Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Just finished putting my first ever home brew into the primary fermenter. Now, I wait. :banger

It's an Irish stout extract kit.

And I'm already planning what to make next :D

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Brewed a stove top all grain brown ale yesterday. Had the recipe with me when I went to school and somehow lost it between there and the home brew supply. Pulled together the basics but forgot the biscuit malt. I think it will still be ok. Bubbling away in primary now.

Homebrewing makes my wife happy in the winter because it gives me a reason to keep the house at 68 instead of my normal 60-65.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

My son asked for a Home Brew kit for Christmas, any pointers on where I should look?

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

http://midwestsupplies.com/ or http://northernbrewer.com/ have homebrew kits, or better yet check out your local home brew supply. One suggestion I would make is to get a kit with a glass secondary.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Midwest has the best prices. This is what I started out with
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-starter-kit.html
I called them and for a little more money I upgraded the bucket to another glass carboy. I agree, that glass is the way to go!
And its nice to have two carboys, that way you can have two beers going at once!

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Dont forget about Austin Homebrew supply


http://www.austinhomebrew.com/


Pukin Spice in the kegorator now with a Red IPA carbonating in the keezer ;o) Thinking of a Honkers Ale Clone next!

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Just reading through. Wifey-Claus is getting me a gift certificate for a homebrew shop here in SA and I am going to start brewing in 2011. Woooohooooo!!!! How many of you here do Extract vs MiniMash vs all grain?

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Sounds like a great gift, Chip! :al :tu

I'm about 50% extract (always with a specialty grain step,) and 50% partial-mash. Been doing that for years & years, and have been perfectly happy with the results! As soon as I finish renovating my garage/workspace, I'll make the jump to all grain.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Frist brew is an English Brown Ale.bottling next week.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Bottling my Irish stout this weekend. Hopefully I'll have part of a day on Sunday to myself after the Christmas rush to get it done.

Then it's on to a Bell's Three-Hearted clone.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Last night a brewed a batch of Austin Homebrew supplies Green Belt Pale Ale with their special GreenBelt yeast. It has my two favorite hops Simcoe & Amarillo in it, so I am curious how much more the yeast brings them out.
I plan on washing this yeast a few times, so hopefully is a good one!

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Matt (matt-n-ga) and My first batch, we made an Irish Stout and this picture was taken last night after we racked it to the secondary (did I get the lingo right?:D) Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...01221-1953.jpg

We tasted a sample and it tasted like flat, warm stout so we took this as a good sign. We plan on bottling New Years Day.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

:tu

Lookin' good, brutha!

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Nice Albert!!
Enjoy!

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Grabbing stuff for a brown ale tomorrow.

Tonight I am soaking about 100 bottles that I have had in my basement for a while. I think stripping the labels off of bottles is possibly the worst part of brewing, but I can't stand drinking homebrew from a bottle with someone elses label on it.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Got a Surly Furious extract clone from Midwest (called Ferocious) I'm going to try this weekend.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Hey Albert, I don't have the bottling pics, have you got them ? post em if you do.

We (awsmith4 and I) bottle our first brew on New Years Eve. It is now comfortably resting in the aging cellar (garage refridgerator)

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

:tu:tu :dr

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

:chr :noon :chr

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I did a nice, tame little RIS on 02-JAN. :D

OG was 1.115 when I pitched.

I'm experimenting with White Labs WLP099 this time to see how it does.
Fermenting like a ***** right now at 59°F.
My calcs say this yeast is capable of taking it all the way down to 1.011!
It may end up being a 13.7% ABV monster if it does!

Everything looks excessive here... but I did a no-sparge mash and planned on 50% efficiency and only got 54%. My planning worked for once! I need to get a fly sparge setup.

Amount Item Type % or IBU
12.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 45.45 %
2.00 lb Special B (Dingemans) (147.5 SRM) Grain 9.09 %
1.00 lb Aromatic Malt (Briess) (20.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Caramunich Malt (56.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Melanoiden Malt (20.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Roasted Barley (Briess) (300.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Victory Malt (biscuit) (Briess) (28.0
SRM) Grain 4.55 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 2.27 %
0.50 lb Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 2.27 %
60 min 2.00 lb Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM) Dry Extract
45 min 2.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (45 min) Hops
35 min 1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (35 min) Hops
30 min 1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (30 min) Hops
15 min 2.00 lb Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM) Dry Extract
15 min 1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (15 min) Hops
15 min 1.00 lb Brown Sugar, Dark [Boil for 15 min] Sugar
15 min 1.00 lb Molasses (80.0 SRM) Sugar
15 min 1.10 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
10 min 4.00 oz Bittersweet Baker's Chocolate (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
5 min 1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (5 min) Hops


**Edit.... that isn't the hop schedule I used though... :confused:
I also used 2.75oz of Challenger somewhere and reduced and swapped some of the others... that must be on my other 'puter.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

:jd

Holy crap, that's a lot of specialty malt!

