All Questions
1
vote
2answers
143 views
Alternative uses for a failed batch
the Simply Ginger Beer kit I've brewed and just part-bottled is horrible. The chemical sweetener taste is overpowering and even though I have bottled 20 500ml flip-tops (more for practice than ...
5
votes
2answers
148 views
Pros and cons of a conical fermentor
What are the pros and cons of a conical fermentor compared to buckets or carboys?
3
votes
1answer
77 views
Is bitterness extraction dependent on wort volume?
Supposing I boil the same amount of hops in the same wort (same SG, for the same time, let's say one hour), separately into two pans:
One with 10L wort, and x grams of hops
One with 1L wort and x ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Brewing with Tonka Beans
I am planning a recipe with Tonka Beans. At what point should I add them and approx. how many?
I know that vanilla is usually added after primary.
Should I do the same with these or can I add them ...
1
vote
4answers
119 views
What are the price/features tradeoffs to consider when buying a new brew kettle?
I'm thinking of popping for this brew kettle -
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/brewing-equipment/brew-kettles/megapot-with-ball-valve-brewmometer.html
It comes with a ball valve and ...
2
votes
2answers
75 views
Is it possible to successfully bottle a beer that's already been primed in a barrel?
I'd like to know what the effect of trying to bottle 35 pints of a light ale that's already been primed in a barel would be? Presumably there is still yeast floating about that would be able to ...
1
vote
1answer
107 views
What are the benefits of fermenting under pressure?
I hear that some brewers ferment under pressure. What is the rationale/benefits of doing this?
5
votes
1answer
120 views
Should I extend boil times if temperature drops?
I use an electric burner when I home brew. It doesn't have a ton of excess power but it can get a nice rolling boil going. Occasionally, when I add malt extract to my kettle the temperature drops ...
7
votes
2answers
112 views
Pressure during fermentation
I imagine other parameters are more important (like temperature or pitching rate). Still, I was wondering if pressure has some effect on the fermentation process (for example on flocculation, ...
3
votes
2answers
237 views
How to Cold Crash an Imperial Stout?
During my first all-grain (an Imperial Stout recipe a friend and I invented), I managed to forget adding Irish Moss towards the end of the boil. After 3 weeks in primary, I've verified that ...
1
vote
2answers
53 views
tap line resistor
I just got my coffin style keezer all set up. I did the calculations to get a "balanced" system at a normal 12 PSI of pressure. This gave me 7 feet of 1/4" hose. Apparently my math was a little wrong, ...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager for Bock - too late for diacetyl rest?
I really wasn't ready to do a lager, but I wanted to do a Bock, so I requested California Lager yeast. My supplier failed to make the substitution and sent me home with Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager. I ...
5
votes
1answer
63 views
How long after bottling will the effects of oxygenation become apparent?
I think it is well understood in the brewing community that oxygen absorbing caps exist and are readily available. I don't keep any on-hand since my brews tend to be consumed rather quickly and are ...
2
votes
2answers
89 views
Why is my attenuation so low?
Here's the recipe:
> Recipe Specifications
> --------------------------
> Boil Size: 7.37 gal Post Boil Volume: 6.38 gal Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal Bottling Volume: 5.50 gal
> ...
3
votes
1answer
46 views
Convert US to metric gravity points
How can I convert US gravity points? If, for example, a pound per gallon of sugar gives 46 gravity points (1.046 OG), how can I calcualate the corresponding value when 1kg of sugar is added to 10l of ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
How can I fix low starting gravity?
I made my third all-grain batch last weekend. I have had issues getting decent efficiency so I added a couple extra pounds of ESB malted barley (11lbs, instead of 9, and about 3lbs of specialty ...
4
votes
1answer
94 views
airlock ran dry, should I be concerned?
I'm very new to this all, and just bought a noob-starter-kit. I'm using a can for my first brew (to learn the basics)
So I just started the brew (Coopers Real Ale) a few days ago. I'm keeping the ...
