All Questions
6,179
questions
1
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1
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263
views
Aging beer/cider/mead in beer bottles for competition
So, I'm in a process of planning for the next year competitions. In fact, I'm little bit behind since I'm planning to do big brews (few meads and beers).
I already had a similar thread about ...
CommunityBot
- 1
14
votes
1
answer
913
views
Using spent grains to smoke meat
I've read a couple of questions here regarding uses for spent grain, but I'm curious if anyone has ever used it in a meat smoker.
- 684
6
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Why would someone use Cascade for bittering over Amarillo?
Apparently, Cascade is commonly used for bittering, and I'm not sure I understand why someone would choose that over the very similar Amarillo, which I think is less common for bittering.
Cascade has ...
1
vote
2
answers
280
views
Stalled Fermentation? Or too much body from high temp mash?
So I brewed a straight forward English style IPA with the following:
O.G. 1.060
F.G. 1.015 (estimated from Beersmith)
Current F.G. 1.020
10g Gypsum
11 lbs Maris Otter
1.5 lbs Crystal 30
1 oz ...
- 975
2
votes
1
answer
402
views
Is there a formula to determine at which temperature a given volume of beer at a given ABV will freeze?
I was hoping that someone had worked out a formula to determine at which temperature a given volume of beer, at a given ABV, for a given length of time, will freeze?
I'm doing my first 6 lagers and ...
- 6,437
1
vote
1
answer
325
views
green sludge floating
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3nIWsUoDjs2RVlsZ3FnaWdYRjQ/edit?usp=docslist_api
I am brewing a double IPA. The beer is in the secondary and has been there for 10 days. I recorded 7.8% alc when I ...
- 3,020
1
vote
4
answers
9k
views
Will refrigeration help carbonate my beer?
After two weeks of bottle conditioning at about 55-60°F (13-16°C), my beer is still a bit flat. I put a few in the fridge and after 2 days, they tasted just as flat. At this point, what should I do? ...
- 11
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What can I do with beer ruined by Chlorophenols
I made some beer and it is not nice. Ruined by Chlorophenols. So... is there anything I can do with it to make it usable in some form? I know it will not be drinkable but heck if I could clean the ...
11
votes
1
answer
23k
views
How to Dry Hop when Forgoing Secondary Fermentation?
I've decided to stop doing secondary-fermentations on the recommendation of users on this stackexchange.
A Dead Ringer IPA from Northern Brewer suggests 1-2 weeks primary, and 2-4 weeks secondary, ...
CommunityBot
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8
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is Final Gravity a good indicator of sweetness?
This question is as simple as the title reads. In general, if I know the FG of any given beer, can that be a good indicator to me of how sweet that beer will taste? So the higher the FG, the sweeter ...
- 460
11
votes
7
answers
39k
views
How do you strain pellet hops out of wort or beer?
After boiling pellets how can I deal with them? Is there a simple way to get them out of the wort, or can I leave them during fermentation? In that case will I be sure they will drop on the bottom and ...
- 1
9
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Gravity Measurement Tools
What tools for measuring specific gravity are available to the homebrewer? EG: refractometer, hydrometer.
What scale do they measure? EG: Brix, plato
Since there hasn't been much activity on the ...
- 135
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How low an original gravity is too low?
I just brewed this extract IPA. I had 4.6 gal in the fermentor when I measured original gravity at 1.053 (@80 degrees), on the low end of the target range for 5 gallons (target 1.059, or 1.053-1.062)....
- 268
2
votes
2
answers
151
views
ceteris paribus, does mashing at a higher temperature lead to a higher final gravity?
I'm doing 6 lagers according to the Brulosophy Quick Lager method, where the temperature is raised to 65*F/18.3*C for the remainder of fermentation after attenuation has hit 50%. 2 of them have been ...
- 3,857
1
vote
2
answers
778
views
Return samples from a fermtech wine/beer thief to a carboy
I just purchased this wine/beer thief so that I can take more regular samples over the course of fermentation. I plan to float my hydrometer directly in the tube of the thief, which requires me to ...
- 566
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
Wine fermentation without yeast?
Apologies if this is a duplicate - wasn't able to find anything similar.
Making a 3gal batch of strawberry wine. Poured sugar-water over fruit and set aside to cool. Been having problems with bugs ...
