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Just put to bed a 2g batch of porter. Used the grain basket that I got from Amazon, despite the very fine mesh it did a great job in the mash; 1.040 preboil and 1.065 going into the fermenter. Used a whole packet of Notty on it, because 1) didn't feel like vacuum sealing the remainder, and 2) will be a nice big starter for whatever I brew next. Going to use the same basket on the next 5g brew for hops, possibly.
 
Been working on a cream ale recipe last night and today. Just need the flaked corn and some carapils, have everything else. I brewed one a long time ago when I was still doing extract and bottling; it was okay, but I know a lot more now (most of the time). Doing this one very simple, pilsner/flaked corn/carapils; 9lbs pilsner/2lbs flaked corn/.5lb carapils. Should be a nice lawnmower beer.
 
Got my strike water measured and salted, sparge water measured with the sous vide ready to ride. Grains milled.

Starting a strong bitter at 5am est on my weird mid week weekend.
Using my sous vide to maintain sparge water temp. Why the heck didn’t I think of that? Brew day I’m usually going back and forth from kitchen stove to garage adjusting the stove burner to try to get the timing just right.
 
Using my sous vide to maintain sparge water temp. Why the heck didn’t I think of that? Brew day I’m usually going back and forth from kitchen stove to garage adjusting the stove burner to try to get the timing just right.
The elements in most wands at best have a use life of 2ish years from what I've read elsewhere. I'm getting my money's worth worth my cheap one
 
The elements in most wands at best have a use life of 2ish years from what I've read elsewhere. I'm getting my money's worth worth my cheap one
I've had my Anova for a really long time and it's still going strong. I won't say I use it a ton though, probably once a month.

I did give it a try maintaining mash temperature with BIAB once. I put it outside the bag to keep the grain out of it. It worked out but in the end not any better than wrapping the kettle in a sleeping bag so I didn't go back to it.
 
I've had my Anova for a really long time and it's still going strong. I won't say I use it a ton though, probably once a month.

I did give it a try maintaining mash temperature with BIAB once. I put it outside the bag to keep the grain out of it. It worked out but in the end not any better than wrapping the kettle in a sleeping bag so I didn't go back to it.
I'd be wary just from the sugar content and who doesn't have a sleeping bag or a few blankets laying around? I've got a cheap VPcok (hilarious name, I know) that I use about one a week outside of sparge water (so all in, twice a week typically).

I just got lazy when I got my brewzilla. Woke up, started hearing to strike temp and thought "why can't I do this with the sparge? " and BAM. my chicken and beer have both been super easy since then
 
Previously mentioned Strong Bitter, doing is thing.
 

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Did my first batch on the brewzilla today. My efficiency was crap, but that's what I figured. Estimated og was 1.055, actual was 1.040. Tested with 3 separate hydrometers and 1 cheap refrac at a sample temp on 77°f.

Oh well. All old ingredients from before my hiatus, hence the name Stale Ale/Stale Pale.

Either way, I'm just happy to be back at it, and the efficiency issue will just need tweaks. Also got to make some room in the hop storage part of me freezer. All in I added just enough magnum for 45 ibus at 60 and 2oz each Citra, El Dorado and moutere which was a combo I had been planning on before buying a house and letting 2 years get by me.

Feels good.

P.s: I know the issues with the hop spider, looking into better methods there as well.
IDK how you transfer to the fermenter, but one recommendation would be to put the the hops loose into the boil then place the racking cane into the strainer to transfer once cooled.
 
Does this count for brewing? My 1st shot at Lemoncello. Luckily Texas sells 190proof. Calculation says I should get 10-750ml bottles from 1.75l 190proof, then 1.75l simple syrup and then cut that to 23%. Used 24 organic lemons but have a feeling I'll need extract for a stronger flavor.

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IDK how you transfer to the fermenter, but one recommendation would be to put the the hops loose into the boil then place the racking cane into the strainer to transfer once cooled.
I've been using the recirc arm and the pump.

I did run my second batch on it and just threw the hops in loose. I know some people had issues with that clogging the pump, but I didn't have any issues. I think in the future I'll keep it loose, but for anything heavily hopped I'll just whirlpool it manually for a minute before kicking on the whirlpool arm. I've been attaching it anyway to hands free stir the wort past the IC anyway.

I'm not sure if they worked out the pump clog issue (haven't had a problem yet) but being careful never killed good beer
 
Because I'm a bit bored today, brewing a 2.5g batch of the same cream ale I did yesterday; this one will go on Lutra instead of Notty, for a bit of an experiment. Also I want it done faster; it smelled so good on the boil yesterday, and the yeast farts coming from the blowoff bottle in the ferment fridge smell divine. Lutra can ferment in the house, so I might have this one ready to tap by next weekend.
 
Split Batch Saturday. a Jalapeno cream ale based on Sundowners recipe and a Fiery Hell (Surly) attempt. Just did a mini mash with the corn and Vienna to add after I split off the helles. the base beer is in the BK, almost done. After, I split, add the mini mash, I plan to boil the jalapeños And chill the cream ale. first time doing a split like this so looking forward to seeing how these come out.
 
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