Recent content by beerthirty

Tech has come a long way. I feel embarrassed about my porno from a few years ago. Never did get auto volume measuring correct, though the BBQ did finally happen. I hope you brew many fine beers.

I wish it was that easy. I needed to move closer to elder family and my health. I could never hate beer unless it is the pale yellow crap the uninitiated masses seem to love. Reminds me I need to edit my location.

Hi everyone. I am back, but not as dedicated or as funded as I was before. :o I am looking forward to reading about everyones new recipes, rigs and techniques. I will be doing a lot more reading than posting until I get a basic rig together. Of course I am not sure of my definition of 'basic'...

Talk to your LHBS about getting one of their empty extract barrels. You could probably get one free.

Come on kilted! It can be used for multiple tasks. Very few items are uni-task if you use your imagination. Used as I suggested it keeps the surface area of the racking cane larger so the cheese cloth doesn't clog easily. Think hopstopper.

Wrap the cheese cloth loosely around your racking cane. Then while racking pull the cloth a little so hops don't pack up around the opening and stop the flow. you can also use something like this on the racking cane to keep the tip clear.

You can pick up a flaring kit at HF for about $10-15. While not the quality of the ones Beemer mentioned, will do the job.

I've gone 6 weeks with the BMBF. Very little carbonation was lost in the head space.

The 8610 can be used to control solenoid valves for gas flow. That way you can keep the system high pressure. You would need a separate solenoid valve to control pilot flow. The difference between Guy's and my system is he uses a gas furnace valve and low pressure, while I use 2 solenoid valves...

It will die when you rack off of the yeast and dry it or flash freeze it. Don't worry about the yeast. Any bottle condition beer or sparkling wine has live yeast in it. RDWHAHB, live yeast is not dangerous. it can be a little stinky until your gut has its own colony growing. As for tasting good...

I use a flow meter to control O2 flow. It works fine and I thought it would take one less step out of the process. It didn't because now I have to disassemble to clean the stone.

Screens tend to clog up in BKs from hot break and loose hop material. Your MLT plans are what most of that use FBs do. I use hop bags and don't worry about break material, it settles in the fermenter.

In a dry climate (like the southwest) a swamp cooler can drop temps 20-25 degrees below ambient. This is best best case scenario. In moister climes they don't work so well. Plus on using the fan, another plus if you can ventilate the room. The air can only hold so much moisture before...

Either install an empty cornie and pump into that or on the top of the QD there is a screw driver slot that allows disassembly for cleaning. (dont loss the seals or spring.)

And warm up the ferment temp.