Questions tagged [techniques]

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.

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2 votes
3 answers
161 views

Fractional Distillation

Curious newbie here. Watching the "moonshiners" show the other night and the guys were doing fractional distillation by freezing their mash and removing the ice. They then simply boiled to ...
0 votes
1 answer
141 views

Proper method for using this sort of swing-top when bottling?

First time brewer here... I have swing-tops that affix to used bottles via this sort of band: I am wondering if I am utilizing it correctly or if there is a trick or something for wrapping the band ...
2 votes
1 answer
198 views

Sour/musty tasting mead

My son and I tried our hand at mead for the first time... I didn't notice a lot of bubbling I thought that it wasn't fermenting correctly but my son thought differently, he's 17. Lol But when we went ...
1 vote
0 answers
46 views

Champagne/Cider Remuage: Why not just place the bottle upside down (90 degrees)?

I'm making hard sparkling apple cider using the Champagne method (re-fermenting on the bottle for carbonation). This year I will try the full method of also removing the yeast lees from the bottle ...
1 vote
1 answer
106 views

Bentonite AND Sparkolloid [duplicate]

I know from previous questions that you can use both Bentonite followed by Sparkolloid in the same mead. Am I correct in thinking the best process would be add bentonite, give a week, RACK OFF THE ...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Hydrogen peroxide to remove chlorine from brewing water

just wanted to ask if anyone using 3% hydrogen peroxide to remove chlorine from your strike/sparge water? If yes how many ml/l or gallon? Thank you.
2 votes
3 answers
143 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?
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3 votes
1 answer
134 views

Very fine wax in Mead

Was given a 1/2 bucket of crystalized honey and so made Mead. Used Champagne yeast, Original Gravity 1.092, Final Gravity 0.996. My sort of problem is : there seems to be a 'sediment'. AT THE TOP! ...
2 votes
1 answer
74 views

Is there any merit in doing gelatin fining multiple times?

I currently have a Belgian Blond in primary that I'm planning of transferring to a secondary vessel in order to dry hop. I usually do a gelatin fining when transferring my beer to the bottleing ...
2 votes
1 answer
83 views

Rinsing frozen red currants

I picked some garden grown red currants a good while ago and threw them straight in the freezer without washing them. I'm planning on making wine with them soon. Most recipes I've read recommend ...
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Pressure Fermenting an IPA, how long and at what pressure?

I'm using a FermZilla Fermenter I plan on using a pressure fermentation method. This will be the first time doing this I would to get some advice from those who have done this. length of time under ...
2 votes
1 answer
33 views

Adding Additional Pumpkin To My Porter

I'm brewing a extract Pumpkin Porter kit and just transferred from primary to secondary. I tasted it and I could taste the spices but was wondering if it was too late to pumpkin it up a little. Could ...
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3 votes
1 answer
85 views

Why has the Specific Gravity to Potential Alcohol conversions changed?

Ok, so I have implied but not said outright that I have been making wine for almost 30 years, but what I have also implied but not outright said is that there has been a break in that amateur ...
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1 vote
3 answers
212 views

What is the best wine filtering system?

As a hobbyist who produces at least 5 gallons a week of wine, what filtering system do you recommend? I am also looking at transfer pumps as well. I am getting older and have torn rotator cuffs and ...
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3 votes
1 answer
126 views

has anyone experimented with using yeast hulls to supply sterols rather than oxygenating/airating their beer/wine/mead must or wort?

So this question challenges a lot Brewers assumption that yeast needs oxygen to reproduce. It just plain doesn’t. Yeast does use oxygen, but it’s a mighty and inaccurate over simplification to say it ...
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3 votes
3 answers
183 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 ...
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4 votes
1 answer
64 views

Using raw wheat in witbeers

Hi I am a brewer in the Indian Ocean Island of Madagascar working on a few recipes to hopefully start a microbrewery here. Our aim is to use as much locally grown fermentables as possible. We would ...
3 votes
5 answers
168 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 ...
1 vote
2 answers
179 views

Will baked bottles stay sanitized if kept inverted?

This site has quite a few post on how to clean and re-use bottles. In this community wiki, we learn that by putting foil over the top of bottles and baking them for 60 minutes at 340, we will ...
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4 votes
1 answer
278 views

Using candles to take out oxygen in fermentation chamber?

If I leave a few lit candles in my fermentation chamber (chest freezer,) would it eat up all the oxygen without any adverse effects? I've seen people do this on a smaller scale but it creates a vacuum....
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4 votes
2 answers
887 views

Ginger Beer ABV from Bakers Yeast

I’ve made ginger beer a few times. I usually make it with just fresh ginger and raw honey. Usually the I get well less than 2% ABV. This last week though I used a different honey, sourced from a farm,...
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3 votes
1 answer
486 views

Priming solution or add sugar to individual bottles?

From what I've read, it seems that the old technique of adding a given amount of sugar to each bottle for priming isn't recommended anymore. Instead, just about every source recommends boiling ...
1 vote
1 answer
95 views

Can I still oxygenate 2.5 days in?

