What came in the mail for you today?

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"How To Brew" by John J. Palmer arrived in the mail today. I chose that as my gift when I joined the AHA (American Homebrewers Assn) for 1 year. BTW I like this forum (HBT) much better than the forum over there so I'm going to keep hanging out over here.

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That's a great choice! I've owned that bottling tree. For me, I use the vinator (I'm assuming what you call the bottle washer) as a sanitizer so I wash the bottles in the sink and use a bottle brush. Then when I'm ready to sanitize I used the vinator that I see in your pic to sanitize. I've had it for man years and it's still going strong.
Hout, thanks, I like that tree a lot. I filled it up with 90 bottles and was afraid it would tip but it was solid as a rock. Yep, I soak the bottles in TSP/hot water in sink, (to get the labels off) , clean with the bottle brush , rinse with clean water and stack on the tree to drip dry. The night before or morning of bottling day I use the vivinator with some oxiclean or somesuch to sanitize the bottles and restack on the tree to drip dry. It works great just like you said. The other thing that helped me out alot was the bench capper. So much easier than those winged capper things they sent in the kit.
 
"How To Brew" by John J. Palmer arrived in the mail today. I chose that as my gift when I joined the AHA (American Homebrewers Assn) for 1 year. BTW I like this forum (HBT) much better than the forum over there so I'm going to keep hanging out over here.

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Nice! I think I have the most current version already. I also have tossed around the idea of joining AHA, but now that homebrew con is no more, idk that I would.
 
Today I got a grain shipment from Ritebrew in La Chute, Wi.
30 lb of pilsner
10 lb Marris Otter
30 lb pale ale
10 lb golden promise
7 lb brown ale
4 lb chocolate malt

I should be good for another 90 days or so. Still need some coffee malt (ooops forgot)
Full house
 

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Couple of return springs for my Nukataps. Essential purchases after the loss of an almost full keg of excellent WCIPA whilst I was away due, I suspect, to my tap not not being fully closed.

I'm off work from Friday, so I'll strip down my kegerator, give it all a deep clean and get them fitted.
 
Finally got a second rotary spray ball. I've had one that does double duty of cleaning my hot side vessels outside in the driveway and my fermenters and kegs in the basement. I use a large submersible pump in a tub for the 15 gallon vessels, and a small submersible in a 5 gal. bucket in the basement. I kept having to go from the basement to the garage and visa versa just to get the spray ball because it was always where I wasn't.

I was getting ready to place an Amazon order for some other household stuff and thought I'd maybe add one. This one popped up for only $5 (these generally go for $16-$20)! It was the last one from this vendor. Sweet deal! Arrived today.

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Also got a pound of dried hibiscus flowers for a Hibiscus Mango Blonde I'm gonna try.
 
Looking forward to your Tapcooler review.

I’ve used it a couple times so far. Initially it’s quite easy to use but it looks like I may have to do a little better job of filling the bottle with CO2. Pictured is a Lemon-Lime Hefe, one poured just now from the keg, (left), and the other from a bottle filled using the Tapcooler, (right), 18 days ago. The one bottled is showing signs of oxidation, looking a bit darker, though they still taste identical to me. I need to research some more to find out how long I can expect a beer to stay reasonably fresh when using the Tapcooler.


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I’ve used it a couple times so far. Initially it’s quite easy to use but it looks like I may have to do a little better job of filling the bottle with CO2. Pictured is a Lemon-Lime Hefe, one poured just now from the keg, (left), and the other from a bottle filled using the Tapcooler, (right), 18 days ago. The one bottled is showing signs of oxidation, looking a bit darker, though they still taste identical to me. I need to research some more to find out how long I can expect a beer to stay reasonably fresh when using the Tapcooler.


