The various hardware items for producing beer or wine. Includes buckets, carboys, kegs, hoses, airlocks, etc.
5
votes
2answers
269 views
bottle filling without a rapid bottler
I'm about to bottle my first coopers home brew and i dont have a rapid bottler. Can I pour it straight from the tap or will I have problems?
2
votes
1answer
144 views
What supplies to bring to a beer festival?
At the risk of being flagged off-topic, as this is a bit tangential to actual brewing and fermentation...
It's Spring, and the beer festival season isn't exactly in "full-swing" yet, but I don't know ...
2
votes
2answers
197 views
What characteristics should a bucket have to be suitable for a mash tun?
Does it need to have anything special or any food-grade bucket would do?
5
votes
2answers
363 views
How to measure wort oxygenation
As a follow-up to a couple of other questions:
How to Properly Oxygenate Wort
Wort aeration on a budget
How do you measure oxygenation of wort? What methods are available for a beginner brewer ...
6
votes
1answer
213 views
Small Space & Apartment Brewing: Diacetyl Rest
When brewing a lager in an apartment, you will most probably use a small refrigerator for the lagering process. If the refrigerator does not allow you to choose the exact temperature, but instead you ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
8
votes
3answers
702 views
Can glass carboy be used for both beer and wine making?
This last summer, my Dad showed my brother and I the process for making wine that he learned from his Dad. It was pretty simple and used a 5 or 6 gallon glass carboy. I've made a few batches of beer ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
How long do sanitized bottles keep?
If you sanitize a bunch of bottles and store them upside down on a tree or in a box (still upside down); how long can you store them like that before you feel the need to resanitize them?
Is there a ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Adding oak chips to a carboy
I use bourbon-soaked oak chips in my scotch ale. My last batch got infected, but that's another story.
I want to add the chips to a carboy, as I'll be aging it for over a month. It's easier to add ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
How to tell the difference between corny keg posts?
I got the liquid (black) connector very stuck on to my keg, to the point where the plastic broke when trying to pull it off. I'm guessing it's because I mixed up the little posts after removing them ...
7
votes
1answer
499 views
Why should I start lagering?
I'm contemplating my next brew equipment purchase, and it's likely to be a chest freezer, either for lagering or for converting into a kegerator.
I know some of the things I've heard, but what are ...
4
votes
2answers
626 views
Good food-grade electric pump for transferring wort?
I need a pump to use for transferring wort from a 55 gallon drum. Do you have any recommendations?
2
votes
3answers
504 views
Which material for a manifold in a converted cooler mash tun?
I've been using a stainless braid for the last 3 years or so in my Igloo Ice Cube cooler. Despite my being careful, it has gotten compressed in a couple of places over the years, and I'd like to ...
3
votes
2answers
379 views
Letting the gas out of a keg
I'm new to this homebrewing, made a mistake and wondering the consequences of my actions.
I have just completed the first week of fermentation and now have moved over to a plastic keg supplied with ...
4
votes
2answers
144 views
Benefit to smaller bottles?
Im about to bottle my first 5 gal batch that i have made in a while, and am considering buying some 22oz bottles to try to reduce the amount of time i spend cleaning bottles, but am wondering if the ...
6
votes
1answer
669 views
What do I need to refurbish a corny keg?
What do I need to prepare a used corny keg (picked up at a flea market say) for brewing?
Should I replace the seals?
Do I need a special tool to remove the posts?
What products and techniques ...
4
votes
2answers
433 views
Propane v. Natural Gas
I just moved to a home where there is natural gas being piped into the garage for a garage heater. I was thinking of re-tooling my burners with jet/orifices that can handle the lower pressure of the ...
9
votes
1answer
506 views
Carboy Cap vs. Stopper
Is one better than the other? Why?
Carboy Cap:
http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/3-5-6-gall-carboy-cap-orange.html
vs.
Stopper:
...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
How to brew less than 5 gallons at a time?
I recently moved into a smaller apartment and no longer have the space for my 6.5 and 5 gallon carboys. Do people sell smaller carboys than this? I know Mr. Beer would be small enough, but I'd ...
3
votes
2answers
427 views
What are some popular methods for measuring boil and HLT volume?
Particularly during lautering and during a boil, I have a hard time keeping track of water/wort volume. What method(s) and equipment do you all recommend for accurately calculating liquid volume ...
3
votes
3answers
490 views
Is there a standard siphoning hose size?
We have a hose that fits some of our equipment (bottle filler wand) but it is loose on both the racking cane and auto siphon. Is there a standardized size for this equipment or does it vary?
3
votes
3answers
544 views
My beers are with a slight acid taste after the few first sips. What could be wrong?
So far I have brewed 5 times. First went perfect, though it was the first time I was using my kit and the grains were already ground. Second and third batches went wrong. My concern is with the last ...
4
votes
2answers
532 views
Can I use my Country Living Grain Mill for homebrewing?
I already own a Country Living Grain Mill for making flour and want to start crushing my own grain for my homebrew. Will this style of mill work for homebrew or should I buy a mill specially for ...
3
votes
2answers
204 views
Carbonating Kegs In Quantity
Does anyone have any suggestions for how to build a rig to carbonate multiple corny kegs at one time?
I currently have a high pressure CO2 line in my beer fridge so that I can carbonate one that is ...
10
votes
7answers
1k views
Aluminium boil pots: Heresy or not?
Are aluminium pots acceptable as boil vessels? They're cheap, but I've heard they can produce off-flavors. Any experiences with them?
7
votes
1answer
217 views
How often do people replace their plastic brewing components?
