Ways of using tools and tricks to accomplish a task. May refer to any portion of work during any stage in the brewing or fermenting process.
7
votes
2answers
317 views
Starter and smack-packs
Is making a starter a good idea when using a larger activator pack from Wyeast?
Should you smack the packet and add it to the starter, or add it after it swells?
7
votes
3answers
954 views
Why was original gravity high by .010?
Recently brewed a dry stout extract kit. Boiled 5 gallons on propane. Steeped 2 lbs of roasted malt, crystal malt and flaked barley at 155-160 F. Extract was 6.6lbs of Coopers Light LME. As usual, ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Dry hopping without secondary fermentation
I have so far only done bottom-fermented beers without transferring into a second vessel for secondary fermentation. If I wanted to do some dry hopping with this technique, when is the best time to ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Whirlfloc versus irish moss - pros and cons?
What are the pros and cons of using irish moss versus whirlfloc tablets for clarifying beer?
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Gelatin for clearer beer
Does gelatin work for clarifying beer? If so:
How much do you use?
When do you add it?
How do you prepare it? (Do you boil it in water? How much water to dissolve the gelatin?)
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
6k views
At what temperature should a lager be fermented?
When fermenting a lager, what temperature should it be held at for best results?
6
votes
2answers
1k views
How to smoke your malts
How would I go about smoking barley (no points awarded for answering "in a pipe")? My LHBS has a couple of smoked varieties, but not the exact type of smoke I want. I'd like a method that doesn't ...
6
votes
2answers
634 views
Kettle volume measurements
Eventually there comes a time where just boiling 6 gallons for 60 minutes and taking it on faith that you have 5 gallons left doesn't cut it anymore.
What tools can I use to measure the volume in the ...
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 ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
How are 10-gallon batches commonly fermented?
Currently I brew 5-gallon all-grain batches using my propane burner and 7.5-gallon brew pot. I've been considering buying a bigger pot and building a bigger MLT to do 10-gallon batches, but I'm not ...
6
votes
2answers
192 views
Homebrewing: Decoction Mashing
Many beers, especially German, are produced with a method called decoction mash. In that, the rising of mash temperature is achieved each time by talking a portion of the MASH, boiling it, and adding ...
6
votes
2answers
307 views
Extract late with a full boil?
If you can do a full wort boil with extracts is it still beneficial to be adding extract late to avoid color changes and the like?
What would happen to hop utilization with extract late in a full ...
6
votes
1answer
215 views
Priming still possible after bottling
I must have been really lucky with my yeasts so far but usually my beers turned out nicely carbonated without any priming. The last batch though is really flat. Is it still possible to prime in the ...
6
votes
2answers
228 views
Clarification for a low-flocculating yeast
I'm brewing a batch using WY2565 Kolsch which mentions that is low-flocculating and that it "remain in suspension post fermentation. It requires filtration or additional settling time to produce ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Yeast Starter Steps
I want to make a yeast starter for a lager. I even went out and got a 3000 ml Erlenmyer Flask. According to mrmalty.com's calculator I need 506 Billion cells. With the two vials of White Labs yeast ...
6
votes
3answers
823 views
Why is it bad to pitch too little yeast?
What are the effects of underpitching your beer?
We have an answer for over pitching, I think we need the complete set.
6
votes
2answers
665 views
Should secondary fermentation be the same temperature that primary was?
Or is it okay for the secondary fermentation to be colder than primary?
6
votes
2answers
283 views
Should I worry about CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) skunking my beer?
Particularly when racking from primary to secondary and then again into the keg.
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Crushing malt without a mill
What's the best way to crush malt if you don't have a mill at home?
How much malt would you venture to crush that way?
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Brew day notes template [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the best brewing log sheet to use?
One of the things I'm guilty of being terrible at is note taking. I know I should keep track of temperatures, times, tastes, ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Re-use the mini kegs that are used in 'Krups Beer Tender' for home brewing?
For me, these 5 liter kegs seem like the perfect device for storage as well as remaining fresh when making beer.
I understand there is a way to remove the top piece of the mini keg with some type ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
What are some methods to increase extraction efficiency and consistency?
I've got some irregular sugar extraction efficiency problems. My efficiency is regularly low. I need your help. :) I get anywhere from 60% - 85%.
I've fine tuned my mill to the best of my ability, so ...
6
votes
2answers
508 views
Yeast starter temperatures
What temp guidlines apply to doing a yeast starter?
Should the starter be at the intended fermentation temp?
Should it be higher for good growth/activity?
Should it be lower to keep it clean ...
5
votes
13answers
2k views
How do you prevent boil-overs?
This is a shill question for Mark Taylor. I stumbled on his great tip about keeping a spray bottle on hand to prevent boil-overs while looking for advice on yeast re-use. The spray bottle worked ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Can a twist-off bottle be capped?
Out of curiosity (and appreciation for Boulevard's bottle's form-factor), can a twist-off bottle be reliably capped?
