http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:28:17 +0000 60 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30560-going-to-indy/


mike]]> Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:28:17 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30560-going-to-indy/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30556-freezer-collar-build-question/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:33:05 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30556-freezer-collar-build-question/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30554-stir-plate-designs/
Apart from that, I'm sure I've got a cell phone charger laying around. Oh, and I need to pick up a stir bar. Otherwise, any advice? Pictures of the guts of your own Stir Plates?]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:10:05 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30554-stir-plate-designs/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30548-fast-beer-needed/
What should I brew?

another hefeweisen?

A cream ale? (did one of these in about the same time frame, but i want a little more character this time)

Suggestions? I am going to the LHBS tomorrow afternoon and I'm gonna brew on saturday.

Beer Forum Brain Trust GO!

Cheers,
Rich]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:22:55 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30548-fast-beer-needed/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30533-fast-us-05/ I pitched a packet of US-05 in a batch of 5.8% IPA and it finished in 3 days by WED morning is this typical not even so much as a bubble coming from the air lock is this typical Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:31:48 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30533-fast-us-05/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30507-outpost/
So, do i take the pressure off the keg and remove the outpost and clean/put it back on?or wait until i have a new outpost? i replace all the gaskets when i buy my kegs.Think its a bad post or just needs adjustment? ]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:10:40 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30507-outpost/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30506-your-gonna-love-my-nuts-brown-ale/
0.25 lbs. Weyermann CaraMunich® III

0.25 lbs. Weyermann Carafa® TYPE II

0.375 lbs. English Amber Malt

1 lbs. White Wheat Malt

1.5 OZ. Roasted Barley


0.5 oz. Northern Brewer (Pellets, 9.8 %AA) boiled 60 min

0.25 oz. East Kent Goldings (Whole, 5.00 %AA) boiled 15 min

0.25 oz. East Kent Goldings (Whole, 5.00 %AA) boiled 1 min

east : Fermentis S-04 Safale S-04


Original Gravity 1.048

Terminal Gravity 1.012

Color 18.44 °SRM

Bitterness 26.6 IBU

Alcohol (%volume) 4.8 %


Tried Garrison's Nut Brown Ale and Loved it so I thought id brew a brown and here it is brewed it on sunday and as of today WED Krausen has fallen god love S-04]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:47:03 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30506-your-gonna-love-my-nuts-brown-ale/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30463-wort-transfer/
Copper
CPVC
PEX
PVC with tubing inside

I am leaning towards PEX or copper. The advantage I see with the PEX is I can have one solid piece where the copper will have a joint. I am worried about the glue used to join the CPVC contacting the wort.

Thoughts???]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:21:09 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30463-wort-transfer/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30436-toasting-hops/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:04:57 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30436-toasting-hops/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30405-1272-weirdness/ really dark. I used extra-light DME for my starter but the starter vessel looks like it's filled with porter right now. Is this normal? I have had my share of old White Labs vials and Activators that I have brought back to life to make some great beer. I assume that if this stuff was stored properly & in it's original package that it's okay. Any thoughts on this? I planned to brew on Thursday morning. If this stuff smells bad when it starts to get active, I do have some 1056 and also some White Labs 023 Burton sitting at the bottom of 2 primaries. Cheers.]]> Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:30:28 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30405-1272-weirdness/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30398-dead-yeast/ It was an Octoberfest smack-pack and I thought that it started to swell, but not fully over 5 hours like all the others that I've done.
I pitched it, and the water in the end of the blow-off tube levels out with the water in the blow-off bucket... no positive pressure = no fermentation over a couple of days. I leave tomorrow for the rest of the week, I have no LHBS (that I know of) and no emergency yeast... I entertained the thought of throwing bread yeast in there (saw an experiment on Basic Brewing Video).

1) Does lager yeast take longer to get started than ale yeast at ~68F?
2) How long have you let wort sit in a fermenter without yeast?