- 9,028
3
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Low Cost Conical Fermenter
I was looking around for some low-cost alternatives to conical fermenters, and I came across inductor tanks. Has anyone used or heard of someone using these tanks? Is there any danger/downside to ...
3
votes
1
answer
106
views
When brewing from extract recipes should one assume dry or liquid extract if unspecified?
When brewing from extract recipes (e.g. Day After 1040A Wheat) should one assume dry malt extract (DME) or liquid malt extract (LME) if unspecified?
- 1,152
1
vote
2
answers
144
views
Second Fermentation In Water Bath
The room I use for fermenting is rather cold currently at around 8 degrees C, I had the idea to use a aquarium heater in a box of water to keep the temp around my bottles around 18 degrees, my ...
- 33.4k
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
Is there a way to estimate the actual temperature where the yeast ferments without having a sensor inside the carboy? [duplicate]
I was reading an article on fermentation temperature control where it says,
However, since yeast growth and fermentations are exothermic and therefore generate heat, figure that the temperature ...
- 232
1
vote
2
answers
11k
views
Priming sugar in kegs [duplicate]
Do you need to add priming sugar when moving beer to a keg? Will the CO2 from the system be enough to carbonate it?
CommunityBot
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1
vote
1
answer
94
views
Over Carbonated
I just tried my first batch of home brew, and some of the bottles were over carbonated. What caused it and what can I do about it in the future?
- 566
1
vote
1
answer
189
views
Using plastic drums for long term sour aging?
I have 15 gallon plastic drums, like what LME comes in. I would really like to use them to age my sours in but I'm concerned with O2 permeability. Has anyone tried this or have any good resources on ...
- 3,020
15
votes
2
answers
41k
views
What is the conversion rate between dry malt extract (DME) and liquid malt extract (LME)?
Say I have a recipe that calls for 5 lbs of LME. How much DME would that be?
- 9,705
7
votes
4
answers
979
views
Will my session beer be OK for 5-6 weeks in primary?
I am looking to finish off my leftover ingredients and can just about make a pale ale with OG ~1.04 or so. I'd like to get it started tomorrow, but I probably won't be able to rack it until the first ...
- 1
13
votes
4
answers
19k
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?
CommunityBot
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0
votes
1
answer
587
views
What dimensions should a brew bag be for 5 gallon batches?
I began brewing BIAB with a starter kit for 1 gallon batches. I would like to move up to 5 gallon batches, but my original brew bag would be too small for the quantity of grains required.
I know ...
- 566
2
votes
2
answers
547
views
Cooler mash tun: prevent leaks from faucet
I've add some mishaps with my standard Coleman-based mash tun, and I'm now left with a hole where the faucet was (some wort went inside the insulation, but I'd like to believe it won't impact ...
- 33.4k
0
votes
2
answers
111
views
Foul tasting ale
I recently took up home brewing as a hobby and brewed my first (small) batch of ale. It was a simple recipe-
boil a litre of water with a LOT of sugar and some lemon juice
let it cool
pitch in the ...
- 3,020
0
votes
1
answer
380
views
Will a stout faucet give me the same effect as a beer engine?
I know that stout faucets were devised as a means for emulating the cask ale experience but how close are they? Can I skip getting a beer engine at home and just get a stout faucet and beer gas?
CommunityBot
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1
vote
1
answer
57
views
Does it make sense to steep wheat in cold water as it is heating up?
I'm actually not talking about cold steeping. The recipe I'm using says
Put 2.5 gallons of cold, filtered water into pot. Added malted wheat (in muslin bag) to pot and brought the water to 180 ...
CommunityBot
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0
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Where is the best place to order 5 gallon extract kits?
I am a new homebrewer, I have brewed about 5 extract kits, one from austinhomebrew.com and the rest from Northernbrewer.com
I will eventually order items to do my own extract recipes, but until then ...
- 566
5
votes
2
answers
595
views
Any drawback in heating the mash with grains in?
I do BIAB and in my constant search for ways to simplify my brew day I recently started to heat my mash with the grains already in. That is:
I fill my kettle with the full water volume I'll be using (...
- 566
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How long does a white labs liquid yeast vial last once opened?
I have been using half of a vial of white labs liquid yeast for brewing 1 gallon batches of beer. How long will the second half last once I put it back in the frige? It had been allowed to warm ...
