Recent content by hrigsby

Your picnic tap isn't spring loaded? Mine have to be continually depressed to continue dispensing beer. Though it is a nightmare of mine that it breaks and I end up with 5 gallons in the bottom of my keezer.

Also a good idea. It's an 800 sf barn with a loft, so I think the space aspect will be fine. Still important to keep everything organized.

I'm not entirely sure. I know there is a 60 amp breaker on my main panel that runs underground to the barn. All of the outlets are 120v, but that doesn't mean there isn't 240v present (I don't think). All of that said, I think I'm going to have the entire thing rerun and a nicer sub-panel...

Electric is high on my priority list. I figure I don't need to do a ton of pre-planning for it though, since the barn already has electricity. I've got a Spike kettle, which I believe they'll take back and weld in a tri-clamp fitting for if/when I want to, so that would be easy. Probably...

I'm a fairly novice brewer, but I started out with some pretty nice equipment capable of 15 gallon batches. I just bought a house and it has a fairly run-down barn out back that I'm planning on gutting and turning into a garage/brewery. I'm curious what some of you more experienced brewers...

Appreciate the response @Gameface ! It seems to be one of those topics where I keep trying to simplify it down and before I know it I'm into some deeper, more technical hole about a specific additive that I wasn't even planning on using! I think I'm getting the basics figured out now though...

I used this: https://www.brewersfriend.com/water-chemistry/ I've tried the London and Burton on Trent profiles, as well as a few custom profiles from google results on ESBs. EDIT: I just downloaded Bru'n Water and this thing is overwhelming! Trying to figure out how to work the thing. It...

Interesting. A lot of the profiles I see have a target CaCO3 in the 200+ range, which is why I was considering the chalk. If I don't need to compensate for that, then something like 5 grams of gypsum and 3 grams of calcium chloride should do the trick I think. I'd always heard that "soft...

I brew in a location that has really soft water: Ca=5 Mg=1 Na=13 Cl=8 SO4=12 Alkalinity=22 (CaCO3) pH=7.4 I'm trying to get into water profile adjustments, but I'm finding it quite confusing. Just using some calculators, I came up with the following adjustments to hit a good profile for...

Like I said, I already have a keezer. I know I'll get pissed off doing this in a very short period of time, but for my first few batches I can just ferment in there by bringing the temperature up on it right? Then, once I know it's something I want to stick with, I'll buy another chest...

Thanks again everyone. One recurring question for ya'll is this: How common is it for different online companies to have the same equipment at markedly better prices? For example, I've seen Cornelius kegs for $75 on one site and $129 on another (both brand new). Is there going to be a...

Thanks for the responses and please keep them coming (I'm reading all of them and updating my list accordingly). When it comes to pot size, I think I might go with a 15 for the sole purpose of being able to brew 2 kegs at a time. I just graduated from college and this hobby is something my...

Hello HBT: So as I'm sure you've garnered at this point, I'm fresh out of the box when it comes to homebrewing. I've purchased "The Brewmaster's Bible" and "Brewing Better Beer," for starters and now I'm looking into purchasing the equipment necessary to brew my first batch. Thus far in...

This looks good to me. The only difficult aspect for me going through this process as you are is the regulator. I'm having a hard time figuring out what makes one better than another. For that kit you don't have too many options in terms of brands, but I think I've heard Taprite is solid...

I'm new here, but it only needs to keep the space around 60 degrees correct? I feel like a fridge should be able to manage that in that space considering it is typically trying to keep its contents at 35 degrees or so. Could be wrong though. Can't hurt to try it.