44 replies to this topic

[neddles]

Don't give up on a beer too soon. I had a beer several moths ago that tasted horrible with a strange metallic taste to it. I was pretty certain it was infected. Bleached my fermenters and replaced some hoses. Set it aside for a good while and it turned out just fine. Bad flavor disappeared. Can't explain why but it certainly wasn't infected. That was almost a mistake as I was ready to dump it.

 

I once began adding grain to my kettle before lining it with the BIAB bag. Whoops.

 

There was one time a few months back where I accidentally left the propane on very low after mash in (my kettle/tun stays on the unlit burner during the mash). Came back after 15 minutes to find it on very low and mash temp now at 156F instead of 148-150F (can't remember exactly what I intended). Any how the beer finished a couple of points higher and was delicious. Not sweet in the least.

[Stains_not_here_man]

When you put your immersion chiller in the kettle before ending the boil, make sure the hoses stay out of the flame

[MyaCullen]

When you put your immersion chiller in the kettle before ending the boil, make sure the hoses stay out of the flame

been there, done that

 

also make sure they are tight, I once put almost a gallon of raw hose water into a cooling beer with water trickling down the chiller into the pot

 

beer came out fine, just lighter than intended

[Deerslyr]

1.  Don't use fresh fruit in the secondary... or at least figure out a better way to kill the nasties than use of meta-bisulfite.

2.  LHBS owners don't always have the best advice (see #1 above).

 

I'm sure there is more.

[HVB]

1.  Don't use fresh fruit in the secondary... or at least figure out a better way to kill the nasties than use of meta-bisulfite.

2.  LHBS owners don't always have the best advice (see #1 above).

 

I'm sure there is more.

Flash freeze it.

[positiveContact]

 

2.  LHBS owners don't always have the best advice (see #1 above).

 

I feel like a lot of them haven't updated their best practices info for about a decade.  lots of advice I would have heard when I just started brewing that is no longer generally believe to be true.

[Deerslyr]

Flash freeze it.

They were messy, juicy plums.  After the metabisulfate, I froze them as well.  Still didn't kill everything.  I've sworn off using fresh fruit.

[Poptop]

Don't walk too far away from the kettle after adding hops

[Big Nake]

Don't let the torch-wielding strippers get too close to the hot tub filled with grain alcohol.

 

Oh wait... wrong thread. 

[Poptop]

Don't let the torch light your slippers when getting too close to the hot trub when making alcohol?

[Mike Green]

Auto siphon is not to be used for hot wort.

[MyaCullen]

Auto siphon is not to be used for hot wort.

modern art 

[neddles]

Don't stand in front of your IC inlet and outlet when you drop it into the boil. Learned that the second time I used my IC.

[Poptop]

During the boil the ball valve on the kettle can brand a perfect circle on your shin if walked into perfectly

[Mike Green]

Don't leave your SS stir spoon nestled on the handle of the boil tun during the boil

[HVB]

Don't leave your SS stir spoon nestled on the handle of the boil tun during the boil

I do that every brew, electric brewing few

[MyaCullen]

When heating up a hot oxy clean solution in you keggle to clean out 2 years of crud, don't immediately grasp it by the top handle and bottom rim fresh off of flame out to dump it out.

 

I still brew that recipe I completed that day, it is known as Dumb Guy Ale.

Edited by miccullen, 29 January 2017 - 10:28 AM.

[CaptRon]

The crappy diaper goes in the boil kettle, not the fermenter.


Seriously though, d9nt over thinkmit. It'll mostly be alright.

[Steve Urquell]

Dont ever try to straighten a plastic racking cane. My palm looked like I had defensive wounds fending off Freddy Kruger.

[mikesarney]

1. 60 or  90 minute boils are not needed

 

What is this magic you speak of? 

I've been away from brewing for about 18 months (2 years?).