Brewed a 1.100 SG stout, fermentation has been steady but slowed noticeably about 24-36 hours in. Wondering if aerating again 2.5 days in could help, or is that too late? 5.25 gallon batch, 3 ...
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1 vote
1 answer
287 views

How to properly use the same coil of an HERMS setup as chiller?

I'm assembling an HERMS equipment and noticed that very few people use the coil as chiller after the boiling is over. Besides all the sanitation of tubing, lines, pump, etc..., is there any other ...
5 votes
4 answers
197 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 ...
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

How to increase thickness in beer?

I've found myself becoming quite fond of "thick" and "juicy" IPAs and DIPAs. Beers with a viscosity to them that feels somewhat syrupy and leaving a great mouthfeel when drunk. I want to brew my own ...
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3 votes
4 answers
256 views

Separating funnel

In chemistry there exists a conical base funnel for separating heavier fractions. What i would like if anyone knows of one is a large version of this 1 gallon or larger. Reason is that when siphoning ...
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1 vote
1 answer
324 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 ...
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2 votes
2 answers
365 views

Brewing with Squash Guts

So I'm very new at brewing and I'm looking to make a gift for my father. We have a small farm where we peel a lot of squash and cube it, leaving behind a lot of squash guts. I was wondering how I ...
2 votes
2 answers
498 views

1st cider attempt, cat pee smell

I’ve been all grain brewing for a few years (40+ batches) and decided to try a cider for the family for the holidays. Followed recommendations in BYO mag using pasteurized pear juice and added SafeAle ...
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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 ...
5 votes
1 answer
339 views

Ideas about clearing a clogged collection ball on conical fermenter

I am preparing a heavily dry hopped beer. So far I have added my home grown yeast on brewing day with multiple hops. I have dry hopped twice again, and am at the final dry hop 5 days before bottling....
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1 vote
3 answers
349 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 ...
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6 votes
2 answers
509 views

Cold Crashing techniques

I have very nearly mastered the clarification process but still wish to control the timing of flocculation more consistently. At what point/stage is cold crashing most efficient?
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2 votes
1 answer
69 views

Think about doing a Lager

My thought process is to get fermentation started, then once the first two days of fermentation has completed. Filling a cooler with ice and water. Then submerge the little Brown Keg (Mr Beer Keg). To ...
3 votes
3 answers
382 views

Viscosity of a Russian Imperial Stout

How can I increase the viscosity of a Russian imperial stout? I've heard of making boils longer Use oats, What do you recommend? Thank you so much! Regards, Erik Dobrychtop. Cya o/
6 votes
3 answers
251 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 ...
3 votes
2 answers
105 views

Should the wort be boiled?

We bought a hard root beer kit--we are new to this--a friend says not to boil, the kit has boiling instructions. Is it necessary to boil to make beer?
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2 votes
1 answer
647 views

whirlpool/ hop stand duration and temps

I've been using hop stands for all of my beers, but they all have been slightly different. I was wondering what you guys would recommend in terms of when to add the hops (at what temperature) and for ...
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2 votes
2 answers
260 views

Cannot avoid boil-over without turning down heat

I've been all grain brewing for a couple years (23 batches), and can't figure out why my last two brews simply would not get through the hot break stage of the boil. Every time I tried to get through ...
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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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4 votes
2 answers
85 views

Laboratory Scale beer Production for Microbiology and sensory evaluation

What is the easiest and best way make opaque beer in the lab? The beer has to be made in such a way that it will be able to be tasted. Besides using hops what other alternatives could I use for me ...
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

Will Potassium Metabisulfite prevent store-bought Grape Juice from fermenting?

There's a store-bought grape juice that I'm interested in lacto-fermenting (i.e. no yeast, only bacteria, anaerobic ferment, etc) but I recently discovered Potassium Metabisulfite is added to "enhance ...
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1 vote
2 answers
704 views

Mashing&Sparging in a single vessel

My brewing buddy has made a move toward grain brewing with the purchase of a brewing pot equipped with a thermometer, false bottom, and screen in the false bottom with an attached valve. We can get ...
1 vote
4 answers
2k views

Not enough wort after boil

I did a 5 litre brew yesterday, a California Common Beer, I did it as per the recipe, with the steep time and the 60 min boil, and I ended up with 2.5 litres of wort from a starting liquid of 7.37 ...
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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 ...
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0 votes
1 answer
701 views

Does High Sugar Concentration Inhibits Bacterial growth?

About a month ago, I started making a dairy-free drink with blended fruit (i.e. Strawberries, Raspberries, etc). I'd like to start lacto-fermenting these smoothies but a friend of mine insists that ...
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1 vote
1 answer
299 views

What are the "tails"?

While reading an article on home brewing the article said to keep the tails, what does it mean by tails? What are the tails?
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2 votes
1 answer
114 views

Can Lactobacillus ferment solely with table sugar?

I'd like to create an anaerobic ferment with just lactobacillus (i.e. no yeast), table sugar and water. Is this possible or would I have to add anything else to help the Lactobacillus ferment?
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4 votes
1 answer
613 views

Why are some of my batches too sweet in the bottle, and can I rescue them?

I've had pretty good success brewing kits generally, but towards the end of last year I went on a mission brewing a few batches in fairly rapid succession. Unfortunately for me, most of the resultant ...
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