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re: Homebrewing Thread: Volume II
Posted on 12/12/18 at 2:49 pm to JGood
Posted on 12/12/18 at 2:49 pm to JGood
quote:
I moved out of state, but there's tons of beer supply stores up here (South Carolina) so I'm sure there's something comparable. I just didn't know if there was a starter kit that had the necessary components somewhere.
Your local homebrew store should be very helpful. Just tell them what you are looking for. I doubt they hook you up with a shitty mr. beer kit. My personal preference is a kit with a glass carboy. Fermenting in buckets leads to too much possibility in oxygen pickup. O2 = off flavors in your beer.
FWIW, i think this is the equipment kit i ordered to get started.
LINK
quote:
I have an empty room in my house that I can basically use to set whatever I need up.
quote:
Whats a swamp cooler?
It's basically a container (preferably insulated) that you fill partially with water. You drop your fermenter into the container. The active fermentation of the yeast will cause the temperature of your beer to rise. In a swamp cooler, to counteract this and maintain healthy yeast temperatures (what is recommended on the yeast pack) you simply add 2 or 3 frozen water bottles to the water in the cooler. I used an igloo cube ice chest and cut a hole through the lid so the neck of the carboy could fit.
A few internet pictures of swamp cooler examples
However, you can easily convert an old chest freezer or fridge into a fermentation fridge by adding a temperature controller to it. It's very easy, and what i use today.
This post was edited on 12/12/18 at 2:51 pm
1
Posted on 12/12/18 at 2:51 pm to JGood
Go to one of those shops and tell them you want to start brewing. They'll set you up. You can jump right into all grain if you want to but it might be a good idea to do an extract batch or two first. That said, I'd get a kit that has the stuff for all grain because trust me, that's where you're going to end up. If the kit doesn't come with a copy of How To Brew by John Palmer, buy a copy of that too. That book has everything you need to get started.
ETA: Ninja'd by Bug.
Fermentation temperature is really important so this is a method to keep the fermenting beer from getting too hot. Basically you put your fermenter in a bucket of water and drape t-shirts or towels over it. The cloth wicks up the water which then evaporates and cools the fermenter.
ETA: Ninja'd by Bug.
quote:
Whats a swamp cooler?
Fermentation temperature is really important so this is a method to keep the fermenting beer from getting too hot. Basically you put your fermenter in a bucket of water and drape t-shirts or towels over it. The cloth wicks up the water which then evaporates and cools the fermenter.
This post was edited on 12/12/18 at 2:52 pm
Posted on 12/12/18 at 2:53 pm to JGood
quote:
JGood
Another tip, if you plan on sticking with homebrewing do a couple things.
1) buy this book, or go to the website for free (picture is the newest version of the book.
How to Brew
2) Buy a brew pot able to do full volume boils. If you are doing 5 gallon batches, get a 10 gallon brew pot.
Posted on 12/12/18 at 2:59 pm to BugAC
I have a few carboys from my boss' wine making operation and
I think there's a spare chest freezer in the back. What type of temp controller would I use on it?
I appreciate the info!! I'm going back to La next week for the holidays, but will be starting this up when I get back! Not much for me to do up here except drink beer, so I might as well make it myself
I think there's a spare chest freezer in the back. What type of temp controller would I use on it?
I appreciate the info!! I'm going back to La next week for the holidays, but will be starting this up when I get back! Not much for me to do up here except drink beer, so I might as well make it myself
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:02 pm to MountainTiger
quote:
You can jump right into all grain if you want to but it might be a good idea to do an extract batch or two first. That said, I'd get a kit that has the stuff for all grain because trust me, that's where you're going to end up.
This, definitely. And i said you need to buy extra equipment for all-grain, but i forgot you can do brew in a bag. Again, depending on how you want to start, just talk to your homebrew shop.
Just some information, extract brewing is simply adding water to malt extract. Malt extract is the extracted syrup that comes from the mash. When you mash grains, heat reacts with the grains to convert the starches in the grains to sugars. The result is a syrupy sweet mixture. Yeast then eats those sugars and converts them to alcohol. So extract brewing, the mash has already occured and they are packaging the syrup for you. The drawbacks are that extract beers you have much less control over the final product and they all kind of have a distinct extract beer taste. You can make damn fine extract beers, but you can make better than brewery quality all-grain beers.
All-grain, conversely, is the physical extraction of the sugars from the grain. So instead of buying malt extract (syrup or powder), you are buying the actual grains that go into making beer. It's the purest form of brewing. And, it's not anymore difficult than extract brewing, just adds a few steps to the process.
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:06 pm to JGood
quote:
I have a few carboys from my boss' wine making operation and
I think there's a spare chest freezer in the back. What type of temp controller would I use on it?
For primary fermentation, you'll want at least a 6 gallon carboy and 6.5 is better.
LINK
That temperature controller looks like it will do the job just fine and is less than half the price of the Johnson and Ranco controllers that are common among homebrewers.
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:07 pm to JGood
LINK
One of these should work. I have an old johnson controller like this.
Only pain in the arse for this one is if i want to switch to heat, i have to unscrew the face plate and switch over the jumpers.
It's a fun hobby! Check back to the first post in this thread. Has some information (some of it is probably dated) that could help you out.
One of these should work. I have an old johnson controller like this.