9
votes
6answers
283 views
Can anyone recommend a starters kit, available in the UK?
I have inherited a garage after a recent move, and as I also have off street parking, it seems only right and natural that I start to indulge my desire to start homebrewing.
My intention is to be ...
3
votes
1answer
371 views
Coopers australian stout - Replacing white sugar, no spraymalt or brewing sugar
I have the white coopers australian stout 23L kit which recommends the additional 1kg sugar you can add but I know its not recommended. I know most people add 1kg spraymalt but I do not have it right ...
3
votes
3answers
188 views
Different OG than predicted
Just brewed a batch, and my OG reading is significantly different (1.051 as opposed to 1.070) than what Beercalculus.com predicted based on my recipe. Is there any possible reason for this that ...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
Am I bottling too quick?
Leaving aside the risk the fermentation is not completed and possible bottle bombing.
I have made some amber or brown ales, about 1.040 1.050 OG. After a week I bottle it and start drinking after ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
How long does bottle priming take? (Ginger Beer)
I've test bottled one 500ml bottle of Ginger Beer with one Coopers priming drop. How long does priming take? If I opened it in a day would it have some pressure/fizz/gas or does it need a week or so? ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Missed my target gravity and volume by a mile
So, I know there were lots of things I could have done to repair the situation had I been prepared (lesson learned, I'll be having DME on hand from here on out), but I'm a little more interested in ...
2
votes
2answers
86 views
No chill brewing
What are the benefits of no chill brewing? Are there downsides to the method? I am Specifically thinking of the no chill cubes.
3
votes
2answers
76 views
Best way to clean an airlock
I recently did two ale brews in two separate fermenters and in both cases my airlocks got sediment in them, which then dried in. I can't find a way to clean out these airlocks, as I can't get around ...
8
votes
6answers
3k views
How to strain wort before primary fermentation
I recently made a big beer (Dogfish Head 90 minute clone) with an OG around 1.11. I had never tried to strain wort before moving to a primary fermenter but thought it would be a good idea since this ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
No chill cubes storage
How long can I store the wort in the no chill cube? Does it need to be used as soon as its cooled down or relatively quickly?
3
votes
1answer
53 views
No chill cubes - which material?
What material do the cubes need to be made of? is there a worry about the plastic of the cubes leeching into the hot wort after X number of uses?
1
vote
3answers
159 views
A way get scum out when making mead without boiling?
Is there a way to get the scum out of the must when making mead without boiling? I used to vigorously boil the must and it would produce a lot of scum which was easily removed. I've since read that ...
1
vote
4answers
272 views
Chilling wort using ice packs
I now have an immersion wort chiller, it does a pretty decent job chilling boiling wort to around 85-90F very fast, about 5 minutes, but from there to 65-70 it takes a lot, maybe 15 minutes more and I ...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
Priming sugar/drop mixing worry, in a test bottling
I'm preparing to bottle a 30 pint batch of Ginger Beer. It started at 1.041 and has finished at a steady 1.008 after 2 weeks or so.
I siphoned one bottle's worth earlier into a 500ml flip-top, and ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Bottle drying after sanitisation?
When sanitising and using a bottle tree, should I wait for bottles to dry completely or can I use them just rinsed? The Youngs sanitiser I'm using says items should be used within 1 hour of being ...
1
vote
2answers
71 views
How foolish is it to try to make up for my tripel's shortish secondary by bottle conditioning it longer?
I'm attempting to brew a wide variety of beers (both 2.5 & 5 gallon batches depending on style) in a shortish time span in order to serve at a family reunion in the summer, and now it looks like I ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
How likely to get off flavors from American Ale transferring to secondary?
I transferred my American Ale from primary to secondary after 10/11 days. I guess fermentation is pretty much complete. I might be going away for 3 weeks and so I didnt want the beer sitting in the ...
