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.
4
votes
1answer
558 views
Does filtering beer strip flavor, aroma and/or color?
In the quest for super clear beer (and increase shelf stability) some brewers like to filter their beer.
What impact does it have on flavor, aroma and color?
Which aspects of flavor (hops only, malt ...
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.
9
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is it bad to pitch too much yeast?
What are the effects of over-pitching? Where is the line for, say, a 1.050 beer?
There is also a question for to under-pitching.
3
votes
1answer
808 views
stepping up a yeast starter
I followed the instructions in Palmer's "How To Brew" (along with some modifications from a Jamil interview that I heard), for getting a yeast starter going. It is now sitting on my stir-plate, with a ...
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 ...
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 ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
Reusing yeast at home
Reusing yeast at home is something I'm incredibly interested in, but haven't found the time to learn enough about it just yet.
What are the basic steps for harvesting, cultivating, or whatever other ...
9
votes
1answer
288 views
Adding Oak Flavor/character to beer
Short of buying an oak barrel, what forms of oak are available to the homebrewer for getting oak into yuor beer?
Are they available with different levels of toast?
Are some forms easier to sanitize ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
150 views
Grains for Mashing and Grains for Steeping
Does anyone have a list they care to post that lists the "must mash" and "steepable" grains?
Might be nice content for the site overall.
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
149 views
Cereal Mashing for Adjuncts
What is the step-by-step process for cereal mashing adjuncts?
Please include temps and grain to volume ratios.
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?
9
votes
2answers
539 views
Fruit for fruit beers
What are the best fruits for brewing fruit beers?
Some fruits appear to be classics like cherries raspberries. Some fruits you rarely hear about like kiwi and papya.
Which fruits have flavor ...
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?
8
votes
3answers
700 views
Using Multiple Strains of Yeast in the Same Batch?
I've been thinking about this recently, so I figured I'd ask it here. Is there any reason you couldn't use two strains of yeast in the same batch of beer? For a particularly high gravity amber ale, ...
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 ...
30
votes
13answers
1k views
\[WIKI] Improving Your Brewing Significantly
I made this wiki to allow folks to post what upgrades in process or equipement really take one's beer brewing to the next level. The bottle-necks to better and better brewing if you will. (This was ...
21
votes
4answers
592 views
Open-Fermented or Native Yeast Beers
I've always been very careful about control and sanitation with beer. But with my wine I do some native yeast Pinots, and some friends of mine are into the same with beers- they like funky, ...
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, ...
14
votes
7answers
334 views
Brewing with a deadline
Occasionally I need to brew beer for an event, and I procrastinate. One time, I brewed a pretty hefty IPA, and went from boil to bottle (keg, actually) in about 10 days. It was pretty malty, ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
How do you pitch additional yeast for bottling?
This is a follow on to my other question about when you would need to pitch additional yeast for bottle conditioning.
Assuming you know that you need to pitch more yeast before bottling to ensure ...
3
votes
1answer
170 views
Single stage/ two stage for all grain?
I into my 3rd generation of homebrew ideology and need some input.
At first, I was a dedicated workhorse of the early microbrew scene, constructing a a welded stainless 10 gallon outfit in my ...
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?
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Should I purge my carboy with CO2 before racking to secondary?
I'm thinking this might help prevent oxidation.
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.
8
votes
3answers
722 views
How do you get the bag of hops into the carboy and then remove it?
I always have a difficult time getting the hops in the carboy and then removing it when dry-hopping. What's the trick?
11
votes
8answers
1k views
Is it important to weigh down a hop bag for dry-hopping?
If so, what kind of weight should I use? Should it be enough to sink the bag to the bottom of the carboy?
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?
3
votes
2answers
695 views
Pellets, Plugs and Whole Hops
Hops come in three formats pellets, plugs and whole-leaf. Plugs are whole leaf hops that have been compressed into a little cake usually 0.5 ounces in size.
What are the ups and downs of using ...
3
votes
1answer
205 views
force carbonating a scotch heavy ale
I am brewing a scotch ale currently and haven't been able to determine how many volumes of co2 that it should have? also, what pressure should I put the beer under to carbonate to that many volumes. ...
8
votes
4answers
623 views
Steeping grain time
We are steeping 5# of grain. Is the time the grains should steep based on the weight? We were just going to do 30 mins. Is this the correct amount of time or should it be more or less? This is for an ...
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?
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?)
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Are Sparge Arms Necessary
Do you really need a sprinkler of some sort to sparge?
Does it really improve the lautering process?
How fancy does a sparge arm need to be, does it really have to rotate or can it just sprinkle all ...
4
votes
3answers
478 views
Plastic or Glass
Plastic or Glass fermentors? (Lets keep stainless steel out of this debate for now)
Each has ups and downs.
What are the main differences for the following aspects:
Shapes and configurations
Heat ...
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 ...
9
votes
5answers
525 views
Shorter Brew Day
For all grain brewers, what part of the brew session lends itself best to shortening the total brew session. Time is tight for me these days and shortening up the brew session a bit will certainly ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
441 views
Propane tank usage in winter time
Today is 14F here in the northern suburbs of MA. In the winter time it can be tough to brew outside if you are a propane cooker brewer such as myself.
When the tank is going full bore it tends to ...
8
votes
2answers
892 views
Steeping Specialty Grains
What is the proper procedure for steeping specialty grains while extract brewing?
Temp, time, grain bags or not.
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 ...
16
votes
1answer
958 views
Partial vs. Full Voume Wort Boil
The starting postion for most new extract brewers is to use a partial boil set up. Defined as using a pot smaller than the intended batch size, all the ingredients are boiled in a smaller volume. ...
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?
10
votes
4answers
12k views
How to grow yeast?
I have read that it is possible to grow your own yeast, but I have not been able to find exact instructions. I would like to grow my own yeast so that I don't have to spend money on those small ...
10
votes
8answers
3k views
Sanitizing oak chips
Going to try using dry oak chips in my secondary fermenter. How do you recommend sanitizing the chips before adding them?
18
votes
7answers
970 views
About going all-grain
I have made 7 or 8 extract brews over the past year and am interested in moving up to all-grain. What equipment is needed, and what steps are added to the process.
12
votes
5answers
5k views
What's the difference between primary & secondary fermentation?
Over here PJ asked "How do you differentiate primary to secondary if you keep it in the same bucket?"
11
votes
8answers
16k views
Too long in Primary Fermentation?
What's the maximum amount of time for primary fermentation, assuming the beer is going straight to bottles next?
Will it over ferment and then fail to carbonate, if left too long in a carboy?
