All Questions
Tagged with beer techniques
39
questions
41
votes
15
answers
115k
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?
- 1,917
33
votes
12
answers
41k
views
How to add fruit to beer
What is the best way to add fruit to a beer? I'm afraid boiling it will break down the fruit too much (a muslin bag could fix this I guess), but I'm not sure how to add it to the fermenter without ...
- 859
24
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Partial vs. Full Volume Wort Boil
The starting position 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. ...
- 36.2k
22
votes
4
answers
12k
views
How to Properly Oxygenate Wort
How much oxygen do I need to put into my wort?
I've heard that homebrewers need to aerate with an oxygen stone and either aquarium pumps or oxygen. Is this true, or is shaking my carboy enough to ...
- 6,429
22
votes
5
answers
79k
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 ...
yoquese
18
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Should I ferment a new batch directly on the yeast cake generated by the previous batch?
I'm going to re-use the yeast cake from a low-gravity batch to ferment a high-gravity batch.
Can I just put the wort directly on it? Does it then need to be agitated?
Is it worth the risk of ...
- 5,197
17
votes
5
answers
19k
views
How can I avoid a lot of foam in the first pint from the keg?
Whenever I go to get a pint from the keg, the first pint is always foamy. I have to fill the glass up about 1/3 of the way and dump it out, just to the pour actual beer. I usually carbonate by ...
- 823
12
votes
5
answers
23k
views
Can I use wine yeast to ferment beer?
Can I use wine yeast to ferment a beer? What sort of problems might I encounter that are unique to wine yeast trying to ferment malt sugars? What sort of flavor differences might I encounter?
- 6,613
9
votes
4
answers
1k
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 ...
- 1,243
8
votes
6
answers
3k
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 ...
- 36.2k
8
votes
5
answers
777
views
Critical Steps to follow for any homebrew beer recipe or process
I've got my second batch of homebrew fermenting, and in just two batches I've learned a lot the hard way (messed up batch priming, possibly under-aerated the wort, etc)
What steps are critical to any ...
- 1,522
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Starsan in double bubble airlock keeps getting sucked into fermenter - why and how to prevent?
I did a brew on Saturday and cooled, got in the fermenting bucket and added yeast, added starsan to the chamber in the double bubble airlock and got it under the stairs. Ever since then, the starsan ...
- 83
8
votes
2
answers
5k
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 ...
- 3,799
8
votes
2
answers
604
views
Fly Sparging: Can I start boiling straight away
I fly sparge directly into my boil kettle and in general I have the heat on while I'm doing this. When this was on my stove it wasn't powerful enough to get the water boiling before finishing the ...
- 181
7
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 552
7
votes
2
answers
775
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)?
- 1,522
6
votes
3
answers
255
views
What are the essential data one should collect when brewing beer?
guys, I just started homebrewing and I want to know what are the essential data one should collect when brewing beer other than hop schedules and gravities.
What additional statistics do you suggest I ...
- 63
6
votes
2
answers
5k
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 ...
- 36.2k
6
votes
5
answers
4k
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 ...
- 4,130
6
votes
4
answers
3k
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 ...
- 1,412
5
votes
4
answers
203
views
Names for when you use hops
I have heard a lot about the different stages of hopping in the mash, but I have only heard the term dry hopping. Are there different terms given to the different stages of hopping, or are they all ...
- 53
5
votes
1
answer
586
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 ...
- 36.2k
4
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Is it possible to do full boils without a propane burner?
I currently brew all-grain using a 7.5 gallon pot on a propane burner outside at a house I currently rent. However, I'm planning to move within the year to an apartment in the city and likely won't ...
- 4,130
4
votes
1
answer
248
views
Long cooling before pitching -- aerate now or later?
This is a follow-up to this question: Long cooling before pitching -- read that for background.
I aerate to add oxygen to my wort by pouring back and forth between buckets. If I wait before pitching,...
