't ship it to Japan. Anyone know if there's a legal problem?

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks,
//REW

Welcome to the forum. New here myself.

I have actually bought starsan in Japan. I don't anticipate any issues bringing it in.

 

[OppamaBrendan]

Its not customs that has a problem with star san its the airlines. As a hazardous material it isn't supposed to fly. 5 star chemicals (producers of SS) replied to my inquiry on the topic with a "You can't take it on a plane".

That hasn't stopped plenty of people from doing so, but just be aware that it could be confiscated. Don't put it in your carry on. Make sure the lid is on tight and consider wrapping duct tape for an extra level of sealing.