All Questions
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Alpha acids vs. beta acids in aging?
Can someone explain the difference in hop bitterness between alpha acids in my wort vs. beta acids bittering during aging? And is it predictable enough to plan for in recipe formulation?
9
votes
4answers
662 views
Permanent Bottle Labels
I'm considering making permanent labels for my bottles. I've had a friend create a label design with a blank banner in the center. My idea is to have the design printed on vinyl stickers and then ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
What's the best method to catch a strain of wild yeast for homebrewing?
I'm interested in learning about brewing using wild yeast, but I wonder what is the best method to catch a strain that would produce good results in homebrewing. And of course how to ensure that it ...
9
votes
5answers
1k views
How do new yeast strains happen?
Rogue and Papazian have their own yeast strains (PacMan and Cry Havoc, respectively). Do you know how they got there?
Lots of trial and error? Pitching multiple strains?
Let's say I pitch a bunch of ...
9
votes
1answer
456 views
What does Irish Moss do?
I've heard that it helps clear the beer, but how does it do that, and how is it used? Further, are there any tradeoffs associated with using it?
9
votes
1answer
433 views
Is it possible to boil wort too quickly?
I recently picked up this burner and was excited to use it to bring my wort to a boil. I had it cranked up pretty high and it took about 15 minutes to bring 6 gallons of wort to a rolling boil in a ...
9
votes
3answers
4k views
Didn't hit gravity--how to calculate how much malt extract to add to the fermenter?
Lets say you were aiming for 1.047 but only hit 1.032. In a 5 gallon batch, how much malt extract would you need to add to the fermenter to bring it up to the desired gravity?
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Using a keg for secondary fermentation and natural carbonation?
I would like to transfer a beer that has been fermenting for about 3 weeks directly into a Cornelius keg for secondary fermentation AND carbonation.
I would like to add priming sugar and naturally ...
9
votes
2answers
117 views
Should the late addition portion of a recipe be altered based on immersion, counterflow, whirlpooling techiques?
When it comes to late addition hops (or other late aeromatics), it seems to me that there might be significant differences in aroma extraction / utilization as the brewer executes different chilling ...
9
votes
6answers
244 views
What to look for in second-hand kegs?
In order to save some cash I'm thinking of buying some 2nd hand [19L/5G] kegs.
When visiting a seller, what kind of inspection should I do to ensure that the kegs will last? Are there any tell-tale ...
9
votes
2answers
463 views
Does keeping a beer cold significantly preserve fresh hop aroma?
I'm double dry hopping my Rye India Pale Ale, doing half with simply double the dry hops, and half one addition, remove, adding the other half to see if anyone within drinking distance can distinguish ...
9
votes
1answer
507 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:
...
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 ...
9
votes
1answer
499 views
How long does 5lb of C02 last you?
I can never get a grip on how often I'll need to refill my C02. Sometimes it seems to last forever other times it seems very quick.
In general, if you are just using C02 to pour, how many soda kegs ...
9
votes
1answer
310 views
What are the primary causes of Acetaldehyde?
I'm a bit confused about this.
In my own experience, I'm no longer experiencing acetaldehyde flavours in my beer after improving my aeration methods and at the same time starting to use yeast ...
9
votes
3answers
324 views
Anyone here ever brewed Kvass?
Has anyone here ever made Kvass? If so what was the result? How did you go about it? Did you add any special ingredients (spices, herbs, fruit etc...)? Is there any special process I should know ...
9
votes
1answer
203 views
Cold and Hot Break
OK I have been brewing for over 2 years, and have cranked out around 40 batches. Trying to really hone in my process and improve the quality of what I make. I am literally reading (and re-reading) ...
8
votes
7answers
467 views
How do you sanitize the outside of your racking cane?
I'd love to hear the creative ways which folks have come up with to sanitize the outside of their racking cane.
Sanitizing the inside is straightforward - siphon some sanitizing solution through the ...
8
votes
3answers
311 views
Holding a glass carboy by its neck
Is it safe to carry a filled glass carboy by its neck, using one of these carboy handles?
The weight of the glass + beer, combined with the brittleness of glass, makes me nervous (compared to a PET ...
8
votes
6answers
9k views
How would I make Alcoholic Rootbeer?
I picked up some rootbeer extract at my local brewshop, and I've made a few batches in old soda bottles... but is it possible brew it with an alcohol content similar to that of beer?
8
votes
8answers
1k views
Are some types of beers easier to brew than others?
I'm just getting started with home brewing. Are some types of beer easier to brew than others? Would you suggest starting with a certain type for my very first brew?
8
votes
9answers
5k views
Using a Induction cooktop
I have been brewing in my kitchen using a giant stockpot.
My brother (my brewing partner) was thinking about picking up propane top and moving it outside. I think that it would be better to use an ...
8
votes
7answers
2k views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Buckets vs Carboys?
Currently I use glass carboys because the glass seems easier to keep sanitary and you can fill them with your spare change if you ever stop brewing. I'm wondering if having a bucket would be an ...
8
votes
3answers
218 views
How to improve efficiency of water usage..?
I have just put another beer in the fermentor and I seem to use huge amounts of water during the whole brewing process.
I don't have an exact estimate of my water use, but taking into account the ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
Can fermenting temperatures affect a beer's taste?
