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What I did for beer today

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Put a 3 week old sour on 8lb of peaches and 2lb of dried apricots. Also added 0.5oz of Hallertau Blanc for a bit of fruit nose and to stop the souring. The sample out of primary tasted...different from the last 3 sours I’ve made and NOT in a good way. 😒 Though I can’t always trust my post-COVID nose and taste with tart things...damn!

Dan

Hallertau Blanc are on my list to try in sour beer. But first they're going into a saison next week hopefully. Hope things get better with the taste/smell
 
Hallertau Blanc are on my list to try in sour beer. But first they're going into a saison next week hopefully. Hope things get better with the taste/smell

HB hops are quite tropical, I think they’ll help highlight the fruit, but we’ll see. I’ve not tried them in a saison but I’m sure they’d be great.

The taste/smell issue was my own fault; I pulled the hydrometer sample from the dregs and yeast/trub may have been to blame. I let the sample chill last night and as things settled the sour tasted as expected :bigmug:
 
I guess that's what is known as "High Krausen"! It's four days after pitching yeast, some rehydrated us-05. I had krausen at 14 hours!
 

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fwiw....

This is an excel spreadsheet with the parts and links to smile.amazon.com, just because. If one is more patient most of this stuff can probably be obtained from eBay for lower costs - especially the case (I guarantee I did not pay $20 for mine!)

Anyway, here are a couple of pics of the guts...

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I did not include the LED assembly in the parts list as it's redundant given the power supply has an LED screen. My original build used a chopper module that had no display. And note a wall wart is plugged into this thing - I use scavenged 19VDC laptop bricks, but anything that can put out at least 12VDC at around an amp will work - though, preferentially, go with a higher voltage as the adjustable supply will drop around a half volt minimum.

Cheers!
YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Odering parts from work now!!!1 lol Thanks a million
 
Got the fixings at the LHBS for a Doppelbock, before this covid surge here in Michigan shuts their doors again. On a side note, was shopping for shampoo and conditioner at Sally World. I usually buy the Head and Shoulders...a different brand caught my eye. I was pulled to this bottle, almost mesmerized. Don't know why? I just had to buy it. Got home, showered and decided maybe I should look at the ingredients. It's got hop oil flower extract in it! 😂. I'm sure this is 70shat unconsciously drew me to it! Now either this was a Rod Serling moment and any day he is going to pull up in a Twilight Zone Brewing truck or it was a sign from The Brew God's in BrewVana that I've ascended to the next level. I'm hoping for a bright light to shine down rather than a knock on the door from ol' Rod 😳
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After over a year working pretty much non-stop in a building where, at last count, nine people have gone down with the 'rona (we only have about 40 or so in our building), it finally caught me. I had my first vaccine shot 2 weeks ago, apparently a bit too much stress and being tired all the time let my guard down. I don't feel too terribly horrible, just a fever, body aches, and my head feels like two drunk scorpions had a barroom brawl in my sinuses. Also some pretty nasty lethargy. I know I'll beat it, I'm just scared of losing taste/smell; because I've got a pretty heftily-hopped IPA in the kegerator that's ready to keg; which may have to wait until the husband gets home to heft up on the table so I can keg it, due to aforesaid lethargy. Got plenty of snacks, healthy stuff to eat, and, well, beer.
 
After over a year working pretty much non-stop in a building where, at last count, nine people have gone down with the 'rona (we only have about 40 or so in our building), it finally caught me. I had my first vaccine shot 2 weeks ago, apparently a bit too much stress and being tired all the time let my guard down. I don't feel too terribly horrible, just a fever, body aches, and my head feels like two drunk scorpions had a barroom brawl in my sinuses. Also some pretty nasty lethargy. I know I'll beat it, I'm just scared of losing taste/smell; because I've got a pretty heftily-hopped IPA in the kegerator that's ready to keg; which may have to wait until the husband gets home to heft up on the table so I can keg it, due to aforesaid lethargy. Got plenty of snacks, healthy stuff to eat, and, well, beer.
Sorry to hear that truely 😦. So many people I know thought it couldn't or wouldn't happen to them. My family has had many get togethers minus me and my wife. Just to dangerous here in Michigan. Going through another covid surge again. Folks don't want to use precautions but are the 1st ones pounding down the hospital doors. Praying everything is ok for you 🙏
 
Kegged the Lutra Pilsner. Wish I'd taken a pic. Hella-clear, and this was at 80F ferment, and it still flocced PERFECTLY clear on day #4

Made another Voss Kviek Pale with a bunch of leftover hops from an "iFruity Wheat" (el dorado, Jarrylo, azacca) and it tasted....like brown sugar water. Not sure what to think. But I did it as a mash-then-raise-only-170f-steep-20m-hop-add-ice-to-chill-to-100F-voss Viking Pale Ale. We'll see.
 
After over a year working pretty much non-stop in a building where, at last count, nine people have gone down with the 'rona (we only have about 40 or so in our building), it finally caught me. I had my first vaccine shot 2 weeks ago, apparently a bit too much stress and being tired all the time let my guard down. I don't feel too terribly horrible, just a fever, body aches, and my head feels like two drunk scorpions had a barroom brawl in my sinuses. Also some pretty nasty lethargy. I know I'll beat it, I'm just scared of losing taste/smell; because I've got a pretty heftily-hopped IPA in the kegerator that's ready to keg; which may have to wait until the husband gets home to heft up on the table so I can keg it, due to aforesaid lethargy. Got plenty of snacks, healthy stuff to eat, and, well, beer.

