What I did for beer today

[Willy]

Busy day for beer today. Ordered 4 large 32 gal containers for holding grain and misc.
Ordered 2 55 lb sacks of grain. One Marris Otter and one BestMaltz Red X.

And ... Just finished the mash hoist, using an existing gazebo for vertical and beefed up the structure with 4*4s so it has no problem lifting out wet mash on a strong 12 gal batch. Looks good and is plenty strong enough to handle heavy loads.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I get rolls of 3/4" dots on Amazon. But writing the style and date on 50+ dots is my least favorite part of bottling day.

Why write on the dots just cross reference the cap and dot colour to a separate log.

 

[Willy]

I think I'm the master procrastinator!

Reminds me of an awesome dad joke.

My wife often gets mad at me calls me lazy.
Sheesh. It's not like I'm doing anything.

 

[MaxStout]

The park where we're camping is next to a golf course with a nice restaurant, so went there for lunch.
Burger and a Fulton O-Fest. The hopping definitely American, not noble. Maybe Citra? Still tasty.

Edit: Crap! I meant to post this in the What are you drinking? thread. I need another beer...

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Preparing a pin cask for transfer of a mixed style beer. Amber with NZ hops low bitterness like a NEIPA. Checked on a cider kit a started last night for serving at the same festival as the beer. Pictures later…

 

[BikerMatt]

Last one, promise Wanted to brew the last 4.2kg of malts I had left in the bag last night (bottom left), also first time using a Lallemand yeast. Pitched last night, after around 20h going like a racecar blblblblblblblbllblblbl. Haven`t had anywhere near this much beer on the making at the same time before but you know, gotta make hay when the sun`s out. Now I need yet more bottles though

 

[mac_1103]

Why write on the dots just cross reference the cap and dot colour to a separate log.

Caps are available in about a dozen colors. Maybe more. How many combinations do you need?

 

[MaxStout]

Sure, I could just use a dot color code system, no writing.

Then when I give freebies to friends they'll look at them later and say, "Hey! I got 3 red dot and 3 green dot beers!"

Or I could make a color key so they can look 'em up.

 

[mac_1103]

I could make a color key so they can look 'em up.

I don't label my beers so this is exactly what I do when I give away mixed packs. And the key is usually pretty obvious... let's see, what color caps should I use for the golden ale? how about the black IPA?

 

[Skeeter686]

Edit: Crap! I meant to post this in the What are you drinking? thread. I need another beer...

That's OK... I drank beer today, too! I made room for more beer in the fridge... compared styles... whatever.

 

[flipster]

Caps are available in about a dozen colors. Maybe more. How many combinations do you need?

The crux of the matter was the post about the list I made (see here) - I was indeed running out of colors.
I do have now 15 different bottle caps (dark green just arrived, and counting 'silver' and 'chrome-ish' as two different ones) and I store actually 17 types of beers and ciders (the two types with just one bottle left in the kitchen fridge not included).
I usually try to match the cap to the style as well. At the moment, however, it is more likely to simply use the next color that becomes available. At this point I'm not willing to brew a style matching the next available color (although this might be an interesting challenge...).
You're actually listing "chocolate stout" and "black IPA" in your signature - I'd say both deserve the black caps...

Why write on the dots just cross reference the cap and dot colour to a separate log.

Touch up pens in different colors or nail polish popped into my mind, but I still like the sticky dots idea. I might just apply them to the styles that will run out first. They will also kinda stick to chilled bottles. Applying varnish to a cold bottle might not be that easy.

Sure, I could just use a dot color code system, no writing.

Then when I give freebies to friends they'll look at them later and say, "Hey! I got 3 red dot and 3 green dot beers!"

Or I could make a color key so they can look 'em up.

I try to finish my bottle labels before I hand beers out, but sometimes I'm just behind schedule with my creative work.
But instead of handwriting, have you thought about these printable stickers.
If you're using just one color of caps it would at least save some work. If you're using multiple colors, you could order pre-printed stickers with a QR-code linked to an online list. Or still print labels with QR-codes showing the description as text ... or linking to a designed label (I'm getting creative now).

BTW, here's my actual list. just pinned to one of the beer fridges in the basement.

And as an actual task, what I did for beer today: waking up the harvested yeast for a brew day tomorrow and finalizing the recipe I have in mind for a next try getting closer to "THE Summer Ale".