Nate]]> Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:27:46 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30398-dead-yeast/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30343-three-vessel-keg-cleaner/
Now that I'm switching to 15.5g Sankey fermenters, cold conditioning tanks, and serving vessels, I need a professional way of cleaning and keeping beer stone away. No tops cut off for me. Im currently having to switch solutions with my single Sankey keg cleaner now and its a PIA.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated...]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:13:10 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30343-three-vessel-keg-cleaner/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30333-how-stuff-works-beer/
The only thing the show could have done without was the Beer Spa. Not really necessary and I'm sure SWMBO was wondering "WTF are you watching chicks disrobing and getting into tubs for? I thought you were watching a show about beer?"

Has anyone else seen this show?]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:50:53 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30333-how-stuff-works-beer/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30258-you-guys-are-going-to-hate-me/
My link]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:12:04 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30258-you-guys-are-going-to-hate-me/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30254-water/ So how often should you have a lab report? I had one done about 2 1/2 yrs ago. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:05:16 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30254-water/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30206-propane-tank/ Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:04:31 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30206-propane-tank/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30178-flanders-red/

Flander's Red #2

Brew Type: All Grain
Style: Flanders Red Ale Brewer: Dennis
Batch Size: 5.50 gal Assistant Brewer: Judy
Boil Volume: 7.78 gal Boil Time: 90 min

Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.50 lb Vienna Malt (4 SRM) Grain 50.0 %
1.00 lb Aromatic Malt (26 SRM) Grain 9.1 %
1.00 lb Caravienne Malt (22 SRM) Grain 9.1 %
1.00 lb Corn, Flaked (1 SRM) Grain 9.1 %
1.00 lb Munich Malt - 10L (10 SRM) Grain 9.1 %
1.00 lb Wheat, Flaked (2 SRM) Grain 9.1 %
0.50 lb Special B Malt (180 SRM) Grain 4.5 %
0.75 oz Goldings, East Kent Leaf [5.0%] (90 min) Hops 12.6 IBU
Roselare Belgian Blend (Wyeast Labs #3763)

Beer Profile Estimated Original Gravity: 1.053
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.015
Estimated Color: 16 SRM
Bitterness: 12.6 IBU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 4.9 %]]> Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:22:24 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30178-flanders-red/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30146-waiting-to-hoist-here/
The Oracle is great,($3.15 a bottle/$16.75+tax&deposit)i only picked up another single.I cannot find much info on it.Anyone got any info they can share? i will keep searching. ]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:41:56 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30146-waiting-to-hoist-here/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30107-places-to-get-glassware/ ]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:04:53 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30107-places-to-get-glassware/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30088-hop-wreath/
]]> Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:16:13 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30088-hop-wreath/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30076-rust-in-cornies/ I have 6 pin lock kegs that I have been sitting on for a while not and just got around to taking them apart for a thorough once (or twice) over. A couple of them have some rust in them. Is there any way to get rid of it or are these kegs better suited for other uses? Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:34:10 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30076-rust-in-cornies/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30068-lager-starter/
Questions:

1. Is 12 hours still too early to see any activity going on?

2. I have never seen a lager yeast in action, is it likely I won't see visible activity?

3. My LHBS smacked the pack for me at around 2:30 yesterday, but I wouldn't say it increased in size in appreciable manner... I thought with the smack packs that if you were making a starter it didn't really matter.

I'm planning on brewing tomorrow night and pitching Saturday morning.

Thoughts... comments???]]> Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:37:28 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30068-lager-starter/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30063-spiced-pumpkin-ale/

Summoned Spirits Spiced Pumpkin Ale

8 lbs American Pale Malt
8 oz Crystal 120°L
4 oz Brown Sugar (added to the boil, not mash)
1.5 oz Chocolate
1.5 oz Roasted Barley
30 ounces of canned pumpkin added to the mash (mash everything at 152-154°)
1 oz of mild hops like Mt. Hood, Tettnanger, Hallertau, Willamette, etc. at 4.0 to 4.5% for 60 minutes

