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I'm interested in making the switch from all extract to partial mash. I've read Deathbrewer's sticky several times. My questions are: 1) The pic below shows my two brew pots. One is a 40-qt. SS kettle, and the other is an 8-qt. SS pot. Can I do this with the equipment I have? If I wanted to...

Just learned about this place, I know nothing about it yet, other than they will have ingredients and supplies, and will be running various classes designed for all levels of homebrewers. At the very least, it might be a good 2nd option to Brew-and-Grow. :mug:

...and good beer. My first batch (kolsch) has been in bottles for 12 days, conditioning at about 65-66 degrees in the basement. I went down there tonight to check on my Agave Wit, which has been fermenting for 4 days (that seems to be chugging along nicely, although it would appear the...

I just finished brewing my 3rd batch (all extract, with specialty grains). This was AHS Imperial Agave Wit. I think overall it went pretty well, but here are the things I'm concerned or confused about: 1) I have a 10-gallon stainless steel brew kettle (in anticipation of AG batches someday)...

I have two options for the location of my two fermentation buckets: 1) pseudo-swamp cooler in my bedroom, where temps change regularly and there's no guarantee I can keep them from creeping into the high 70's or low 80's in the summer months (see this week as an example); or 2) 4 flights...

Can the fermometer be applied to the side of the fermentation bucket horizontally and still be effective? I can't imagine why it wouldn't. I want to stick it low enough that it's below the top of the beer, but above the water in my swamp cooler.

I took a gravity reading on my first brew (brewer's best Kolsch kit) last night after 19 days in primary -- 1.013, pretty much where it should be. I'll take another one tomorrow and if consistent I'm going to bottle. But when I tasted the sample, it had a bitter and somewhat sour flavor to it...

I'm only two brews into this thing, and even though my LHBS has decent supply of Brewer's Best extract kits, I'm interested in ordering from AHS due to the fact that they have such a great selection. My question is whether I should just go with the dry yeast that comes with the kit (in this...

I understand the difference between extract and partial-mash; what I don't understand is why the specialty grains that come with extract kits don't contribute any fermentable sugar to the wort, whereas the grains that come with partial mash kits do. :confused: Also, are "partial mash" and...

I'm brewing a Brewer's Best IPA (right now! second solo brew). I'm doing a partial boil (5 gal boil...I'm sure I'll have to top off after I'm done) I have a couple of noob questions: 1. my specialty grains are steeping right now, at about 162 degrees. I notice that the muslin bag full of...

In researching Irish Moss on HBT, I've read that it's not really necessary for extract brewing; is this true? Even if one is steeping specialty grains**? Also, what's the shelf life like for Irish Moss? **As an aside, can someone please explain the difference between extract brewing...

Is there a thread that explains the vocab and the "why" of partial-mash brewing? I've read Deathbrewer's sticky on the beginner board...but... - what is sparge, mash, conversion (and how do you measure), strike? - is the advantage of PM brewing a better tasting beer? I'm sure something...

So I'm thinking of taking a hydro reading on my first brew (kolsch-style) this evening. It's been 11 days since I pitched, and I had good airlock activity for the first 3 days or so. I know I can probably just let it sit for another week or two, but I'm anxious to get a look at it (hey, it's my...

Doing a full boil right now, trying a Kolsch kit (little did I realize until after I bought it that Kolsch seems to be a difficult style to re-create; it's cool, though...as long as it tastes good). Taking forever to get 6 gallons to a full boil on the stove, but I'm just about there. My...

Okay, technically my fourth brew, but it's been a few years. I'm excited to brew in a couple of days, but after reading some older threads on here I'm concerned and have lots of questions. The kit (Brewer's Best) came with a dry packet of Nottingham yeast, but popular opinion is that the...

After 3 decent brews about 2 years ago, I want to get back into homebrewing. Unfortunately, I have to re-acquire all of the equipment. I'm still a total noob but spending the past week on these boards has really helped me remember the basics (thank you all :) ) I've decided that I'm going to...

So, after 2 successful home brews (extract kits; English Brown Ale and American Cream Ale), I'm looking to take on bigger beers. I was perusing the Northern Brewer catalog, and I notice that many of the "heavy ale" kits (Double IPA, Imperial Stout, etc.) indicate that these require 2-stage...

I posted this in the Sanitizing Forum, but I think it was to "newbie" for the folks on that board... I clean with something called Straight-A, which I get from my LHBS. I sanitize with an Iodophor-based solution...although to be honest, I'm not very exacting when it comes to creating it (I...

I'm not sure which is greater: my excitement to begin my first homebrew, or my disappointment at this middle stage of the process. I brewed a brown ale (extract kit) 11 days ago. The brewday seemed to go okay. I rehydrated the Munton's yeast that came with the kit (wasn't sure if it needed to...

Hi all, my first ever batch is about 5 days into the primary fermentation stage (nut brown ale, extract brew kit). I have two questions: 1) First time using a hydrometer, it looked like OG was at 1.044...does that sound about right? What is a good FG to rack at? The instructions that came...