I'm putting together an "all glass" kit with two carboys and want to brew a DIPA but I'm a little concerned about temperature ranges where I'll be fermenting. I'm looking at somewhere between 15-18 ...
8
votes
3answers
298 views
8
votes
4answers
199 views
Ideas for rescuing an under-pitched and under-hopped batch
A few batches ago, I had a "learning experience". I now have some pretty good ideas of where I went wrong (mainly, not having any idea how to design a recipe), but I'm wondering what I can do with a ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
What causes a stout's creamy head?
Stouts, especially beers like Guiness (its cousin Kilkenny as well), have a head that's really creamy. Being a stout lover myself, I always envied this head, but I have no idea how one can achieve it. ...
8
votes
2answers
762 views
Beginners cider homebrewing
I've never done any homebrewing before but I'd like to start on my own cider. I was wondering what it involves, how long it takes, what sort of equipment I need - just a general introduction.
Thanks
8
votes
2answers
544 views
Boiling with lid on or off?
In this answer it is mentioned that boiling with the lid on or off may make a difference in final gravity. Which do you recommend and why?
8
votes
3answers
410 views
Something in the fermentation chamber made my nose hurt
So last night I checked on my porter, 48 hours on fermentation with Wyeast 1968, bubbling away happily. My ferm chamber is a small chest freezer.
Got a blowoff tube running from the top of the bucket ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
Boiling bottle caps
I've always soaked my bottle caps in sanitizer before using, but a friend of mine suggested boiling (throw in the same pot with priming sugar) instead because the cooties can theoretically hide from ...
8
votes
4answers
3k views
How can I clear-up a cloudy cider?
I've finished my second batch of homemade cider and I'm a little disappointed to find that it is so cloudy. There are no off flavors, I actually am enjoying it, but it's cloudy. It's not just hazy. ...
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
381 views
How to dry harvested fresh hops?
This question is a direct consequence of the When to harvest wild hops? one. I have heard about various techniques to do it: sun-drying, warm rooms plus paper bags to capture their humidity, ovens ...
8
votes
2answers
4k views
Am I required to refrigerate bottles after bottling?
My instructions that came with my kit said that I should let the bottles sit for 3 days, then age in the fridge for 10 days. If I don't refrigerate, will I get bottle bombs?
Advice on forums and ...
8
votes
5answers
714 views
Long cooling before pitching
Summer brewing means warmer tap water, which means that my immersion chiller can only cool the wort to about 75 degrees. I typically cool the wort to 68 degrees before pitching. I have a ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I learn the distinctive taste of various hops?
There are some very helpful descriptions I've found of people describing the taste of various hops, but I've found that my personal taste can be quite different.
I'd like to be able to isolate the ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Will force-carbonated beer remain carbonated if poured into a bottle and capped?
If I pour kegged beer into bottles and immediately cap them to take with me for the evening, will it remain well-carbonated?
8
votes
3answers
595 views
Bottling vs. Kegging
I have been home brewing for along time now, but have never kegged my beer. I hear a lot of people saying how much easier and better it is, but my main concern is the cost and equipment needed. What ...
8
votes
2answers
198 views
Competitions & Kegging
I keg my beer but I would like to enter some of it into competitions. I've bottled directly out of the tap, but carbonation suffers.
What would you do in this situation?
8
votes
3answers
738 views
Is there a quicker way to carbonate a corny keg?
Currently, if I want my beer "today" I put the gas into the out tube at the desired target pressure. I then rest the keg on my lap and gently rock it for about 20 mins, until I don't hear any more ...
8
votes
4answers
545 views
Aerating When Moving from Mash tun to Boil Pot
When transferring from the mash tun to the brew pot, I had set the mash tun about 3 feet above the brew pot and let the wort flow out and fall to the pot. This caused a large amount of bubbles that ...
8
votes
3answers
370 views
Suggestions for cheap recipes
I would like to create a recipe (or recipes) that is fairly cheap and will serve as a session beer that I can drink when I just want a beer in the evening, and I'm not particularly choosy about what ...
8
votes
5answers
696 views
How do you calculate a beer's nutrition facts?
How can I figure out a beer's nutrition facts when I've homebrewed?
It's not a sum of the ingredients any more, is it?
--EDIT--
So when I say "beer's nutrition facts" I means values like calories, ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
What is a whirlpool chiller?
What is a Whirlpool Chiller and how does it work? What are the advantages or disadvantages?
8
votes
3answers
3k views
How does lemon juice ferment into hard lemonade?
I'm interested in making a hard lemonade after my cider is done, but I'm having a tough time figuring out how the recipes I've found actually work, and what's the best way to ferment lemon juice. ...
8
votes
2answers
208 views
What indicates my burner is at the peak performance?
I use 18" banjo burners on propane. When I'm trying to ramp to boil I have the choice between a shorter all blue flame (which I believe is the most efficient), A wild all yellow flame that edges ...
8
votes
2answers
5k views
Choosing a good refrigerator/freezer for kegerator conversion
Does anyone have experience and recommendations for a good fridge/freezer for conversion into a kegerator? I'm basically choosing between a full sized fridge, a mini-fridge and a chest freezer. I'll ...
8
votes
3answers
796 views
Pellet Hops spilled out of bag in secondary. Advice?
My hop bag came undone in my secondary while dry-hopping and now I have pellet hops directly in my beer. What is the best way to filter out the hops for bottling?