CommunityBot
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4
votes
2
answers
885
views
Adjusting Low Pre-boil Volume: Sparging More Water vs. Topping Off With Water
Sometimes I come up short on my pre-boil volume. I've read in a few places that, if this is the case, one should directly top off the wort with water before boiling instead of first running the water ...
- 6,437
1
vote
2
answers
537
views
Securing a threaded thermowell into a bucket lid
I perhaps may have made an oops and I bought this thermowell, thinking it would be easier to secure it to the lid than the regular straight walled one that everyone puts in a dual stopper. I thought ...
- 113
-1
votes
1
answer
90
views
What is the benefit of a Fermentap kettle
I've seen a number of kettle add-ons and am just wondering what the benefits are? I saw a Hot Liquor Tank, false bottoms, etc.. I'm just interested in learning all I can. I currently just have a basic ...
- 6,437
0
votes
1
answer
167
views
Fermenter is ready to explode
I am making my first "original recipe " beer. I've used proven recipes until now. This time I took what I learned and changed things up to create my own. Problem is that now that it's in the fermenter ...
- 10.1k
2
votes
1
answer
147
views
Need help diagnosing efficiency on a wheat beer
Yesterday I did my 12th brew. My third in my current equipment setup. All-Grain BIAB where my efficiency has been consistently over %70. My previous brew, an IPA I hit all my numbers. I changed no ...
- 6,437
4
votes
1
answer
678
views
Mash-out and batch sparging
Brewing all grain, my mash tun can't hold my full sparge volume. So I step it, a few gallons at a time. I've read that the sparge water should be 170 F to stop the enzyme reaction. But when stepping ...
- 788
1
vote
2
answers
73
views
Any way to Flavour a Cider crafted with Baking yeast? [duplicate]
I'm very new to brewing, and I'm making a couple test batches of cider as we speak. However my accessibility to things like wine or champagne yeast, so i'm stuck with baking yeast.
My question is ...
- 151
1
vote
3
answers
6k
views
Why my mead is sparkling?
I just tasted my mead after 3 months of brewing and now it tastes ok, but it is sparkling, like champagne. It also tastes a little like it. Actually, i never tasted mead before so i don't know hot it ...
CommunityBot
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14
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Avoiding excessive soot on brew kettles
Are there any secret tricks to avoiding an exorbitant amount of soot on the brew kettle after the boil?
We have been making all grain batches recently using a 20 gallon stock pot and a propane burner,...
- 10.1k
3
votes
3
answers
351
views
putting the fizz back into beer
I'm hopping you guys can help me with this one. I want to fill a 2lt coke bottle with beer from bottles and add sugar and yeast to put the CO2 back in so it will last 8 to 10 days plus.
I'm after ...
- 190
1
vote
3
answers
566
views
Electric brewing inside
It's starting to get cold out there but I still want to brew. I started looking into electric brew kettles (i am still new and only using extracts kits). Most of the stuff I read online is about ...
- 673
3
votes
1
answer
178
views
Bucket Heaters and Condensation safety / Lid considerations
EDIT - After many different attempts, I've learned these bucket heaters definitely shut them self off when the water starts boiling (and turn back on when the water drops somewhat below boiling), ...
CommunityBot
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0
votes
1
answer
191
views
I am having trouble finding 1/2" inside diameter hose barb fittings to feed my Chugger pump
Where can I buy a " 1/2" NPT female x 1/2" ID hose barb " with a true 1/2" inside diameter?
My Chugger pump requires a minimum of 1/2" feed to eliminate cavitation.
- 3,020
10
votes
3
answers
601
views
Need help accenting the "clove" character of my Hefes
So I enjoy the heck outa making Hefeweizens. Its a great style and very wonderful when fresh. However, my Hefe's never seem to hit that "clove" note properly, they always lean much more towards the "...
- 10.1k
1
vote
2
answers
571
views
Airlock not pressurized, any explanation other than a leak?
I'm in the primary fermentation of mead, using one of these "big mouth bubbler" 5 gallon fermenters and an S airlock.
Initially, when the fermentation was really vigorous, the airlock behaved as ...
- 497
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
Overcarbination in a Chocolate Porter
I brewed a batch of chocolate porter from an all-grain kit. Not only does the finished product not taste particularly good, but 1/3-1/2 of the beer foams up and out of the bottle once it's opened.
...
- 9,028