I recently threw out my racking cane, it was turning cloudy and there was a piece of trub stuck in it that I couldn't get out for the life of me.
I remember the lady at a LHBS telling me you should ...
3
votes
2answers
631 views
Optimal counterflow wort chiller
I am planning to build a counterflow wort chiller using a hose outside of a copper tube. There are a great variety of lengths and types available commercially and I have read that many commercial ...
0
votes
0answers
130 views
Must-have supplies for making one's own beer? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What equipment do I need to buy to start homebrewing?
What are the must-have supplies for brewing your own beer? In addition to ingredients, what types of containers, ...
4
votes
4answers
457 views
First Time Brewing…am I doing it right?
So I went to my local brewing store, and got a starter kit. It came with a 7 gallon fermenter, a siphon tube, a floating thermometer, bottle caper, bottle caps, bottle scrubber, and sanitizer.
By the ...
11
votes
6answers
3k views
Glass Carboy vs. Better Bottle
I recently broke my 6.1 gallon glass carboy that I used for primary fermentation. I need to buy a new one, and I'm considering a "Better Bottle" carboy.
Its claims include:
**Unbreakable and ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
Electric Kettle with thermostat
What's your opinion on them? Have you ever used one? I was thinking of buying one (specially designed for brewing, even has a tap on). How is it different from the more traditional methods? Is it ...
3
votes
6answers
3k views
Converting your fermentation bucket into a mash tun
Most people use coolers for mash tuns, but living in an apartment myself I can tell that having the least possible equipment is a priority. I know some people use their secondary fermenters as mash ...
5
votes
3answers
937 views
Conical fermenter: worth it?
I am considering purchasing a conical fermenter but I'm not sure if it would be worth the cost. I feel like it would allow me to make better beer with less effort, but it would be nice to hear from ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Using Plastic Water Jugs as Fermenters
I asked this on Twitter a while back, but I thought I might get some other thoughts on it. I have one of those 5g Poland Spring water jugs. If I get a bung that fits it, is there any reason I couldn't ...
3
votes
1answer
376 views
What is a swamp cooler?
What type of equipment do you need to build one?
How do you use it?
What are the realistic expectations of using one?
7
votes
2answers
530 views
Keeping a bottle of no-rinse sanitiser
Some sanitisers, like star-san, chemipro oxi and betadine are no-rinse in certain dilutions. Star-san can additionaly be kept diluted in a bottle for months and used whenever one wishes. Can the same ...
3
votes
2answers
434 views
Open Fermentation Process
Can open fermentation be done simply by putting the fermenting beer in a bucket carboy and covering it with foil?
The purpose of the foil would be to just keep airborne contaminants from falling into ...
3
votes
2answers
290 views
Recirculating wort chiller
I am building an recirc arm for my chilling set up. Should my recirc have a gentle bend in it to 90degrees or would it be OK to just use a 90degree elbow of a piece of straight pipe under the wort ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
What's the ideal size for a mash tun?
This question has been bothering me for a while and I looked it up using google. The only related search result was this thread http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big-your-mash-tun-needs-123585/ ...
1
vote
1answer
216 views
Is normal PVC tubing okay for a racking tube?
I'm having a few issues finding food-grade plastic tubing to use a racking tube.
Is normal clear PVC tubing that you'd get at a hardware store okay for this? (Once it's been sterilized etc of course)
...
3
votes
3answers
231 views
What are some good places to get a keg for a brew kettle?
I got my first keg from a beer store, whom I asked if they had any kegs I could buy outright. The keg they "sold" me was in really good condition, and only cost me $30. I'm looking to get a second ...
5
votes
2answers
156 views
Dispensing beers at two different pressures?
I'm working on getting a dual-tap kegerator. Is it worth it to pay the extra to dispense two beers at two different pressures? I can see dispensing a low-carbonation ESB and a high-carbonation ...
4
votes
1answer
265 views
Use of a mash screen
I have recently had some problems with my false bottom and want to experiment with a mash screen. This might be a bit of a stupid question but I have never used one before:
Can you do the mashing with ...
5
votes
3answers
634 views
[Wiki] What extra equipment do I need to make wine?
Considering I have all the necessary - and some unnecessary - equipment for making beer at home, what additional equipment do I need to make wine at home?
If it's easier to just make a full list, ...
7
votes
2answers
371 views
Cask beer at home
Anyone have a good source for getting smaller versions of a firkin for home use?
I am interested in casking some beer at home for parties and special occasions.
Are there any good links out there for ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
How do you clean and fill a keg manually?
What equipment is required to clean and fill a commercial keg (not one adapted for homebrewing), before paying for a full blown keg washer and filler? Is this even possible?
3
votes
2answers
631 views
Fermenting 1/2bbl and 1bbl batches
As I start planning my pico brewery, I've been thinking about fermenters. I'd love some thoughts on ways to ferment 1/2 and 1bbl (15.5 - 31 gallon) batches. Options for when price is and is not a ...
1
vote
3answers
549 views
How do I use this Digital Temperature Controller?
For my birthday, I asked my sister for a Digital Temperature Controller. Rather than buy the one from Norther Brewer, I found what I thought was a better deal from Pex Supplies. However, it looks like ...
4
votes
1answer
408 views
Is the price of copper making plate chillers the better choice?
This copper-in-plastic counter-flow chiller seems to mitigate the effect that the high price of copper has on all-copper counter-flow chillers. I'm not sure the Chillzilla even has to have an ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Brass vs. Stainless Steel for fittings
I see both brass and stainless fittings for sale. Which is appropriate to use when?