- 3,266
4
votes
1
answer
351
views
recapping my bottles? Will it ruin the outcome of my beer?
I bottled my first batch of homebrew and didnt fill the bottles all the way. So the next day I opened the bottles and poured some more beer into them and recapped them.. I this going to mess up the ...
- 301
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are some popular methods for measuring boil and HLT volume?
Particularly during lautering and during a boil, I have a hard time keeping track of water/wort volume. What method(s) and equipment do you all recommend for accurately calculating liquid volume ...
- 572
3
votes
1
answer
964
views
Steam sanitation of a stainless steel fermenter and bottles
Premise
As a chemical engineering student, I tried my best to avoid any chemical at all (When they say trust me, you should never do so).
As such, I resorted to steam to sanitize my fermenter and ...
3
votes
3
answers
215
views
Graham cracker beer or wine
How does one go about making a beer or wine with a graham cracker taste?
I was thinking cracked wheat berries and sweetened with honey, but I also heard hefty
Amounts of wheat germ and wheat bran are ...
- 975
3
votes
5
answers
177
views
Carbonation in keg
I did my first kegged beer last week, I put the beer in and turned the co2 to about 35 and purged the tank about 5 times. I then shook the beer on the co2 for 3 minutes and then turned off the co2 ...
- 101
3
votes
2
answers
556
views
How much time should a warm-fermenting yeast strain sit at the high primary temperature?
I made a batch of braggot (~46% honey) a couple of weeks ago, and used the Duvel strain (a pack of Wyeast 1388 and a vial of WLP570). Pitched at 65 and ramped it up to 82 over the course of 7 days. ...
- 6,613
3
votes
1
answer
529
views
Controlling exothermic heat from primary fermentation with A/C cooling duct
In terms of brewing with Ale yeasts, I understand that fermenter temps can increase up to 10 degrees, or more, than the ambient room temperature. As a "cheap" method for keeping the temperature of the ...
- 1,152
2
votes
3
answers
165
views
How to make Sweet beer
Can anyone help please if I add honey at the bottling stage will this add more sweetness and what sweeteners are non fermentable?
- 21
2
votes
3
answers
278
views
Mojito beer help
I am trying to make a beer that taste kind of like a mojito to try. I am thinking of doing 4lbs 2row and 4lb wheat with a lb of molasses to get around 5% abv. I am just wondering what hops to use and ...
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
497
views
Should steeping grains be crushed differently than mashing grains?
Looking at the process for steeping grains I see that it omits a vorlauf. Would crushing steeping grains in the same way as mashing grains produce too much fine particulate? Should wort from ...
- 1,522
2
votes
2
answers
722
views
How to treat Brettanomyces for secondary fermentation?
I'm wanting to add some Brettanomyces lambicus to an old ale after it has been moved to a secondary fermentor (it should be in the 7-8% ABV range at this point, and the primary yeast will be Wyeast ...
- 6,613
1
vote
5
answers
2k
views
Are there ways to make your own beer on the cheap?
I have more experience with infusions and other ferments. I'm ready to delve into beer making without buying an expensive kit. What's the best way to do this?
- 11
1
vote
3
answers
357
views
Step by Step homebrewing from extract - need verification and clarification
I am sorry for the long thread, but I am digging the net for few days now and did not find such a "tutorial", so I will built my own and want to share it.
I will be happy you comment/correct me, and I ...
- 119
1
vote
1
answer
363
views
How to use ( Super Kleer ) for the Beer !
How to use ( Super Kleer ) to clear the beer ... I purchased that but i didn't find a clear Direction to use it for the Beer ... Is it during primary or secondary !
Im planning to use it in the ...
- 103
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Whirlpooling vs. Flameout (Knockout)
I'm new to adding different hop additions after the boil. I'm not sure of the difference between recipes that cite add hops (whirlpool) and add hops (flameout). What's the difference? With flameout ...
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