3
votes
2answers
79 views
make a new sanitary connection in stainless conical
I'm dropping my 5 year old plastic buckets and moving fermentation over to a stainless conical. One thing I'll miss is being able to visually monitor the brew as it progresses.
How can I mount a web ...
7
votes
3answers
153 views
Why shouldn't we just use scales?
New on homebrew.SE, great forum here. Just a quick question - why shouldn't we just use weight scales to determine the OG and FG? My Hydrometer has broken and I can't be stuffed really buying a new ...
7
votes
4answers
224 views
About going BIAB
I'm thinking about making the switch to BIAB, primarily as a result of a growing family and increased time constraints. I have a few questions before I make the jump.
How long is a typical BIAB brew ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
First time bottling, a few questions. [closed]
I'm getting ready to bottle a ginger beer. It's been at a steady 1.008 FG (1.041 OG) for a week now so I hope it's safe.
1) I siphoned one bottles worth earlier into a 500ml flip-top, and added one ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
What equipment is needed for a faucet? What's a shank?
I've bought a kegging system which came with a "Camping Style" faucet, essentially just some tubing with a ball lock disconnect on one end and a tiny plastic faucet on the other end.
I'm looking for ...
1
vote
3answers
133 views
Fuggles hops for bittering
I am using Fuggles for bitter and for flavour/aroma. While I am content with flavour/aroma I find that bitterness is a bit harsh. Is it just my opinion, or Fuggle is not very suitable for bitterness?
...
5
votes
2answers
114 views
Necessary to clean bottle tree?
So I recently purchased a bottle tree (not sure how I went so long without one) for drying/storing my sanitized bottles. Is it is overkill to sanitize the bottle tree in sanitizing solution as well?
...
4
votes
2answers
991 views
What do I need to build a tap handle?
I'm trying to build a bunch of tap handles, and am a little confused on what I need.
Do I need both of these:
Hangar Bolt and Ferrule
or just this:
Tap Handle Insert
Or something else / ...
2
votes
3answers
94 views
Mash-produced unfermentable sugars do add sweetness and aroma?
I read in some sources that mash conditions can influence the production of dextrins, that are not fermentable, have no taste (is that correct?) and add body to the beer. But somewhere else I read ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Brewing timer in Brewing software
There is a lot of software to manage and recipes, do conversions etc. (for example BeerSmith, BeerTools, etc.).
Is there any software that also integrates a timer (that alerts you mash steps, boiling ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
Should I leave the CO2 Cylinder connected after force carbonation?
I connected my CO2 Cylinder to my Keg and have it currently force-carbonating. However, it will only be needed next week friday.
Should I leave the CO2 Cylinder connected for 8 days at 20psi, or ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Yeast pitching and wort cooling
I'm making an American Brown Ale and added liquid yeast to the wort that may have been too hot. The yeast was in the fridge and out to cool for 45 minutes. My guess is:
Wort temp: 26-27C or about 80F
...
3
votes
1answer
472 views
The isinglass in my wine kit is cloudy. Has it gone bad?
I bought a Wine Experts Pinot Grigio wine kit and the packet of isinglass is cloudy and has white bits floating around in it. I suspect it is bad. Has anyone seen that before?
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Fermenting Soda
Years ago I attempted to ferment Mountain Dew (about a decade ago so my recount of the details may be a bit off). My goal was to have a drink with similar carbonation, similar flavor, and reasonable ...
11
votes
4answers
189 views
Methods for cleaning and drying tubing
Brewing 5 gallon batches at home.
During the transfer from my primary fermenter to the secondary, and when filling bottles from my bottling bucket I constantly need to use plastic tubing to transfer ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Sickly sweet ginger beer, Acesulfame K?
I've been brewing a kit Ginger Beer the last 10 days and it's about finished I think. Starting SG was 1.041 and it's settled at 1.008. 100g of grated boiled Ginger were added, and 1kg of Muntons Beer ...