1½ tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice added to the brewpot and steeped for 15 minutes (lid on) after flameout

White Labs 01 California Ale yeast, 1056 or dry US-05

1½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice added to something like Captain Morgan's, Barardi Spice or anything that will keep the spice sanitary. Combine spice and rum in a container with a tight-fitting lid a few days before racking the beer to secondary. Add the spice & rum mixture to the secondary and rack the beer on top to mix it well

OG: 1.049, FG: 1.012, IBU: 19, SRM: 15, ABV: 4.8%

I have made this beer 3 or 4 times now and I seem to be able to recreate it pretty well. Buffalo Bill's Pumkpin Ale was the inspiration for this beer with it's dark color and sweet, spicy flavor. This is not a beer where hops or the yeast should lend much of anything. You want to create a nice, malty beer that is just barely balanced with hops and create a base for the spice to do its thing. The addition of pumpkin is an option as the pumpkin may not lend much flavor. But I do think that the mashed pumpkin adds a small amount of fermentables and also gives the beer a bit of an orangy color. Some brewers will cut a pumpkin (no skin) into small chunks and roast them in the oven. To get around that, I used some roasted grain in the recipe along with canned pumpkin from the grocery store which simply gets added to the mash. The pumpkin can cause some runoff issues (slowing the draining of the mash vessel) so you might consider adding rice hulls to your mash.

This is all about personal preference. I like the hops to balance the sweetness of the wort and that's it. I also like a neutral yeast because I don't want hops, spice and complex yeast profiles battling for attention with my tastebuds. The amount of spice in the beer is also a personal preference and this may be more than people want. This recipe will place the spice in the front and make it VERY detectable. I don't consider it to be too much for a beer that you will not necessarily be drinking all day. The spice that is added to the brewpot will be mellowed by the heat and the activity of the primary. The spice that is added into secondary will be more up front, creating layers of spice flavor. Another piece of experience I have picked up with this beer is that beers with any type of flavor added (spices, vanilla, fruit, etc.) require a little extra time to mellow and blend. If you want to be drinking your spiced pumpkin ale from mid-October up until Halloween, it's best to brew it sometime in August to allow the beer to sit awhile. If it doesn't have enough time to age, the spice flavor will be a little sharper and less smooth than you might like.

]]> Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:39:55 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30063-spiced-pumpkin-ale/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30052-whos-brewing/
Mostly 2-row, some Munich, a little Aromatic and a touch of Special B. FWH with Amarillo/Simcoe and post flameout with a healthy hit of Amarillo. 1272, 1.055 and pushing 60 IBUs.]]> Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:48:38 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30052-whos-brewing/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30024-want-to-get-a-motor-for-my-malt-mill/ Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:08:10 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30024-want-to-get-a-motor-for-my-malt-mill/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30020-corking-belgians/
So I am contemplating whether to drop the dough on a Ferrari corker, or go with the Colonna corker. Seems that the Ferrari truly has lifetime quality, but I have heard even with the capper housing it is not great for everyday capping, making it a really nice piece of equipt I may use once a year if that. The colonna seems up to multiple tasks, but is the quality sufficient? Does anyone have any testimonials with either or both of these?]]> Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:15:14 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/30020-corking-belgians/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29994-how-long-do-you-boil-your-starters/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:06:11 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29994-how-long-do-you-boil-your-starters/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29990-homegrown-hops/
I know that short of a lab test, there's no way to predict the alpha in homegrown hops, so I'm thinking I will just lower the percentage that Beersmith shows me, by...1%? And go with that? What do people normally do?

And...never brewed with whole hops before - only pellets. Any tips, anything I need to do differently? Increase water to account for absorption? Anything else?]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:09:13 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29990-homegrown-hops/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29970-more-on-batch-sparging/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:38:37 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29970-more-on-batch-sparging/ http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29953-label-for-boulevard-irish-ale-clone/
Boulevard's label:



Mine:



Jim]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:47:43 +0000 http://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/29953-label-for-boulevard-irish-ale-clone/