I've never used this yeast, interesting strain. Did you have to add any nutrients or do anything different when you pitched to avoid a stuck fermentation?

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Yeah, I took the last competition note of "not malty enough" seriously.

I aerated like there was no tomorrow and added slightly more nutrient than I normally do.

I was worried at first (like I always do) 'cause it took a full 48 hours before any visible signs of fermentation arrived.
The White Labs site says to add wort in steps with the higher gravity coming after fermentation has begun, but I just pitched.
Hell, I didn't even make a starter. I do, however , have an inline aerator in my pump line that I use to transfer from the kettle to the carboy. It was a nice, frothy transfer.... looked yummy!:tu
I also aerated again after transfer.

I didn't even eff around with this one either... the blow off went on right away... and within 6 hours of visible fermentation it was using it!

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I haven't brewed in 10 years...but just recently came across all my stuff in the basement...I've got it all up into the kitchen now trying to sanitize it all...much to my wife's chagrin... ;) I've got some reading here to do it looks like 22 pages worth lol.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

DIPA is about to go in the fermenter.

Then:

Black IIPA
IPA
Extra Stout
Irish Red
Witbier
Kentucky Common

Then a massive RIS. Then a bunch of sours/lambics. Plan to blend a Gueze in a few years. Going to replicate everything as close as possible. Oak dowels with a surface area to liquid volume ratio similar to what the big oak barrel fermenters are. I'm going to try different fermentations too. One will be cherries added for spontaneous fermentation. I'm pretty pumped. Too bad they won't be ready for a looong time.

Then a Belgian Dark Strong when it gets warmer, since I want to start at 68*F and ramp up to 84*F and then back down. Also an Imperial Smoked Porter and Saison at some point. Soooooo much to brew.


Also I just helped my girl friend brew a Belgian Golden Strong Ale that is bubbling away like crazy in my room. I'm kind of excited to try it. Used a tiny bit of late hop additions of Challenger and Centennial - not to style, but who gives a ****. Sounds good to us. Belgian Strong Ale yeast, trying to keep it at 70*F.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I brewed a very hoppy Imperial Winter Ale last night

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Wooooooop! First brew is in process. just dropped my grain bag in @ 160*.

It is a English Brown Ale.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Just did a Classic American Pilsner on Friday, a Schwartzbier the Monday before and a APA the Wednesday before that which is waiting for dry hops. Transfered my Cal Common from dry hop to the keg today and have a Helles Bock that is at the end of diacetyl rest to keg in the next few days.

I promised my wife I wouldn't brew again this month. :D

I love home brew!

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

5.25 gallons of Bavarian Hefeweizen.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Surly Furious extract clone went into the fermenter on Saturday. Nearly a full-boil on the stove. Definitely need to look into a wort chiller if I'm going to keep boiling the larger volume of water ...

Unfortunately I didn't find out until after that going from the partial boil to full boil, I should have reduced the amount of bittering hops included in the kit, but hopefully it will be OK.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I just completed a wort chiller. I found 50' of 3/8" ACR cooper at the metal scrap yard for $27. I will be using a submersible pump to recirculate ice water. I'm working on a stir plate for my yeast starters.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...4/b8d0666e.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...4/42b4f83f.jpg

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I need one of those, luckily (or unluckily depending how you look at it) it was 27* the first time Matt and I brewed so cooling down with the ice in a bucket took only like 30mins. While that was fine and all, I don't think that I'll only be brewing in the winter. Great idea to check the scrap yards, I have three or four near me that I'll call.

BTW I liked your post at HBT, I made many of the same observations after our first brew day.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Since I posted about my observations I have had many more. Always learning and spending more money.

The 50' roll of 3/8" weighed 6 pounds and their price was $4.50/pound.

BTW, the reason I left the supply side a little longer was because I wanted to use the "slinky" like behavior of the coil to stir the wort while keeping the lid on reducing the chances of contamination. I'm still trying to find a good way to switch between hose fitting and recirculating pump since I don't want to be recirculating ice water when the wort temperature is still high.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Level 1 Noob here.