Only pain in the arse for this one is if i want to switch to heat, i have to unscrew the face plate and switch over the jumpers.
quote:
I appreciate the info!! I'm going back to La next week for the holidays, but will be starting this up when I get back! Not much for me to do up here except drink beer, so I might as well make it myself
It's a fun hobby! Check back to the first post in this thread. Has some information (some of it is probably dated) that could help you out.
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:11 pm to MountainTiger
I'd have to check the sizes.
So with that controller, would it go into the carboy or the surrounding water?
So with that controller, would it go into the carboy or the surrounding water?
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:13 pm to JGood
quote:
So with that controller, would it go into the carboy or the surrounding water?
The probe probably isn't submersible. So just put it inside the chest freezer somewhere. Maybe tape it to the side of the carboy.
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:17 pm to JGood
quote:
So with that controller, would it go into the carboy or the surrounding water?
Well, the temp controller is if you have a fermenting fridge or freezer to use. I guess you could put the probe in the water of a swamp cooler, but if you add ice or something, it will show up on the temperature readout. I just used a floating thermometer. If my temp was between 68-72 for a standard american pale ale with the typical yeast, i didn't worry about it. But if the temp started to creep up, i'd add 2 or 3 frozen water bottles and recheck a day or so later.
If you have the chest freezer, go with that. I tape a paper towel to the side of my fermenters and slide the probe between the carboy glass and the paper towel.
This post was edited on 12/12/18 at 3:21 pm
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:19 pm to MountainTiger
You may also want to check if there are any homebrew clubs in your area. That way you can look at someone else's system, maybe even watch them brew, before you jump in with both feet.
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:20 pm to BugAC
Okay, now I'm following. Thanks guys, I'll check back in when I get back in couple weeks and get started up!
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:21 pm to JGood
Wanted to add this to my last post.
If you have a fermenting freezer/fridge, you do not need a swamp cooler. The freezer is the controlling your temperature.
Controller acts like this: Probe is next to carboy. You have your probe set for 72. If it goes over 72, the probe tells the freezer to kick on. Once the temperature readout drops below 72, the controller tells the freezer to kick off. The temperature controller simply kicks on and off the unit it is plugged into. So you can use it on a carboy heater, and it will turn it on and off depending on your temperature settings. It's designed to turn on and off whatever unit is connected to that temp controller based on the temperature settings.
If you have a fermenting freezer/fridge, you do not need a swamp cooler. The freezer is the controlling your temperature.
Controller acts like this: Probe is next to carboy. You have your probe set for 72. If it goes over 72, the probe tells the freezer to kick on. Once the temperature readout drops below 72, the controller tells the freezer to kick off. The temperature controller simply kicks on and off the unit it is plugged into. So you can use it on a carboy heater, and it will turn it on and off depending on your temperature settings. It's designed to turn on and off whatever unit is connected to that temp controller based on the temperature settings.
This post was edited on 12/12/18 at 3:22 pm
Posted on 12/12/18 at 3:35 pm to BugAC
Okay I thought it was a sensor that would heat up/cool down to control. It's wired in with the fridge/freezer, that makes more sense
Posted on 12/12/18 at 4:04 pm to BMoney
quote:man those look good. have you seen much cost increase? i freakin hate DME.
You can also use something like Propper Starter or Fast Pitch canned wort. Then you just pour the can into your flask/jar along with a 16oz bottle of water and add your yeast. I've taken to using these instead of boiling DME and water then chilling. It's easy to just pop a top and have my yeast starter going in 2 minutes.
Propper Starter
Fast Pitch
Posted on 12/12/18 at 4:36 pm to BugAC
quote:
JGood
I'm 4 brews in. These guys have been very helpful to me. I did 2 extract beers with kits before venturing into the Brew-In-A-Bag (BIAB) menthod. My beers have already started to taste better.... Well except for this last one that I may have botched and am trying to fix
. quote:
One of these should work. I have an old johnson controller like this.
Damn, I didn't know anything that easy existed. I'm going to have to get one of those. My previous beers were put into a fridge in the back, and I would go in everyday and either turn it on low or kick it off based off the temp
... Since its cold right now, I have just kept it in a closet inside the house with my heater set at 68. Kinda works like one of those thermometers in my mind. Just banking on it not getting hot outside any time soon. Posted on 12/13/18 at 8:05 am to JGood
quote:
Okay I thought it was a sensor that would heat up/cool down to control. It's wired in with the fridge/freezer, that makes more sense
It's not even wired. You simply plug your freezer into the temp controller and plug the temp controller into your outlet and you are all setup.
Posted on 12/13/18 at 8:50 am to GeauxPack81
quote:what happened?
Well except for this last one that I may have botched and am trying to fix .
Posted on 12/13/18 at 9:04 am to CarRamrod
quote:
man those look good. have you seen much cost increase? i freakin hate DME.
I bought a case (24) of Fast Pitch when it was on sale a while back and it's been well worth the $60 shipped. I think I still have about 7 or 8 cans left.
I hate dealing with dropping DME in boiling water and worrying about a boil over on the stove, then chilling and pitching yeast. To be able to get a starter going in a matter of minutes is well worth the slight premium.
Posted on 12/13/18 at 10:03 am to BMoney
quote:
I hate dealing with dropping DME in boiling water and worrying about a boil over on the stove
I add the DME at the beginning and then bring it to a boil.
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