SE Nebraska Group Buy Round 2

[bbrim]

Paid! Now I have yeast, hops and malt to last most of the year.

 

[davebstock]

I need to learn about yeast so I can stop buying it for each batch. That will be the next thing to find in my pile of brew books.

 

[BigRedHopHead]

I need to learn about yeast so I can stop buying it for each batch. That will be the next thing to find in my pile of brew books.

Just read the sticky under the fermentation forum on washing yeast. Super easy!

 

[tre9er]

Just read the sticky under the fermentation forum on washing yeast. Super easy!

Or read this and you might decide that washing isn't worth it (that whole blog is a great read, FWIW)

http://woodlandbrew.blogspot.com/2013/01/yeast-washing-revisited.html

I just ordered some items for a pure O2 setup for oxygenation yesterday. Knowing what I think I know now about yeast cell counts, this gives a lot of flexibility in handling yeast. I can make a starter (liquid), NOT make a starter (dry), re-use old yeast (either making a starter or straight re-pitch depending on amount of yeast and the beer being made), etc.

The easiest way to start re-using yeast is to sanitize some mason jars, rack off primary, then slosh around everything in the bottom of the vessel (to combine) and then pour it into your jars, seal, throw it in the fridge. Most 5g cakes will yield enough yeast for 4 subsequent batches. If they're not stored for extended periods of time, you can simply let them rise to room temp and direct pitch, no starter, no nothing.

 

[agentEhrman]

What?! You're not washing yeast?! Dude we need to hang

I know! I even have some jars and lids.. I have pitched on top of existing cake twice now (bigger bears of similar style) and that has worked well so far..

I just need to start collecting the few strains I use. I know commercial breweries are all over reusing it..

 

[Chriso]

You'd better be careful when you're pitching on top of bigger bears. I'd presume they'd fight back against you at some point.

 

[agentEhrman]

^^yes!

 

[davebstock]

Thanks for the info. Ive been too busy with obsessing over other details of brewing that I haven't got around to yeast. Ill be ready for next brew day. Looking at 2 weeks from now. Its way too far off...may have to try a week night brew evening before then...
....if anyone has a great wheat beer recipe, let me know!

 

[tre9er]

I brew at the spurs of the moment all the time. Guess I'm not that super calculated guy... that's why I love having software or formulas to help me put together recipes on the fly. Try the hoegaarden recipe from this site. Its pretty good if done right. Get WLP 400, oranges, etc and it's pretty easy.

 

[Chriso]

I go even simpler when it comes to wheat beer. 50% 2-row, 50% wheat, some rice hulls, maybe some CaraPils or Cara 10L, and then American hops - Cascade is great, Crystal is good, etc. - to about 12 IBU bittering, ~30 IBU including the later additions. Wyeast 1010 American Wheat or heck, just S-05 dry.

 

[BigRedHopHead]

Thanks for the info. Ive been too busy with obsessing over other details of brewing that I haven't got around to yeast. Ill be ready for next brew day. Looking at 2 weeks from now. Its way too far off...may have to try a week night brew evening before then...
....if anyone has a great wheat beer recipe, let me know!

I like the 3F's Gumballhead recipe if you can afford the amarillo hops. There are several versions of this recipe running around. I personally like it without caravienne and instead use aromatic and a bit of carapils.

http://brew365.com/beer_three_floyds_gumballhead.php

 

[Chriso]

That's a nice lookin' recipe. I have 6oz of Amarillo that I do want to use up while it's still mighty fresh. Hmmmm. Got that rollin' around in the noggin' now...

 

[davebstock]

Is the us-05 decent? For $3.30 each it would cut costs down.

 

[Chriso]

I've heard a few folks say they don't like S-05 - or they don't like Safale in general - but I totally dig it. S-05 and S-04 are my go-to keep-in-the-fridge yeasts. I do like me a bit of Nottingham once in a while, too. I even save my S04/S05 yeast cakes for re-use, too! That *really* cuts the cost down!

My experience is that S-05 will ferment smooth and clean as long as you keep it away from above the 70F mark. 64-68 seems to be the sweet spot with my past batches. But I do not exactly have the most scientific setup, and rely on general house temperatures / allow fluctuation.

 

[agentEhrman]

The US-05 is a champ. I've heard very few people put up any real argument pitting it up against liquid versions of the same strain. So, it's cheaper, you get way more viable cells per purchase, and it's the same strain! Do it!

 

[tre9er]

Is the us-05 decent? For $3.30 each it would cut costs down.

