Random Brewing Thoughts

[axeman91821]

So we're starting major house renovations in just over a week, including the kitchen. Looks like my choices for the next couple months are either springing for extra smack packs or going to the family restaurant to make my starters

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Best of luck! I'm a few months away from getting things going though it's just a side adventure for me so I'll still have my regular schedule as well, but I'm looking forward to it!

Getting the last of my equipment delivered tomorrow and then it's just waiting on TTB!

I'll make sure to post back on whether it was all worth it, though my circumstances are pretty unusual (though of course no two breweries have the same journey) so I'm not sure how everything will translate to others.

 

[Thorpe]

Stoked your finally starting! Learned a lot from your blog!

In case you don't follow via other means, blog post is live! I'm sure I'll be busy with the brewery's operations over the next few months, but I'll try to make sure to post a few things as I can about process and procedures for barrels, blending, and the like, and to also give any thoughts on the switch to commercial brewing in general.

 

[beeraroundtown1]

So we're starting major house renovations in just over a week, including the kitchen. Looks like my choices for the next couple months are either springing for extra smack packs or going to the family restaurant to make my starters

Hot plate? I got one for under $20 that I make mine on.

 

[SirDickButts]

after peepin the electric brewery's basement...i've learned one thing.
im doing everything wrong in life. EVERYTHING IS WRONG.

 

[JulianB1]

Thoughts on pitching US-05, S-04, and WLP 007 all at the same time for an imperial stout?

And yes, I know how dumb that sounds, but I haven't had a chance to go shopping anywhere I can get brew supplies, or make starters, so I'm trying to work with what I've got laying around.

 

[coldcrash1]

pitching US-05, S-04, and WLP 007

how dumb that sounds.

Why the sudden rush to brew? Don't you work at some university or other? You should have a few days to make a starter

Pitched simultaneously, one of those three sacc strains will outcompete the others.

What's the expiration date on the two dry packets? What's your target SG on the stout?

 

[WesM631]

If anyone wants 2016 Galaxy, hurry over to Yakimavalleyhops.com

I grabbed 2lbs

 

[axeman91821]

If anyone wants 2016 Galaxy, hurry over to Yakimavalleyhops.com

I grabbed 2lbs

Good looking out. I already have a couple lbs of Galaxy, but snagged some Mosaic, Motueka, and Waimea.

 

[SirDickButts]

I just found out my homie works @ DeGarde. I need bread for all this jelly.

 

[Vogt52]

I just found out my homie works @ DeGarde. I need bread for all this jelly.

Can I be friends with him too?

 

[JulianB1]

Why the sudden rush to brew? Don't you work at some university or other? You should have a few days to make a starter

Pitched simultaneously, one of those three sacc strains will outcompete the others.

What's the expiration date on the two dry packets? What's your target SG on the stout?

It was more because a buddy wanted to, but I actually talked him out of it and put it off until later.

 

[SirDickButts]

Can I be friends with him too?

if you want. lol

 

[TripleSixHoppia]

In case you don't follow via other means, blog post is live! I'm sure I'll be busy with the brewery's operations over the next few months, but I'll try to make sure to post a few things as I can about process and procedures for barrels, blending, and the like, and to also give any thoughts on the switch to commercial brewing in general.

Why even have a brewing system at that small of a scale? Have you thought about buying wort from a semi local place? Or doing an alternating proprietorship and taking the wort to your own barrel aging facility?

 

[Thorpe]

Why even have a brewing system at that small of a scale?

It's something I'm very familiar with and there will be plenty of other learning experiences, so going through all new equipment from the start wasn't something that I was interested in. It will also allow for this to easily be a one-man operation without taking up too much time.

For buying wort/alternating proprietorship, thought about, sure, but not considered seriously. I enjoy brewing so don't really want to buy wort. I'd also prefer to have everything done on my own system and not be subject to anyone else's schedule given that this is a small side project so my brewing schedule is based on my own timelines and not when something else is available.

At the end of the day, I got very lucky with the space and haven't had to put all that much money into this, so if I'm making a little bit of money -- which isn't far fetched without any debt and without any employee-related costs -- then I'm ahead of where I was homebrewing without spending too much additional time. I also get to work through plenty of ideas while going through batches faster since I'm not the primary drinker. It's also a platform to grow (the space I have could handle at least 5bbl at a time) should I choose to do so in the future.

Cheers!

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Why even have a brewing system at that small of a scale? Have you thought about buying wort from a semi local place? Or doing an alternating proprietorship and taking the wort to your own barrel aging facility?

It's something I'm very familiar with and there will be plenty of other learning experiences, so going through all new equipment from the start wasn't something that I was interested in. It will also allow for this to easily be a one-man operation without taking up too much time.

For buying wort/alternating proprietorship, thought about, sure, but not considered seriously. I enjoy brewing so don't really want to buy wort. I'd also prefer to have everything done on my own system and not be subject to anyone else's schedule given that this is a small side project so my brewing schedule is based on my own timelines and not when something else is available.