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Just remember when you are calculating the permutations of 15 coloured caps and say 6 coloured dots to minus the same colours so red on red doesn’t work.

 

[mac_1103]

You're actually listing "chocolate stout" and "black IPA" in your signature - I'd say both deserve the black caps...

Maybe they do, but both went into swing tops - different sizes, so yeah that's something I actually had to write down / remember.

 

[brewbama]

Kegged a Helles this AM. Brewed the Helles based on John Palmer’s recipe in HtB 10 days ago. Went from SG to FG in 5 days and my habit is to allow maturation to equal fermentation so today was kegging day. I’ll lager it ~6-7 wks for a nice malty complement to a 7.5% Baltic Porter, an hoppy APA, and a roasty Stout already on tap for the cooler wx.

 

[Bramling Cross]

Sure, I could just use a dot color code system, no writing.

Then when I give freebies to friends they'll look at them later and say, "Hey! I got 3 red dot and 3 green dot beers!"

Or I could make a color key so they can look 'em up.

Yeah, I’m in a churlish mood.

 

[Bramling Cross]

I heard a worrying crack from my old plastic roller cart during my last brew day. Not at all interested in the prospect of cleaning up a full MLT dumped onto the kitchen floor due to a structural failure in my rolling cart, I grabbed a SS cart rated to 400lb (yeah, right).

As a guy that hasn’t brewed over 1.060 in over a decade, it’s great knowing that I could brew a barley wine without worrying about my cart collapsing. You never know when you might need five gallons of barley wine, right?

The lower shelf on the new cart also provides a home for my stupidly large grant.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I heard a worrying crack from my old plastic roller cart during my last brew day. Not at all interested in the prospect of cleaning up a full MLT dumped onto the kitchen floor due to a structural failure in my rolling cart, I grabbed a SS cart rated to 400lb (yeah, right).

As a guy that hasn’t brewed over 1.060 in over a decade, it’s great knowing that I could brew a barley wine without worrying about my cart collapsing. You never know when you might need five gallons of barley wine, right?

The lower shelf on the new cart also provides a home for my stupidly large grant.
View attachment 860328

Very nice cart! Ya gotta love stainless steel.

 

[leedspointbrew]

1). Went overboard on cleaning, then bottled the second iteration of my Bucktoberfest - looks more dunkel than marzen, but I'll be satisfied if it tastes as good as the last batch.
2). Started organizing / condensing the beer crap in my multipurpose room - wife is starting to give it the fisheye.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I bought a jukebox! This will enhance drinking at my bar and will bring lots of inspiration for future brews.

 

[JAReeves]

Yesterday, tasted the 10-11% BW that has been on gas aging for several months. The Slightly Sour Brett, Spicy Rye, Bitter/Earthy Hops, and Light Caramel Sweetness from the Barrel make for an interesting tipple. I think it's the best BW I have made yet. I'm not sure what it pairs with, though. Maybe a strong, salty cheese.

 

[HM-2]

Sampled the Brett beer out of my solera keg, comprised of:

2.5 gallons of disappointing Simcoe dry hopped Saison
2.5 gallons of mediocre Hopfenweisse
1 pack of OYL-218 All The Brett's

Been sat in a corner of my garage for the best part of four months now. Wanted to pull a couple of litres into a mini keg so I can carb up to 3 volumes and bottle some for my monthly homebrew club.

Given the less than stellar base beers, it's really good. The Brett funk is surprisingly delicate, but definitely there. It mostly pushes some tropical fruit and cherry-pie-marzipan (Brett C?) with a touch of acetic acid. Comes across a bit like a Picpoul de Pinet from a slightly warped alternative universe.

 

[Willy]

Packaged up 10 gal of Czech Pilsner into two corny kegs and cleaning out the Spike CF-10. Really easy so far as everything was smooth and effective.

We won't talk about the brew day yesterday with a mash that formed a seal (vacuum perhaps) on the false bottom, and wort creeped up, emptying thru the hoisting holes on the mash tun. Bringing little grain nuggets thru the holes and clogging the pump. Which resulted in the scoop it out one pan at a time, filter it, and put it in the fermenter. Let's not talk about that though.

 

[Willy]

Packaged up 10 gal of Czech Pilsner into two corny kegs and cleaning out the Spike CF-10. Really easy so far as everything was smooth and effective.