My house yeast. I save the cakes for many generations. Versatile

 

[BigRedHopHead]

05 = Greatness! 04 = The KC Cheifs (disappointing). My experience with S04 is it has to be fermented on the cooler side of the range (i.e. 60-65 degrees). When S04 gets a bit warm it throws off some serious esters that are not good. There is a couple of threads on here about why people hate/don't like S04 so its just not me. US05 on the other hand has always been solid performer. But when I want a spectacular IPA I tend to go for WY1056 as I believe it ferments a bit cleaner. )05 can also get fruity up around 70 degrees.

 

[tre9er]

05 = Greatness! 04 = The KC Cheifs (disappointing). My experience with S04 is it has to be fermented on the cooler side of the range (i.e. 60-65 degrees). When S04 gets a bit warm it throws off some serious esters that are not good. There is a couple of threads on here about why people hate/don't like S04 so its just not me. US05 on the other hand has always been solid performer. But when I want a spectacular IPA I tend to go for WY1056 as I believe it ferments a bit cleaner. )05 can also get fruity up around 70 degrees.

Wy 1056, us05, WLP001 are basically all the chico strain, from what I've been told, but you'll hear people having slightly different experiences with each. Psychological or not? I've only used 05. Always clean but I always control ferment temperatures too

 

[davebstock]

Sounds like the 05 will be a good yeast to use while getting brewing techniques down. I'll give it a shot on the next brew!

 

[user 148322]

New on HB talk. Does anyone ever do group buys on carboys?? I think it can be done. Or is there another preferred fermentation method that is easier to come by and affordable??

 

[tre9er]

New on HB talk. Does anyone ever do group buys on carboys?? I think it can be done. Or is there another preferred fermentation method that is easier to come by and affordable??

Ale pails work just fine. Also larger HDPE containers on eBay

 

[Stovetop535]

I am hopin we can get a group buy organized on the kegs. I really want a few more to use for force carbing mead, hard lemonade, and to lager in since they fit in my basement fridge so well.

 

[tre9er]

I am hopin we can get a group buy organized on the kegs. I really want a few more to use for force carbing mead, hard lemonade, and to lager in since they fit in my basement fridge so well.

Me too. Hard to keep pipeline with limited kegs. I like to condition in kegs but only have 3. If I had a few more I could move beers off yeast as soon as they hit FG and yeast health would improve for harvests. Frees up a fermenter too.

 

[freeokw]

Are we still shooting for March 2nd for grain pick up/distribution?
Thanks,
Keith

 

[dpatrickv]

Paid. I Didn't get an email and just now decided to check out this thread. My bad.

 

[tre9er]

Are we still shooting for March 2nd for grain pick up/distribution?
Thanks,
Keith

I'm hoping so. Order should be placed today if the vendor doesn't have issues with this storm (he's in KC). I've asked him to let me know ASAP when he has a delivery ETA.

 

[freeokw]

FYI
Regarding a group buy on kegs, This guy is located near Chicago and offers group/club discounts on orders over 30 kegs. His name is Scott Graves <[email protected]>
I have no cnnection to him other than being on his mailing list.
Here's a recent email I received from him.

Good news fellow home brewers

I will have a new shipment of 1600 cornies available in Mid March, pre-orders are being taken now, just email me and let me know how many to hold for you, It took me three months to be able to acquire, a load this size, and prices are skyrocketing, most brew shops and online retailers, if they have them are charging $60 and up, I'm going to be charging $55, plus shipping. Local Chicago orders are always available for pick up. So please include your zipcode for an accurate shipping quote . These will be coming to me pressurized already, so I will ship them to you that way and supply you a set of 5 new o-ring with each keg ordered a $5 value in its own right.

I hope this finds you and your brews all well.


The last lot I had this size sold out in under 8 weeks, and used cornies are disappearing at an alarming rate as our beloved hobby has become more popular in the last few years, Please order accordingly, and plan for the future as well.

discounted pricing is available on lots of 30 or more, and I'm more than happy to come to Chicagoland based brew club meetings to do sales there, just send me an email.


SWG

 

[tre9er]

OOF. I'm looking at about $40-45 each including freight from Florida.

 

[Chriso]

$55 per, before shipping? Noooope. Guess I'll stick to the kegs I have. If I run out, wellp, guess it's time to step up to sankey kegs instead?

 

[tre9er]

Paid. I Didn't get an email and just now decided to check out this thread. My bad.

No, that's mea culpa. I thought I had everyone on the email thread and left you off :smack:

SHould know by tomorrow on delivery date, but looking like next week. Snowstorm could cause a bit of a delay.