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Nice. Thanks for the update and pix
 
I’ve used it a couple times so far. Initially it’s quite easy to use but it looks like I may have to do a little better job of filling the bottle with CO2. Pictured is a Lemon-Lime Hefe, one poured just now from the keg, (left), and the other from a bottle filled using the Tapcooler, (right), 18 days ago. The one bottled is showing signs of oxidation, looking a bit darker, though they still taste identical to me. I need to research some more to find out how long I can expect a beer to stay reasonably fresh when using the Tapcooler.


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Maybe it's just me, but it almost looks like the one on the right is slightly clearer. If there's less suspended yeast in it, maybe it looks darker because of that and not from oxidation.
 
Maybe it's just me, but it almost looks like the one on the right is slightly clearer. If there's less suspended yeast in it, maybe it looks darker because of that and not from oxidation.
That thought also crossed my mind. It was definitely a bit clearer than the sample I poured from the keg. The bottle I filled nearly three weeks ago with the Tapcooler was stored in my beer fridge, which I keep a few degrees colder than my keezer. Maybe the lower temperature caused more of the yeast to drop out.
 
AMZ delivered this mini-keg tapping head today. Comes with a full set of replacement o-rings, the dip tubing, and both 35 and 70 psi PRVs.

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Fits perfectly as expected.

I ordered this to enable using my 5 liter Vevor to carbonate beer that didn't fit in a keg. It doesn't happen often but fruited beers occasionally end up with a half quart or two "left over", and I have a fruited wheat I'm finishing up brewing that has an amazing mass of raspberry husks in it that makes it tricky to figure how much beer is actually in the carboys. Could be 10 gallons in there, could be eleven, but most likely somewhere in between.

I used to use a 2 liter soda bottle but this solution will be neater and solves the small dispensing problem in the end...

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Cheers!
 
My first thought was not to post this because it's embarrassing and could be a downer in an otherwise celebretory thread, but:
Every few months we get a post about ergonomics either from someone who is just getting older or has been badly injured but like the core crowd on here "Homebrewer" is a part of our identity....you'll have my hydrometer when you pry it from my cold dead hands. If you're familiar with my posts, you'll have probably seen one half of my disability in the many spelling errors, inappropriate or missing words or just missing some point that should be obvious and that's the severed axons to my angular gyrus, insular and prefrontal cortex's, and I forgot which gyrus is the 'memory' one :p What you don't see is me getting groceries or being verical at all and the reason for this arrival in the mail is my spine...heck; 3 in every 5 shopping trips; the staff offer to carry my groceries to the parking lot for me..1 in 10 times I need to accept but I keep my head down and wait until they're gone and I'm in the drivers seat before I wipe the tears away.
Since I'm trying to get over the stigma, this is what I got in the mail today...I have it for the mobility issues but, owing to the other part that isn't seen; it's late and I only found out my old one had expired when I got a ticket for over $400...it seems that when I renewed my sticker, because of the difficulty with cognition being exacerabted by spinal pressure while standing in line I had in my hand, but forgot to hand over the renewal form from my doctor for the permit. :p I do OK with the daily responsibilities but the longer period things are difficult to wrap my head around:
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That is a nice mail find. You won't get hit with $400 ticket until summer of 2029, right. And don't be shy about asking for help with the grocery bags. Kids need that as part of growing up well.

Just did a toast to you. Drinking the last glass of my coveted best batch ever of Czech pilsner. Shzzcshzz ... I hate that "this keg is over" sound.
 