We won't talk about the brew day yesterday with a mash that formed a seal (vacuum perhaps) on the false bottom, and wort creeped up, emptying thru the hoisting holes on the mash tun. Bringing little grain nuggets thru the holes and clogging the pump. Which resulted in the scoop it out one pan at a time, filter it, and put it in the fermenter. Let's not talk about that though.

The good news is I packaged up 2 corny kegs of pilsner... So I am quite sure I can have at least ONE of those cornies to actually lager for 4-6 weeks. Haha.

 

[ClaudiusB]

This intermittent problem has been driving me nuts for weeks and I am not sure what I found was the real problem.
The data transmission connector was very corroded after years of faitful work. This is all part of the automatic acification system.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Transferred blueberry ginger cider to a pin to prime. I did this for beer. Making space to brew more beer.

The fermentor is all clean too. Whoop whoop.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Transferred blueberry ginger cider to a pin to prime. I did this for beer. Making space to brew more beer. View attachment 860593
The fermentor is all clean too. Whoop whoop.

Is that a modified keg, inverted?

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Is that a modified keg, inverted?

It’s a pin cask standing on end. The shive is in, and I’m filling through the keystone port. Less surface area lower chance of oxidation. (That’s my rationale, anyway) I know the pros fill through the shive port but they have large diameter tubing, so there isn’t much choice.

 

[Bramling Cross]

Transferred blueberry ginger cider to a pin to prime. I did this for beer. Making space to brew more beer. View attachment 860593
The fermentor is all clean too. Whoop whoop.

That's so awesome! I spent a lot of time hooking up Golden Gate kegs from Henry Weinhard's and Rainier when I used to deliver beer in college. Golden Gates have a similar design, but different plumbing. I'm green with envy! I'd love to be able to serve my ales out of a proper pin.

 

[Bramling Cross]

Based on the success I had with my ale fermenter, I fitted a floating dip tube into my lager fermenter today. It's a conventional ball floater that I intend to replace with a Flotit 2.0 when I can catch one on sale, but the ball float should do the job just fine for lagers--I've got thoughts of IPLs floating around in my cranium, though.

My brewery is currently in an unusual configuration. Both fermenters are filled with sanitizer and doing nothing. I suppose I can brew a lager this weekend, no sweat if it hangs out in the fermenter for a while.

In the meantime, I need to start guzzling some mild like I mean it. I've got a WCIPA jones and no keg to put it into.

 

[MaxStout]

Based on the success I had with my ale fermenter, I fitted a floating dip tube into my lager fermenter today. It's a conventional ball floater that I intend to replace with a Flotit 2.0 when I can catch one on sale, but the ball float should do the job just fine for lagers--I've got thoughts of IPLs floating around in my cranium, though.

My brewery is currently in an unusual configuration. Both fermenters are filled with sanitizer and doing nothing. I suppose I can brew a lager this weekend, no sweat if it hangs out in the fermenter for a while.

In the meantime, I need to start guzzling some mild like I mean it. I've got a WCIPA jones and no keg to put it into.

I'm curious to hear about the Flotit 2.0 mod you have going in your Brew Bucket. I'm considering doing just that, to minimize the trub that usually gets sucked in through the racking arm. Rotating that arm is a little dodgy--turn clockwise and it's cinches up too tight and doesn't always turn the 90 degrees I need it to; turn the other way and risk having it come loose and leaking. I usually don't rotate it, just set it pointing straight up from the get-go and hope trub doesn't settle in and clog the damn thing (it's done that once and I used 1 or 2 PSI of CO2 to force it loose).

The Flotit 2.0 is currently $29 on Amazon.

 

[Bramling Cross]

I'm curious to hear about the Flotit 2.0 mod you have going in your Brew Bucket. I'm considering doing just that, to minimize the trub that usually gets sucked in through the racking arm. Rotating that arm is a little dodgy--turn clockwise and it's cinches up too tight and doesn't always turn the 90 degrees I need it to; turn the other way and risk having it come loose and leaking. I usually don't rotate it, just set it pointing straight up from the get-go and hope trub doesn't settle in and clog the damn thing (it's done that once and I used 1 or 2 PSO of CO2 to blast it loose).

The Flotit 2.0 is currently $29 on Amazon.

I'm in the same boat. I tried rotating it on my first or second batch and decided that it was a stupid idea--like most homebrew products, it's a really solid piece of kit that their marketing department couldn't help but press a bit too far. I've bumped the damned valve too many times while I've been lugging it over to the fermentation fridge, so I've learned to lock it down with a Crescent Wrench inside and some elbow grease on the outside. The O-ring is very good and doesn't seem to mind being abused. I have yet to replace one in five years of use. Note to self: might want to do that, dummy.