So sorry to hear that, take care. I had it in Nov and did loose taste smell for quite a while. Though some things still smell AWFUL and I can’t eat some foods to this day, beer came right back and eventually hop aromas came back. You’ll beat it! Rest up! The fatigue messed with me for 3 full weeks, so be aware of that and rest up.

Dan
 
After over a year working pretty much non-stop in a building where, at last count, nine people have gone down with the 'rona (we only have about 40 or so in our building), it finally caught me. I had my first vaccine shot 2 weeks ago, apparently a bit too much stress and being tired all the time let my guard down. I don't feel too terribly horrible, just a fever, body aches, and my head feels like two drunk scorpions had a barroom brawl in my sinuses. Also some pretty nasty lethargy. I know I'll beat it, I'm just scared of losing taste/smell; because I've got a pretty heftily-hopped IPA in the kegerator that's ready to keg; which may have to wait until the husband gets home to heft up on the table so I can keg it, due to aforesaid lethargy. Got plenty of snacks, healthy stuff to eat, and, well, beer.

Praying for your speedy recovery! Based upon what we know now, since we weren't testing for it a year ago, it would appear to have ripped through our SoCal high school about 14 months ago. Took out half the school and the faculty anywhere from 3 days wiped out and sick to a week or more in bed. We even had a few hospitalizations for an "unknown infection." Stay safe!
 
@seatazzz, take care of yourself and hang in there. We’re pretty lucky as where we live, most of the time, we’re pretty much quarantined by default. Our nearest neighbor, in any direction, is over 2 miles away. Just repeat the mantra “beer will get me through, beer will get me through...” 👍
 
Just sampled test bottle #2 of my Against the Grain APA BIAB, two weeks in the bottle. Flavors are coming along nicely, with a slightly sweet start and a slightly bitter, slightly grainy finish. Carbonation is disappointing me (again), third batch I've made using Starsan to sanitize bottle caps, tubing connections, and implements of disturbance. Appearance-wise, it's super clear (at room temperature) and a nice golden yellow.

In case you're curious, that batch was primed with just over 3/4 cup of corn sugar boiled in 4 quarts of water, bringing total volume bottled to 4.5 gallons.

Yes, I know that's a lot of priming water, but it's still the same amount of sugar I'd put in a two-cup priming dose, and I wanted to bring up the total volume to a decent yield. I calculated the dilution would reduce ABV from 8 to 6.5%, and it clearly didn't affect the flavor -- I was careful to move the priming solution quietly to the bottling bucket after a vigorous boil for 15 minutes.

Next batch, no Starsan, and I'll see for myself if it's stunting my carbonation.
 
Just sampled test bottle #2 of my Against the Grain APA BIAB, two weeks in the bottle. Flavors are coming along nicely, with a slightly sweet start and a slightly bitter, slightly grainy finish. Carbonation is disappointing me (again), third batch I've made using Starsan to sanitize bottle caps, tubing connections, and implements of disturbance. Appearance-wise, it's super clear (at room temperature) and a nice golden yellow.

In case you're curious, that batch was primed with just over 3/4 cup of corn sugar boiled in 4 quarts of water, bringing total volume bottled to 4.5 gallons.

Yes, I know that's a lot of priming water, but it's still the same amount of sugar I'd put in a two-cup priming dose, and I wanted to bring up the total volume to a decent yield. I calculated the dilution would reduce ABV from 8 to 6.5%, and it clearly didn't affect the flavor -- I was careful to move the priming solution quietly to the bottling bucket after a vigorous boil for 15 minutes.

Next batch, no Starsan, and I'll see for myself if it's stunting my carbonation.
I dont think I would skip the starsan step without using some other kind of sanitizer. The small amount of starsan left in the bottles should not be a problem. Do you cold crash and fine your beer prior to bottling and how many days of fermentation prior to bottling?

In your previous batches did you have a mix of bottles that some had good carbonation and some that that did not? If you get inconsistent bottles maybe try dosing the bottles and filling on top.

I have doing a plastic bottle along with my glass ones lately and give it a squeeze test to check progress. If your bottles are stores on the cool side it may take more than two weeks to get full carbonation.
 
Absolutely gobsmacked by the good wishes for a speedy recovery, I am truly grateful and humbled. Thanks to all of you! Fever is down today, headache comes and goes, and husband got the fixins for some comfort food for dinner (that yes I will cook, it's an easy one); macaroni shells with some homemade beer cheese sauce, made with my own current IPA. And bacon!! Yeah, I know, not real healthy, but it will be warm and filling, with lots of leftovers. Since this started with nausea and *ahem* other down under issues, I haven't been really hungry, but this sounds good. Also cheese is good for, well, "binding up" those other down under issues that I'm too much of a lady (HAH!!!) to admit. Got lots of rest today in between answering emails and phone calls from work, nothing too demanding as my supervisor has really come through with helping.
 
@seatazzz, take care of yourself and hang in there. We’re pretty lucky as where we live, most of the time, we’re pretty much quarantined by default. Our nearest neighbor, in any direction, is over 2 miles away. Just repeat the mantra “beer will get me through, beer will get me through...” 👍
Amen to that Grandpa!!! Man you got it made. I grew up fringe rural. I wish my closest neighbors were 2 miles away! My wife would fade away though. I'm country, she's big city lights. People often call us Green Acres ! 😂
 
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