Homebrewers - Whats in the fermenter?

[cricky101]

Originally Posted by rack04

Did you brew the cream of three crops? I just kicked a keg of it and it was fantastic. My efficiency was a lot higher than I plan and I had great attenuation. Therefore, it had a pretty high ABV. ...

Yep. It's the cream of three crops. It's my first time using corn and rice, but it sounds like a tasty one!

The co2 tank on my keezer kicked last night, so it's off to Northern Brewer on my lunch break today for an exchange. I really need to get a second tank to have on hand.

[rack04]

Originally Posted by cricky101

Yep. It's the cream of three crops. It's my first time using corn and rice, but it sounds like a tasty one!

The co2 tank on my keezer kicked last night, so it's off to Northern Brewer on my lunch break today for an exchange. I really need to get a second tank to have on hand.

I recently bought a spare that I keep full. I bought it at a fire protection store. They were able to take replace the valve on a fire extinguisher with a beverage valve, hydro test, and fill for under $50.

[kenstogie]

so I hate bottleing. what other options are there? I am thinking just bigger bottles would be ok because then it would be less bottleing and that's ok. SUGGESTIONS?


BTW I have a dunkelwiezen and a brown ale in the fermenter.

[rack04]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

so I hate bottleing. what other options are there? I am thinking just bigger bottles would be ok because then it would be less bottleing and that's ok. SUGGESTIONS?


BTW I have a dunkelwiezen and a brown ale in the fermenter.

Kegging.


<---- 1,000th post

[Boz]

Originally Posted by rack04

Kegging.


<---- 1,000th post

I have nothing useful to add to this thread expect to say, Congrats on 1k

[kenstogie]

Originally Posted by rack04

Kegging.


<---- 1,000th post

Kegging is good choice but not very portable, plus it would require extra gear, correct?

[BeerAdvocate]

I strictly bottled using 22oz bottles until I went to kegging.
Kegging your beer is the best thing you will ever do when brewing!!!!!!!!

[cricky101]

I ordered some Falconer's Flight hops today for a future pale ale or IPA. Never tried them before. Anyone used them or know of a commercial beer that uses them I may be able to find? The descriptions I've found make them sound really tasty.

[mmblz]

Brewed once years ago, hoping to try again sometime in the next year.

How useful is a built in spigot and thermometer on the brew pot? Seems like it would definitely be nice but I'm guessing far from essential?

How important is a wort chiller?

[CigarSquid]

Wort chiller... I wouldn't say it is important.. but VERY VERY HANDY.

I still do not own one, and every time I brew, I kick myself in the ass saying, next time I am buying one... Cuts the time WAY down.

[kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by cricky101

I ordered some Falconer's Flight hops today for a future pale ale or IPA. Never tried them before. Anyone used them or know of a commercial beer that uses them I may be able to find? The descriptions I've found make them sound really tasty.

It's a pelletized blend of American NW hops, that includes Citra, Simcoe, Sorachi Ace, Columbus & Cascades, iirc. The only commercial use I've found is from Maui Brewing, they did a limited release IPA earlier this year.

Originally Posted by mmblz

Brewed once years ago, hoping to try again sometime in the next year.

How useful is a built in spigot and thermometer on the brew pot? Seems like it would definitely be nice but I'm guessing far from essential?

How important is a wort chiller?

Do it!

A spigot & thermometer are very useful for your hot liquor tank if you are doing an all-grain batch--in that process, you have to heat the mash/sparge water to a certain temperature and then add it to the grains. Since many homebrewers use a gravity-fed system, where the HLT sits higher than the mash tun, the spigot comes in handy. On the other hand, I've been brewing for 20 years and don't have a spigot on my brewpot, so you can definitely do without. Once I get old & weak, lifting 5-6 gallons of liquid to dump it into the fermenter might be a challenge, but until then I get by.

http://www.brewersfriend.com/2011/02...grain-brewing/

On the other hand, I love my wortchiller. All of my brew sessions are full 6 or 7 gallon boils, so getting that volume of liquid to cool down quickly to avoid contamination would be impossible without the wortchiller. If you are only doing a partial boil with an extract batch, you can probably get by with using an ice bath or adding cold water to the fermenter before dumping in the wort. A full boil gives you better hop utilization, meaning you won't need as much in the boil so your ingredients are cheaper, too. I would definitely spring for a wortchilller!

Good luck!

[hammondc]

Can you guys recommend a good IPA/Double IPA kit? Mini Mash would be great as I am not ready to make the jump to full grain (yet). I am considering the Furious IPA from Midwest.

[hammondc]

It is THIS kit. One question for you guys. One of the options is 'Crush Grains?'. What does this mean? Is this to have them crush the grains before they ship to me?

[rack04]

Originally Posted by hammondc

It is THIS kit. One question for you guys. One of the options is 'Crush Grains?'. What does this mean? Is this to have them crush the grains before they ship to me?

Yes, that option is to have the grains crushed at the store prior to shipping. If you don't have a mill then you will need the grains to be crushed.

[hammondc]

Decided to go with a Stone Arrogant Bastard clone from Austin Homebrew. Hoping to fire it up Friday.

[replicant_argent]

I am getting set up to do my first (solo) homebrew, and then into a corny keg for the kegerator.
While I have brewed with friends about 6 or 8 times, this will be a good experiment.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/s...tract-kit.html

[LostAbbott]

Originally Posted by cricky101

I ordered some Falconer's Flight hops today for a future pale ale or IPA. Never tried them before. Anyone used them or know of a commercial beer that uses them I may be able to find? The descriptions I've found make them sound really tasty.

Maritime Pacific here in Seattle uses those hops a lot and they make a fall beer that exclusively. Uses them.
Posted via Mobile Device

[hammondc]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

I am getting set up to do my first (solo) homebrew, and then into a corny keg for the kegerator.
While I have brewed with friends about 6 or 8 times, this will be a good experiment.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/s...tract-kit.html

Good luck with it. I will be starting my 2nd brew. A few more under my belt and I will start kegging it.

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by hammondc

Good luck with it. I will be starting my 2nd brew. A few more under my belt and I will start kegging it.

I find bottling a pain in the butt. Sanitation is key, and when you figure that with kegging you have (besides all the common elements) ONE container vs. 45-50 to sanitize.. no brainer for me.

[rack04]

I picked up some Falconers Flight and Zythos. Haven't formulated a recipe yet but I'm excited to sample them.