To all you first time brewers!!!

[1977Brewer]

I have yet to receive my berry punch and I haven't needed help (yet).

 

[unionrdr]

Be careful what you wish for...

 

[BuffaloJohn]

I'm relatively new here and just transitioned to all grain (about 4 batches ago). One of the things that is continuously running through my head is the aeration process. I'm deathly afraid that this is one of the best times to contaminate your wort. I originally started with a .5 micron stainless stone and an air pump. I dropped the stone in sanitizer, removed it a couple minutes later and then tried to get air through it - didn't work so well. I have since purchased an O2 tank and use it inline with a filter to the stone. I sanitize the stone in the toaster oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 F. I still worry about the tubing picking up bacteria and sanitize that with iodephor. All in all, this is the process that makes me most nervous. I'd love to hear what others do for aeration and any improvement suggestions.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I'm relatively new here and just transitioned to all grain (about 4 batches ago). One of the things that is continuously running through my head is the aeration process. I'm deathly afraid that this is one of the best times to contaminate your wort. I originally started with a .5 micron stainless stone and an air pump. I dropped the stone in sanitizer, removed it a couple minutes later and then tried to get air through it - didn't work so well. I have since purchased an O2 tank and use it inline with a filter to the stone. I sanitize the stone in the toaster oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 F. I still worry about the tubing picking up bacteria and sanitize that with iodephor. All in all, this is the process that makes me most nervous. I'd love to hear what others do for aeration and any improvement suggestions.

with higher gravity batches, I use a disposable O2 bottle with a stone. I boil the stone before oxygenating and use sanitizer on the hose and stone before it goes in the wort. for lower gravity batches I do the big No-No: I pick up the carboy and shake the floccin' hell out of it. if it's a batch going in my conical, I use the O2.

 

[Natdavis777]

with higher gravity batches, I use a disposable O2 bottle with a stone. I boil the stone before oxygenating and use sanitizer on the hose and stone before it goes in the wort. for lower gravity batches I do the big No-No: I pick up the carboy and shake the floccin' hell out of it. if it's a batch going in my conical, I use the O2.

I use the disposable tanks and a boiled stone as well. Ive been getting sick of picking up a tank every other brew though, so I dove into making a venturi aerator. Worked well on my last brew. Fermented out in a few days @ 64F and it was a 1.064 beer. I still keep a tank on hand though for an Imperial stout or IIPA.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I use the disposable tanks and a boiled stone as well. Ive been getting sick of picking up a tank every other brew though, so I dove into making a venturi aerator. Worked well on my last brew. Fermented out in a few days @ 64F and it was a 1.064 beer. I still keep a tank on hand though for an Imperial stout or IIPA.

nice! I've done work (in Wyoming) with venturi tubes before, but never thought about applying that to brewing at all!

 

[ChefRex]

I use the disposable tanks and a boiled stone as well. Ive been getting sick of picking up a tank every other brew though, so I dove into making a venturi aerator. Worked well on my last brew. Fermented out in a few days @ 64F and it was a 1.064 beer. I still keep a tank on hand though for an Imperial stout or IIPA.

Why are you using a tank every other batch, if you see bubbles coming to the surface you'er using too much! You want to aerate the wort not the atmosphere.
Turn it on till you see some bubbles and turn it down, hold the stone to the side of the fermenter and you will see bubbles, I then stir with my wand for a minute or two, I get at least a dozen batches from a bottle.

 

[Natdavis777]

Why are you using a tank every other batch, if you see bubbles coming to the surface you'er using too much! You want to aerate the wort not the atmosphere.
Turn it on till you see some bubbles and turn it down, hold the stone to the side of the fermenter and you will see bubbles, I then stir with my wand for a minute or two, I get at least a dozen batches from a bottle.

I run it wide open for 30-45 sec per carboy... Makes sense why it goes so fast

 

[ChefRex]

I run it wide open for 30-45 sec per carboy... Makes sense why it goes so fast

Give it a try, you will be surprised how long it will last!

 

[Natdavis777]

Give it a try, you will be surprised how long it will last!

Oh I plan to. And I'll always have a backup