I've learned to leave my racking arms cocked at about 35-40 degrees and call it good. Unless you're dealing with a really dusty strain, it seems to keep the worst out of your keg while minimizing stuff from falling into the valve.

I don't have high hopes for the Flotit 2.0 regarding trub. First, while it's a very fine set of screens on the scale of hops, trub exists on a much finer scale. I don't expect the Flotit to be very effective in this respect. Second, it'll eventually near the trub, then touch down on the trub. Whereas now we both front load our trub intake during the first part of the racking process, I suspect that we'll both see that the trub intake simply moves to the back end of the racking process. I could be totally wrong about that, though. I'll let you know once I finally get a chance to put the new rigs through their paces.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

That's so awesome! I spent a lot of time hooking up Golden Gate kegs from Henry Weinhard's and Rainier when I used to deliver beer in college. Golden Gates have a similar design, but different plumbing. I'm green with envy! I'd love to be able to serve my ales out of a proper pin.

I think I may have one of those style kegs. It was less expensive than a pin, but once I got it, it wasn’t clear how to fill it and dispense. So if I’m lucky maybe I can off load it to a race car driver. I’ve bought 4 firkins, not thinking much about how I would move it once it was filled. Ugh. At least I can turn those into side tables or stools to sit on.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Based on the success I had with my ale fermenter, I fitted a floating dip tube into my lager fermenter today. It's a conventional ball floater that I intend to replace with a Flotit 2.0 when I can catch one on sale, but the ball float should do the job just fine for lagers--I've got thoughts of IPLs floating around in my cranium, though.

My brewery is currently in an unusual configuration. Both fermenters are filled with sanitizer and doing nothing. I suppose I can brew a lager this weekend, no sweat if it hangs out in the fermenter for a while.

In the meantime, I need to start guzzling some mild like I mean it. I've got a WCIPA jones and no keg to put it into.

This is a great idea! I’m just not getting the hang of the racking arm, and it’s a little hard to see it depending on the color of the beer. I don’t like sacrificing a pint to quart of finished beer!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Today I brewed a wheat beer called Day Tripper (I.e. got a good Weizen) to use up my grains in Brixham.
15 litres
1500g Maris otter
1000g Wheat malt
300g Biscuit malt
300g Carapils
50g Acid malt
25g Challenger at 45m
25g Cascade at 15m
1 protafloc at 15m
150g Dextrose at 10m
CML Gretel at 24C
OG 1.053

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Edit above wheat should be 1000g.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Edit above wheat should be 1000g.

That’s more like it!

 

[Lampy]

I am experimenting with malting quinoa. 4oz Kirkland Organic Quinoa soaked for 3h, then spun in a paper towel lined salad spinner to remove extra water. Gain about 44% water weight. Laid on damp paper towels, covered with damp paper towels, then covered whole with a silicon baking mat. 20h post soaking, about 50% (I counted 62 random seeds) had obvious rootless varying in length from 1-4mm. Misted the paper towels and am now letting it germinate another day.

 

[Bramling Cross]

I have a belly full of sausage and eggs and I'm mashing in on a second batch of that Munich lager thing. I should probably come up with a better name for it.

 

[Bramling Cross]

The brewery is cleaned and the vessels have been reloaded and dosed with YOS charges. Tomorrow is WCIPA day.

 

[tdf]

I’m currently watching a keg fill (ever so slowly, watched pots and all of that) with a wcipa. I used Omega Daybreak-V, their version of the Boddington's strain with the hazy gene removed.

They aren't offering homebrew packs widely but apparently if you place an order for 20+ you can get most strains from them. I got a couple of packs from fermentednj.com, which is sadly now out of business.

I'm really excited to see how this goes. While the clarity is nice, the reason I've been wanting to try this yeast is that Omega claims 73-80% attenuation vs. 71-75% for the original version. I've used British Ale V and Verdant in some bitters and I love the fruitiness but I also like my bitters very dry.
I emailed to ask about the difference and they told me that yes, their "Lumina" technology also increases the apparent attenuation somewhat.

This IPA is the first testbed for that. Mashed low (65c) and 5% dextrose, it went from 1.056 to 1.009, for an apparent attenuation of 83%.