BeerTools Discussion Forum

If you had a vigorous fermentation and the airlock is only bubbling once every 45 seconds than you are probably ready to rack anyway. I would take a hydrometer reading and see if you are near your final gravity. If so than go ahead and rack. If not that I would let the fermentation finish rather tha...

Glad to hear it!! You have now realized the true american dream... Having draught beer on tap in your home.

Rich

There is no such thing as a lower stress hobby, just a lower stress approach. Don't worry about it, I am sure your beer will turn out fine. If not, you have a perfect excuse to brew again. Make sure that you don't drive the fun out of brewing with technical details. I see that a lot in this forum. L...

Leave the bottles at room temp. for at least 1-2 weeks (I always wait 2 weeks). This should allow sufficient time for the CO2 to be produced and to go into solution. After that time you can refridgerate the bottles. Hope this helps.

Rich

I am not sure what you mean by "returnable bottle" versus "pop-top", but you can use whatever kind of bottle you would like. For capping, the best bottles are those that were not a twist-off top. Twist-offs don't really seal all that well from manual capping. Also you will find t...

I am not sure I have a clear answer for you because without seeing the chiller it is hard to say whether or not I would use it. I have read however that lemon juice can be used in cleaning corroded copper (I have never done this and am uncertain of the results). There are also other chemical product...

Sorry about that, I didn't mean to confuse the issue. Richanne is right to say that a minimash is not necessary as the starches in specialty grains have already been converted to sugar. However I do find that it allows for a much greater extraction than the teabag method. Ultimately it will come dow...

I don't think the airspace would pose any kind of problem especially if you don't agitate the beer too much. However if you did want to ensure that you were removing most (if not all) of the air from the carboy, you might try racking a few days early. The remaining fermentation would purge remaining...

I always found the best way to handle steeping specialty grains is to steep them for 45 minutes in a small 6 pack cooler at 150-155 degrees. Then place a strainer over your kettle and pour the mash into a strainer. Then pour 1.5 -2 gallons of hot (165 degree water) over the grains. Make sure you all...

I think it might be cheaper to buy a fridge and modify it, especially if you are planning to mainly use corny kegs and if you already have the kegging stuff. I have instructions on how I built my kegerator on my website www.kuenstlerbrau.com under the link "Building a Kegerator". If you do...

Remember that by brewing your own beer you are free to try anything you want, because you do not have to worry whether or not it will be well received by the public. If people stopped experimenting after the first beer was brewed we would only have one variety of beer right now. Give it a shot with ...

I was looking for something along the same lines for over a year and to no avail. Your best bet is to get printed labels which are relatively easy to come by and then use blank caps. Let me know if you ever do find anything. Sorry I couldn't help.

Rich

Tequilla should be fine. The main thing is that it wont harbor bacteria. Also even if a little bit gets into the fermenter it will be such a small amount that it wont affect anything. Things are going to turn out great, provided your wife doesn't leave you for putting the beer first. Although I am s...

I think what you are saying is that your airlock splashed out and not there is not enough liquid to create bubbles. What I recommend you do is add enough liquid to the airlock to ensure that it is actually locking air out. I usually use some cheap vodka in the airlock. It is sterile and there is no ...

You pose a tough question my good man. I have been using an immersion chiller for the past 3 years and am very happy with it. I have thought numerous time about going to a counterflow, but I ultimately let it go because of the incredible ease of sanitation of the immersion chiller. If convenience is...