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Lessons we've learned the hard way (result)


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#1 SchwanzBrewer

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Posted 19 January 2017 - 08:46 PM

OK, let's hear it.

 

1. Unless it's stainless, a cooler mash tun is not able to be sanitized as an open fermentor (result was my first sour beer)

 

2. Always remove the blow off tube from the fermentor before you start kegging (result was 4.5 gallons of starsan getting sucked into the fermentor through the blow off tube and ruining a batch of kolsch)

 

3. Rocks are in malt bags from time to time (got through and auto adjusted my rollers on the mill insuring the crush sucked)

 

I'm sure I'll think of some more later.

 

GO!



#2 Big Nake

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Posted 19 January 2017 - 09:06 PM

1. Make a starter for a pack of Omega yeast (no nutrient bag in there)
2. Try to understand water composition and pH control before you make a hundred batches of gold lager that tastes harsh and grainy.
3. Don't ever buy any glass brewing vessels. You might lose a thumb.
4. Don't take a full glass secondary from the garage (that is slightly wet from the cold) and try to carry it down the basement stairs...
5. I'm sure there are plenty of others.

#3 MakeMeHoppy

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 06:03 AM

Stop worrying so much, it wants to be beer!

 

When I started out I somehow believed that coughing in the same room I brewed in could ruin my beer.



#4 positiveContact

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 06:13 AM

 

1. Unless it's stainless, a cooler mash tun is not able to be sanitized as an open fermentor (result was my first sour beer)

 

 

LOL.  that was a classic one.  you are a brave man!

 

for me one of the few I can think of is to think carefully about pressure and liquids and where they are going to go.

beer in the gas line?  check!

push CO2 up the racking cane and into the fermentor, stirring up trub?  check!

forget the hand faucet is open and hook it up to the keg?  check!

 

there are others in this realm I'm forgetting I'm sure.

 

another is to make sure you remove sanitizer from the fermentor before racking wort into it.

 

also I'd add pellet hops can clog up nearly anything!



#5 HVB

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 06:13 AM

1. 60 or  90 minute boils are not needed

2. yeast temp is not as big of a deal as some make it out

3. Water adjustment should be focused on

4. Shinny SS bits does make your beer taste better B) (joking)

 

eta:

5: watch for "suck back" when cold crashing


Edited by drez77, 20 January 2017 - 06:14 AM.


#6 Poptop

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 06:51 AM

httpss://www.midwestsupplies.com/fermenters-favorites-rack-magic-siphon?gdffi=aa92829c2cf847b6a646261bd5b23c06&gdfms=4FC0F34E0100420FB09417C3C5355084&gclid=Cj0KEQiAh4fEBRCZhriIjLfArrQBEiQArzzDAbOz6mda5oq2Ms21b-dxoU8sVbDy5Jkobutz39OnF78aAuiI8P8HAQ

Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon

#7 HVB

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 06:54 AM

httpss://www.midwestsupplies.com/fermenters-favorites-rack-magic-siphon?gdffi=aa92829c2cf847b6a646261bd5b23c06&gdfms=4FC0F34E0100420FB09417C3C5355084&gclid=Cj0KEQiAh4fEBRCZhriIjLfArrQBEiQArzzDAbOz6mda5oq2Ms21b-dxoU8sVbDy5Jkobutz39OnF78aAuiI8P8HAQ

Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon
Don't ever buy a Rack Magic siphon

I had a few auto siphons over the years, never liked em.



#8 positiveContact

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 07:21 AM

I had a few auto siphons over the years, never liked em.

 

I'd also add to "just buy a SS racking cane" b/c there is a good chance you'll break your plastic one anyway :P


Edited by Evil_Morty, 20 January 2017 - 07:38 AM.


#9 Poptop

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 07:35 AM

I'd also add to "just buy a SS siphon" b/c there is a good chance you'll break your plastic one anyway :P


Too many parts on the Rack Magic, loses prime over and over.

Edited by Steppedonapoptop, 20 January 2017 - 07:35 AM.


#10 positiveContact

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 07:39 AM

Too many parts on the Rack Magic, loses prime over and over.

 

sorry, meant to type racking cane, not "siphon".  I dunno where my brain was.



#11 Poptop

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 07:43 AM

sorry, meant to type racking cane, not "siphon".  I dunno where my brain was.


"Out of my brain on the 5:15" ~ R. Daltry


Edited by Steppedonapoptop, 20 January 2017 - 07:43 AM.


#12 Stains_not_here_man

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 09:27 AM

When corny kegs are selling for $13 each, buy as many as you can and don't sell them.



#13 Poptop

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 11:58 AM

Don't design a recipe two weeks before brew day because it changes way to f'in much.



#14 HVB

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 12:10 PM

Don't design a recipe two weeks before brew day because it changes way to f'in much.

Damn, I do them months ahead ..lol



#15 armagh

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 12:22 PM

Never carry carboys outdoors for cleaning wearing  flip-flops.  Broke two that day, first one had me bleeding like a stuck pig.  Patched myself up, put on shoes, dropped that one on the concrete driveway and said "feck it, this isn't my day."



#16 HVB

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 12:24 PM

Never carry carboys outdoors for cleaning wearing  flip-flops.  Broke two that day, first one had me bleeding like a stuck pig.  Patched myself up, put on shoes, dropped that one on the concrete driveway and said "feck it, this isn't my day."

You should have bought a lottery ticket that day!  You were lucky!



#17 gnef

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 03:53 PM

Don't leave grain just in the sack for years, you will eventually have a moth and/or weavil infestation.

Don't mill with the lid on your mash tun.

When I was brewing with propane, always have a spare tank filled and ready to go.

Don't leave while filling your HLT.

Don't leave while racking a 10 gallon batch into the first keg.

Don't let an airlock stay plugged and let pressure build up in the fermenter, it gushes when you finally remove it.

Make sure your faucet is in the closed position when attaching the beerline disconnect.



#18 djinkc

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Posted 20 January 2017 - 05:13 PM

Don't worry too much.

 

I still remember the batch I fogot to put starsan concentrate in the usual sanitizing bucket.  Sanitized everything with tap water.  Turned out fine although I did make sure it was kept cold and consumed quickly.



#19 3rd party JKor

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Posted 21 January 2017 - 02:00 PM

Damn, I do them months ahead ..lol


I set my recipe right before i weigh out the grain. 😄

#20 MyaCullen

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Posted 22 January 2017 - 03:20 PM

I set my recipe right before i weigh out the grain.

yup, and sometimes after that




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