At the end of the day, I got very lucky with the space and haven't had to put all that much money into this, so if I'm making a little bit of money -- which isn't far fetched without any debt and without any employee-related costs -- then I'm ahead of where I was homebrewing without spending too much additional time. I also get to work through plenty of ideas while going through batches faster since I'm not the primary drinker. It's also a platform to grow (the space I have could handle at least 5bbl at a time) should I choose to do so in the future.

Cheers!

TripleSixHoppia you need to try Thorpe429's beers as they are among the best homebrewed saison / funky stuff I've had (up there with some of your stuff, Brandon's old stuff, Tonsmeiere', etc...).

Remind me when he is up and running commercially and the first two bottle shipper is on me.

 

[More Betterness]

TripleSixHoppia you need to try Thorpe429's beers as they are among the best homebrewed saison / funky stuff I've had (up there with some of your stuff, Brandon's old stuff, Tonsmeiere', etc...).

Remind me when he is up and running commercially and the first two bottle shipper is on me.

ISO!

 

[Gonzoillini1]

ISO!

Remind me when the time comes, still owe you that and some 10 Drops Coffee / Imperial Oak crowlers.

Cheers!

 

[More Betterness]

Remind me when the time comes, still owe you that and some 10 Drops Coffee / Imperial Oak crowlers.

Cheers!

Owe you a box as well! Will make sure to include some actual good beer between bottles of janky homebrew.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Owe you a box as well! Will make sure to include some actual good beer between bottles of janky homebrew.

Coffee / homebrew / and the occasional commercially produced beer sounds about perfect

 

[zer0]

Just getting back into brewing with my Braumeister Speidel 50L. Last time I used it was a couple of years ago and I remember being efficient and trying to fit in as much grist as I could.

So I made a recipe which calls for 15,5kg total grist, while Braumeister says the max would be 13kg. I can't remember for the life of me if I can actually push it this far or if it's gonna be a shitshow. I'd love to get 50 liters out of this batch and don't really want to lower the OG.

Does anyone have experience with a BM50 and know if this would work?

 

[SirDickButts]

Just getting back into brewing with my Braumeister Speidel 50L. Last time I used it was a couple of years ago and I remember being efficient and trying to fit in as much grist as I could.

So I made a recipe which calls for 15,5kg total grist, while Braumeister says the max would be 13kg. I can't remember for the life of me if I can actually push it this far or if it's gonna be a shitshow. I'd love to get 50 liters out of this batch and don't really want to lower the OG.

Does anyone have experience with a BM50 and know if this would work?

*looks up braumeister speidel 50L*

NOPE and will never have experience with it. LOL! too baller, fam.

 

[Newmoneyloons]

Giving up drinking alcohol for the next six weeks but still want to have something tasty/healthy beverage on tap. Anyone have any suggestions or recipes? Trying to stay away from high sugar soda.

 

[anteater1]

Giving up drinking alcohol for the next six weeks but still want to have something tasty/healthy beverage on tap. Anyone have any suggestions or recipes? Trying to stay away from high sugar soda.

I always had carbonated water on tap while I wasn't drinking, simple but actually pretty awesome. Add some cucumber, lime, mint, whatever. Kombucha is the ultimate beer substitute in my mind, but it would take new gear and some time to have a batch ready. One of my local kombucha places fills cornys though so you could look into that.

 

[beeraroundtown1]

I've made water kieffer before that was really good, similar to kombucha, just get the little scoby grain things, mix with some sugar, water, other flavorings you want, give it a couple days, then drink.

 

[Newmoneyloons]

I always had carbonated water on tap while I wasn't drinking, simple but actually pretty awesome. Add some cucumber, lime, mint, whatever. Kombucha is the ultimate beer substitute in my mind, but it would take new gear and some time to have a batch ready. One of my local kombucha places fills cornys though so you could look into that.

Thanks, I am going to play around with mint, lime and cucumber. Kombucha is not really for me. Plus no local kombucha places by me to fill 5 gallons worth.

 

[WesM631]

My wife loves that coconut water crap, so i've been doing some coconut coffee flavoring in 5gallons of water and carb'd to 20psi. She loves it.

 

[axeman91821]

I love being able to hit my kegged hoppy beers with a second round of dry hopping after they've been on a couple weeks to perk them up as they start to fade.

 

[JulianB1]

I love being able to hit my kegged hoppy beers with a second round of dry hopping after they've been on a couple weeks to perk them up as they start to fade.

Curious what you do for this. Put the hops in a bag in another keg and transfer via an out-out connector, or do you just release the pressure, open the keg, throw a bag in, and put it back on tap?

 

[axeman91821]

Curious what you do for this. Put the hops in a bag in another keg and transfer via an out-out connector, or do you just release the pressure, open the keg, throw a bag in, and put it back on tap?

The latter, I'm too lazy to deal with keg to keg transfers.