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What I did for beer today

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Transferred my chocolate milk stout to a keg to condition. Made a bit of a mess (that could have turned into a really big mess) when I forgot to pull the PRV after pushing priming solution into the keg. Putting back pressure on a bucket is very much not good for closed transfer, although I imagine it would be great if I had a FV built to hold pressure. Anyway, no boom, just beer shooting out the spigot at my crotch.

Anyway, it really does taste like chocolate milk, except for a rather sharp bitterness that I'm hoping will age out (bitter comes first, finish is sweetish and chocolatey). I might have overdone it on the cocoa powder though. Had a gallon of sludge left in the fementer. I think I'm going to wish I had a floating dip tube in this keg.
 
Marzen brew day is complete.

I did a decoction mash because I hate myself.

I tried to compensate for the high efficiency I have been having, and by doing so I went a little lower than expected on the original gravity.

1.049.

I’m using a high attenuating yeast (s-189) so it will probably finish around 5.3%. A little low for the style, but **** it. The wort smelled lovely.
 
Marzen brew day is complete.

I did a decoction mash because I hate myself.

I tried to compensate for the high efficiency I have been having, and by doing so I went a little lower than expected on the original gravity.

1.049.

I’m using a high attenuating yeast (s-189) so it will probably finish around 5.3%. A little low for the style, but **** it. The wort smelled lovely.
Sounds like a crushable tasty beer
 
Finally binned the bag of two-row I bought last weekend, now sneezy. Built the recipe for the PF lager I'll brew on Saturday, and trying to decide if I should buy another pound of Sabro hops to do the NEIPA again. Only $19 for a pound, and that will last me for a while since I only use 4.5oz per batch.
 
defrosted and cleaned out the minikegerator today. i love it so much it brings me so much joy.
 

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Yesterday I moved the kettle sour to my oven, where the pilot light keeps the interior at 90F, took a look and had a sniff and taste today. I was going to boil for 30 mins with the hops once it’s soured, but the DMS was strong so a full 60 minute boil is probably the way to go, it certainly looks like the lacto is active but the flavor isn’t acidic just yet.
 
Swapped out my gas lines from 9.5 to 8mm (removes a few possible failure points in that I no longer need in-line reducers). Cleaned my hardware and replaced the lines on my keg transfer/sampler line (I’ve done pressure fermentation in a larger keg and always transfer to a smaller serving keg).

Oh, and I imbibed some HB, of course! The New World Cider that I made with the recipe I got from @jdauria.
 
Finished up construction of EBIAB Controller!

The case is an old heavy steel toolbox; DIN circuit breakers 30A 240V, 10A 120V & 1A 120v with 2 switched 120V outlets, 2 SSRs, internal fan, hard shutdown switch for 30A line, power regulator and an Inkbird PID. Input 50A 240V & output (3 way switch controlled) 30A 240V for 5500 watt elements if I go 3 vessel later. Salvaged media cabinet with hard mounted pump and plate chiller. Exciting!

I also got a lesson on GFCI’s. I wired up the shop 8 years ago with a branch circuit breaker box including a 50A 240V GFCI breaker. Worked fine with my original on/off 240V only controller but not with this unit. I was going crazy looking for my mistakes in the box as anything 120V tripped the GFCI. I took a break and researched problem on this forum and ElectricBrewery. Both Bobby_M and Kal mentioned GFCI install problems. Next morning I found the problem, fixed (Thanks guys!!) and the controller is great!
 

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Well, while testing one of my Oktoberfest (bottled in Feb2023), I bottled 2 cases of a Summer Saison that needed a lot of patience'n'prayer to turn out good. The cook was done in 110° desert shade & it really didn't go as planned. The taste during (indoor) bottling this weekend demonstrated promise, but time will tell.
 
Check gravity and tasted the Cascade-Hopped Cider, 1.001 and a nice, refreshing grapefruit sparkle. I think a little backsweetening and carbonation will make this an amazing 5% summer refresher.
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Same for the 12BOC2023 Crabapple Lambic. The Belgian Esters are there, the tart is rising, going to be good in a few months!

Now the real project: Bought this used with the intention of replacing my SSBT 10G Mash Tun, so I could control mash temps better and actually do step mashes. Today is the clean and test day. If this pans out, look for the SSBT 10G mash tun to show up in the classifieds here, L.A. area.
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Brewed the VonLola Imperial Porter (I think I like the early morning brew thing get done early and still have your day.

Racked the Origami Dip Hop Pale Ale.

Iced the Fesbier for cold fermentation

Wrote the 2023 Christmas Ale Recipe

Tasted the Mourning Dove IPA … best IPA I have ever made hands down .. totally balanced! #winning
 

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