Why is this? Wort can be cooled too rapidly? Cold break issues?

Thanks

Stefan

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

You're thinking too much. ;) My only reason is because I would have to purchase large amounts of ice.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Purchase wholesale? Crushed? Blocked? Cash? Credit?

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Does anyone have a 9V-12V AC/DC wall power adapter laying around collecting dust? If so, I could really use it for a stir plate I'm building. I have looked high and low around my house and I can't find one that I'm not actually using.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

Sorry, but I had to chuckle here... You are now 'officially' assholes and elbows tumbling full speed down this slope! :tu

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

My wife isn't smiling. :sl :sh

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

If she's anything like mine (God Help You), I have some advice to keep her happy...
Wit Beer, Berliner Weisse, and Light Lager...
Yeah, difficult women demand difficult beer... go figure! :D

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I got you covered. PM Sent

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

She's real excited about the Hefe that I'm brewing now.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I love the DIY wort chiller. Great job! I looked into buying copper to do it, but ended up buying THIS ONE, and am happy with it. It was basically the same price as the copper would have been at Home Depot.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I brewed a sour Robust Porter on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday night I boiled a gallon of water and then let it cool to 170. Then I added 4 oz of acidulated malt and a pound of light DME. Then I set it on top of the furnace and let it sit for 18 hours. On Sunday I did a regular extract/steep with the balance of the ingredients, and added the sour wort into the rest of the wort for the boil. If tasting the finished wort is any indicator, the souring process seems to have worked. It's bubbling away in the bucket now, and I'll be interested to see how this turns out. If I had more time before the warm weather arrives I think I would have added some Brett Brux for that horse blanket-y flavor, but I read where that takes about 6 months to develop. If this sour porter works I may try it with the Brett Brux in the spring for next fall/winter.

6 lbs amber LME
1 lb light DME
.5 lbs crystal 80
.5 lbs chocolate malt
.5 lbs special roast
.5 lbs brown malt
.25 lbs black patent
.25 lbs acidulated malt

.5 oz Yakima Warrior - 60 mins
1 oz Willamette 30 - mins
.5 oz Willamette - 10 mins

Lallemand Nottingham dry yeast

OG = 1.056
SRM = 31
IBU = 28
Plan FG = 1.014
Plan ABV = 5.8%

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

When I priced the copper at the big box stores it was higher than the price at NY Brew Supply. However, after finding the 50' roll at the metal scrap yard I have less than $50 invested for a recirculating system.

(50) 3/8" ACR Tubing $27
(1) Spring Bender Tool Set $9.48
(1) 1/2" FIP x 3/8" FIP Brass Reducing Coupling for Pump $4.37
(1) 3/8" Barb x 3/8" MIP Brass fitting for Pump $2.48
(4) #4 Adjustable Clamp $1.82
(2) Rubber Gromment $1.04
(10) 3/8" x 5/8" Braided Vinyl Tubing $0.00
(1) SmartPond DP560 560 GPM 14.3' Head Pond Pump $0.00

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I've been looking at getting a wort chiller, but have read that I can't attach it to my kitchen sink faucet because I have a sprayer installed with the fixture -- something about that makes it not work with the faucet .?.?.?

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I have the same type of faucet but I do my brewing outside. You can attach a barbed x female garden hose adapter to connect to a garden hose.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I'm with Justin--all my brews are outside, and I have a cut off portion of hose (with the female end intact) clamped to the intake on my chiller. Easy enough to attach a garden hose & run the water through. Once I finish building out my brew garage, I'll have a laundry sink next to my 3-tier system.

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

In the brew closet:

10 gal of sommersault clone in the fermenters.

In the Keezer:

(1) 5 gal keg of SamSmith Nut Brown
(2) 5 gal keg of Honekers ALe
(1) 5 gal keg of Red IPA

In the kegerator:
(1) 5 gal keg of Broken Arrow NBB
(1) 5 gal keg of SamSmith Nut Brown

So 30 gal of beer ready to drink/conditioning and 10 almost ready to keg ;o)

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I was in the store the other day and saw this...How did the kit turn out? You have any left?

Mikes

Re: Homebrewers - Whats in the fermeter?
 

I do have the propane burner and setup to brew outside, but haven't tried it yet. The problem for me brewing outside is that when I brewed my last batch on the stove this past weekend, it was -15F outside. (and I've got the water to my outside spigots turned off for the winter).

I'll have to take a closer look at my faucet and see what I can figure out ...