My first thought was not to post this because it's embarrassing and could be a downer in an otherwise celebretory thread, but:
Every few months we get a post about ergonomics either from someone who is just getting older or has been badly injured but like the core crowd on here "Homebrewer" is a part of our identity....you'll have my hydrometer when you pry it from my cold dead hands. If you're familiar with my posts, you'll have probably seen one half of my disability in the many spelling errors, inappropriate or missing words or just missing some point that should be obvious and that's the severed axons to my angular gyrus, insular and prefrontal cortex's, and I forgot which gyrus is the 'memory' one :p What you don't see is me getting groceries or being verical at all and the reason for this arrival in the mail is my spine...heck; 3 in every 5 shopping trips; the staff offer to carry my groceries to the parking lot for me..1 in 10 times I need to accept but I keep my head down and wait until they're gone and I'm in the drivers seat before I wipe the tears away.
Since I'm trying to get over the stigma, this is what I got in the mail today...I have it for the mobility issues but, owing to the other part that isn't seen; it's late and I only found out my old one had expired when I got a ticket for over $400...it seems that when I renewed my sticker, because of the difficulty with cognition being exacerabted by spinal pressure while standing in line I had in my hand, but forgot to hand over the renewal form from my doctor for the permit. :p I do OK with the daily responsibilities but the longer period things are difficult to wrap my head around:
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You shouldn't be embarrassed at all. No one here should feel your post as inappropriate, if they do they are a fricken jerk, period.
 
That is a nice mail find. You won't get hit with $400 ticket until summer of 2029, right. And don't be shy about asking for help with the grocery bags. Kids need that as part of growing up well.

Just did a toast to you. Drinking the last glass of my coveted best batch ever of Czech pilsner. Shzzcshzz ... I hate that "this keg is over" sound.
 

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A pair of replacement polysulfone pump heads for my March 815pl pumps arrived this AM. After almost 18 years I finally snapped the top threaded neck off one of the pumps that were sticking out from my brew rig when I clipped the ball valve on top with my 2-wheeler while moving a heavy chunk of equipment. Dumb move on my part.

In case someone ever goes through this, the part number is 0809-0079-0100 for the pump head.
And a note: the heads do not include the pivot pin 0809-0161-1000 for the pump rotor (item 5, below)

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You can remove the pressed-in pin from the old head by pushing sideways back and forth on the tip of the pin to gradually deform the plastic and work the pin loose (it is not glued) and then you can press the pin into the new head (a bench vise can be handy for that).


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Cheers!
 
No pics but I took a chance and ordered a pack of liquid yeast - Imperial Pub A09. Arrived in two days, both ice packs melted, no surprise there, slightly swollen but seemingly ok. It’s for only an 2 gallon batch though I’ll probably still make a starter. Also ordered two sets of Kegland QD’s.
 
No pics but I took a chance and ordered a pack of liquid yeast - Imperial Pub A09. Arrived in two days, both ice packs melted, no surprise there, slightly swollen but seemingly ok. It’s for only an 2 gallon batch though I’ll probably still make a starter. Also ordered two sets of Kegland QD’s.
Thought I'd say that I always order liquid yeast all year round. I live in Florida and in 22 years of brewing and ordering liquid yeast from online retailers I have never had dead yeast. I always make a starter and fermentation always takes off very quickly, even in the summer. This had been my experience and the ice packs are always melted. You should be fine if you make a starter.

John
 
Thought I'd say that I always order liquid yeast all year round. I live in Florida and in 22 years of brewing and ordering liquid yeast from online retailers I have never had dead yeast. I always make a starter and fermentation always takes off very quickly, even in the summer. This had been my experience and the ice packs are always melted. You should be fine if you make a starter.

John
Thanks for the reassurance John. Cheers.
 
fwiw, I've been on the 20cf O2 tank exchange with AirGas for well over a decade, and for whatever reason I always get a new looking swap. When I did CO2 tank swaps with them some of the beaters they gave me I wondered if they'd 'splode on the way home :oops:

That's my current 20cf in the background. It's nearly mint!

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Cheers!
 
I always like good reference books. Sure you could use the internet, but reading a book feels better to me. And during a power outage you have something to do, read a book by candle light!
I like having some things on my phone, like a service manual for my truck or tractor, but for things like brewing books I'd much rather have the hard copy. I recently bought hard copies of Greg Noonan's lager book and the BA's Draught Quality Manual even though I already have PDF's of both. Sometimes it's just nice to pick up a book and not be staring at a screen.
 
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