5
votes
4answers
887 views
What is Extract Twang?
This term pops up from time to time and it often cited as a reason to go to all grain. But maybe its because I don't really know what it tastes like.
Do you believe in extract twang?
How do you get ...
5
votes
2answers
856 views
When to add fresh ginger?
I am considering brewing an Amber ale with a bit of ginger in it, but I don't know whether I should treat it more like a spice and steep/boil it, or more like fruit, and rack onto the ginger for a ...
5
votes
3answers
522 views
How do I do a decoction mash?
I've brewed a number of all grain beers and have been reading a bit about decoction mashing. However the explanations I've read have been a bit complicated.
How do I do a decoction mash?
5
votes
2answers
844 views
Diacetyl Rest for Wyeast 2206 Bavarian Lager
The Wyeast website seems to strongly suggest a diacetyl as fermentation completes with their Bavarian Lager strain, 2206. I prefer to chill my wort to below fermentation temps prior to pitching the ...
5
votes
3answers
799 views
Wyeast 1187 Ringwood Failure
I'll start by saying that I've never used liquid yeast before, so it could all be my fault... Anyway, I ordered some Wyeast 1187 Ringwood to use for a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA clone that I did on ...
5
votes
2answers
961 views
Can I add finings after fermentation has begun?
My first all-grain batch was, er, a bit hectic. I forgot to add my Whirlfloc tablet in the last ten minutes of the boil.
I know I can use isinglass for fining at room temperature, but my brew ...
5
votes
3answers
827 views
Remedy for a Stuck sparge
How do you fix a stuck sparge? Are there any tricks too getting a sparge running again when it slows to a trick or even stops completely?
(This is not intended to be a "how to prevent" the stuck ...
5
votes
6answers
757 views
Alternative/Non-traditional Brewing Practices
Brew in a bag.
No chill.
Olive Oil aeration substitute.
Overnight mashing.
Batch Sparging.
The list continues.
These types of techniques are great and frequent areas of discussion in the home ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Detriment of gelatin fining on flavor or aroma
Does using gelatin effect aromatics or flavor appreciably?
I was reading this post about using gelatin. I have one keg that I use as a cold conditioning vessel (sort of like secondary), and I was ...
5
votes
2answers
383 views
Brewing with veggies
This may be more of a wiki than a specific question, but has anyone ever tried brewing with vegetables? If so, what is your experience? I'm considering mostly root vegetables. carrots, beets, ...
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?
5
votes
2answers
269 views
What are the steps in recapping overcarbonated beer?
What are the steps involved in recapping a bottle of beer for any reason (e.g. if too much priming sugar is added, if a cap appears to be defective or failing, etc)?
5
votes
1answer
101 views
Preparing Yeast
I've been reading the How To Brew book, and it (amongst other sites) recommends rehydrating yeast before pitching it.
http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter6-5.html
Some sites suggest adding a ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
206 views
Ramping temperatures during fermentation
What is the appropriate way to ramp temper when say brewing a Belgian beer?
Would I expect to have off flavors from the higher temps?
What's the best range for ramping?
Do I actively manage the temp ...
5
votes
3answers
811 views
Cleaning out beer lines
How often do you need to clean out your beer lines when using a home draft system?
What type of cleaner do you use?
Can I leave sanitizer in the tubing when a line isn't in use?
5
votes
2answers
661 views
What is cold steeping?
What is cold steeping specialty grains all about?
How do I do it? What does 'cold' really mean? How long does it take?
Advantages and disadvantages?
5
votes
1answer
623 views
Cleaner wort out of the Kettle
What are the benefits of completely seperating hot debris, hot break and cold break from the wort?
Getting these things out of the wort and putting nothing but clean and clear wort in the fermentor ...
5
votes
1answer
111 views
How do I clean a sankey pump?
What is the best way to clean a sankey pump it after I use it so it doesn't get moldy inside?
5
votes
1answer
187 views
Estimating Alpha Acids of Home Grown Hops
For the homebrewer that grows and harvests his/her own hops; how best can one approximate the alpha acids in the hops they have?
Is it worth it or should brewers stick to using home grown hops for ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
How do you filter at home?
I thought I'd ask this after reading Brewchez's effects of filtering question.
I personally don't filter at home, for the most part. I generally make dark beer, and people who drink my beer ...
4
votes
5answers
3k views
Adding Vanilla Extract?
I have a black stout fermenting right now. I added about 8oz of cacao powder in the boil and I'd like to add some vanilla extract, to taste. Can this be done before bottling? Should this have been ...
4
votes
3answers
503 views
Measuring Gravity
What is the usual procedure for measuring gravity? Is it typical to just take an original and final gravity measurement or should measurements be taken throughout? I've heard people talk about ...
4
votes
5answers
525 views
Cloning commercial beer
Where do you turn for good sources of info when researching a commercial beer you want to brew yourself?
Magazines, web or the brewers themselves.
