HOMEBREW Digest #346 Mon 29 January 1990

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	FORUM ON BEER, HOMEBREWING, AND RELATED ISSUES
		Rob Gardner, Digest Coordinator


Contents:
  Here's how I start yeast ("Every sperm is sacred. Every sperm is great. If a sperm is wasted, God gets quite irate. 8)")
  Dry Hopping (Ted Manahan)
  Priming (ihlpl!korz)
  re:	mail order yeast and kegging (florianb)
  Bottling under pressure (Brian Capouch)
  Lager Techniques (jamesb)
  RE: Priming questions (Mark Freeman)
  Mailorder supply sources -- some names and addresses (Chris Shenton)
  Wyeast (Pete Soper)
  Re: kegging problems (mark gryska)
  Re: HB archives (a.e.mossberg)
  Hello from a new reader, couple of ?? <Tony Klein> (klein)

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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 09:01 CST From: "Every sperm is sacred. Every sperm is great. If a sperm is wasted, God gets quite irate. 8)" Subject: Here's how I start yeast Greetings: I put a cup of filtered (reverse-osmosis) water into a pyrex measuring cup and then pop it in the microwave for five minutes or so (to get it good and hot). I toss the water into a plastic container, cover it with a saucer and wait for it to cool to 90F or so. Once it has, I open up the package of dry yeast and pour it in. I usually perform this procedure when I'm starting the boil (since it takes overnight for the wort to cool). - Ted - -- "You lie to your friends, and I'll lie to my friends, but let's not lie to each other." -- New Mexico proverb ptgarvin at aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu / ptgarvin at uokmax.UUCP | Eris loves you. in the Society: Padraig Cosfhota o hUlad / Barony of Namron, Ansteorra Disclaimer: Fragile. Contents inflammable. Do not use near open flame. Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 09:07:41 mst From: Ted Manahan <hpldola!tedm at hplabs.HP.COM> Subject: Dry Hopping I have done one batch with dry hopping. It was my Christmas Ale '89, and it turned out quite well (if I do say so myself!). I waited until the second day after pitching the yeast, when I had a good head of foam going. I then added 1.5 oz. hops, and stirred them in. Three days later I racked to secondary, leaving the hops behind. I bottled one week after that. I was concerned about infection, but I figured that it would take at least a month or two to become noticeable. Since I made this batch mostly to give away, I told the recipients to drink it up before Christmas on this account. I'll certainly use this technique again. Ted Manahan tedm at hpldola.hp.com Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 09:32:57 mst From: att!ihlpl!korz at hp-lsd.cos.hp.com Subject: Priming In HD #345, there were a few questions about priming. 1) I'm afraid that I haven't tried different sized bottles, only 12 oz., so I can only speculate. When kegging, I've read that you should use less priming sugar than when bottling (Darryl Richman (who's opinion I trust wholeheartedly) suggested 1/4 cup corn sugar for English-style ales and 1/2 cup for lagers when kegging) so I imagine that there may be a slight difference in carbonation when using 16, 17, or 32 oz bottles. Personally, I would relax, not worry, have a homebrew, and use the amount I normally use, i.e. 3/4 cup for 5 gallons. 2) Headspace, again I haven't experimented with, but I've read that increased headspace produces increased carbonation. 3) Priming with dry malt extract IS something I've tried. I suggest using 25% more (by weight) dried malt extract than the corn sugar you would normally use. This is because corn sugar is 99.99% fermentable solids and dried malt extract is ~75-80% fermentable solids. On my first attempt, I used 3/4 cup dried malt extract (it was Laandsomethingorother Pale) and the final product was virtually uncarbonated. Al. Return to table of contents
Date: 26 Jan 90 08:47:58 PST (Fri) From: florianb at tekred.cna.tek.com Subject: re: mail order yeast and kegging Mike Charleton asks: "My partner and I...(are looking for)... mail order sources for liquid yeast" I've bought liquid yeast both fresh and by mail order from Steinbart's. The mail order takes two days by UPS (it's just over the hill). I've noticed a significant difference in the yeasts that come by mail. Perhaps a little sluggish. Thus, I can't recommend these over simply hydrating a packet of Munton and Fison. The liquid yeast purchased fresh is superb, though. __________ Many thanks to all who responded regarding my keg leak problems. Results? The Firestone keg seems to have fixed its own problem. It no longer leaks. The Cornelius kegs gave me real trouble. The new one now seals with one particular orientation of the lid. The recommended method of sealing is to fill the keg, turn it over once, then back. Then fill with gas. The used Cornelius keg refused to seal until I replaced the O-ring (from Rapids). I had to also remove the inlet valve and disassemble it, and boil the tiny O-ring. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE KEG VALVES? Funny thing about these kegs. I did photoemission studies for my postdoc in solid state physics. I had less trouble obtaining 10E-7 atmospheres in a giant vacuum vessle than I had sealing these kegs to 10 psi! Oh, well, nothing a good home brew won't cure. But seriously, I would appreciate information on where to obtain spare Cornelius parts. Thanks again. Florian. Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 12:07:24 -0600 (CST) From: Brian Capouch <brianc at zeta.saintjoe.EDU> Subject: Bottling under pressure The (I think) most recent issue of Zymurgy, which talked about kegging beer, shows, but doesn't describe very well, a process for bottling beer from a keg "under pressure." I have a couple of kegs of beer that I'd like to transfer to bottles. I'm afraid to just let out all the CO2 and then siphon it in, since I think my carbonation is going to be harmed irreparably. How do you pros do it? I haven't become a big fan of kegs yet, because I keep 20-25 different batches of brew around. I like to "taste around", and kegs just don't seem practical. Is there something about it I'm missing? Thanks. Brian Capouch brianc at saintjoe.edu Return to table of contents
Date: Fri Jan 26 09:36:35 1990 From: microsoft!jamesb at uunet.uu.net Subject: Lager Techniques I have decided to build a Lager. The problem here is amatuer status. Soes anyone have any rules/guidelines/methods or advice on doing the perfect Lager. Things like: Single stage, dual stage, fermentation temps SG's etc etc etc Thanx Jim Bropglio Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 10:23 PST From: Mark Freeman <MFreeman at VERMITHRAX.SCH.Symbolics.COM> Subject: RE: Priming questions Date: Thu, 25 Jan 90 18:02:31 EST From: Brian Glendenning <brian at radio.astro.utoronto.ca> Subject: Priming questions I have some questions about priming with sugar to get the beer carbonated. 1) Is the amount of priming sugar independent of the bottle size? In other words, should I be using the same amount (~3/4 cup) of priming sugar if I'm bottling in 1l bottles rather than 12oz? Yes, the amount you use depends on the size of the batch. For a five gallon batch, I use 1/2 - 3/4 cup of malt extract. The largest bottles I've used are 0,5l. I haven't had a carbonation explosion, yet. 2) How about head space? In the bottle? For 12 oz. bottles I leave about 2 - 3 inches clearance, or about halfway up the neck. 3) Does it make a noticeable difference if you use malt extract instead of corn sugar? I've never used corn sugar, so I can't say. In my last batch of pale ale, I used 1/2 cup of dark malt extract to give it an amber color. Thanks! Brian - -- Brian Glendenning - Radio astronomy, University of Toronto brian at radio.astro.utoronto.ca utai!radio.astro!brian glendenn at utorphys.bitnet Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 10:50:01 est From: Chris Shenton <chris at asylum.gsfc.nasa.gov> Subject: Mailorder supply sources -- some names and addresses In response to a couple recent questions about homebrew suppy sources... I'm almost done compiling a list of mailorder places -- addresses and representative prices. Here are some addresses. Full list and table will be posted to the net ``real soon now''. Enjoy. _______________________________________________________________________________ Internet: chris at asylum.gsfc.nasa.gov (128.183.10.155) NASA/GSFC: Code 735 UUCP: ...!uunet!asylum.gsfc.nasa.gov!chris Greenbelt, MD 20771 SPAN: PITCH::CHRIS 301-286-6093 - -- American Brewmaster: 2940-6 Trawick Road; Raleigh, NC 27604; 919-850-0095 Ambler Woodstove: Bethelehem and Butler Pikes; Ambler, PA 19002; 215-643-3565 Beer and Wine Hobby: PO Box 3104; Wakefield, MA 01880; 617-933-8818 Basement Brewmaster: 4280 N. 160th St; Brookfield, WI 53005; 414-781-BREW Brew for Less: P.O. Box 32 195; Chicago, IL 60632-0195; 312-581-BEER Barleymalt & Vine; 4 Corey St; W. Roxbury, MA 02132; 617-327-0089 Brewhaus: 4955 Ball Camp Pike; Knoxville, TN 37921; 615-523-4615 Country Wines: 3333 Babcock Blvd; Pitsburgh, PA 15237; 412-366-0151 The Cellar: P.O. Box 33525; 14411 Greenwood Ave, N; Seattle, WA 98133; 206-365-7660 Crossfire: PO Box 530; Somersville, CT 06072; 203-623-6537 E.C. Kraus; 9001 East 24 Highway; P.O. Box 7850; Independence, MO 64053; 816-254-7448 Freshops: 36180 Kings Valley Hwy; Philomath, OR 97370; 503-929-2736 F.H. Steinbart Co; 602 SE Salmon; Portland, OR 97214; 503-232-8793 Great Fermentations of Marin; 87 Larkspur St; San Rafael, CA94901; 415-459-2420 Great Fermentations of Santa Rosa: PO Box 428; Fulton, CA; 800-544-1867 Hayes Homebrew Supply: Suite 117; 311 S. Allen St; State College, PA 16801 Hennessy Homebrew: 470 North Greenbush Road; Rensselaer, NY 12144; 518-283-7094 Jaspers Home Brew Supply; 116 Page Road; Litchfield, NH 03051; 603-881-3052 Joe and Sons; P.O. Box 11276; Cincinnati, OH 45211; 513-662-2326 Koeppl's Master Brewing: 2311 George St; Rolling Meadows, IL 60008; 312-255-4478 Lil' Olde Winemaking Shoppe; 4S245 Wiltshire Ln; Sugar Grove, IL 60554; 708-557-2523 Marbull's Malt & Hop Shop; 709 Highland; Lawton, OK 73501; 405-355-6690 Mark's Malts: 14 Tonkin Ct; Kent, OH 44240; Oak Barrel Winecraft; 1443 San Pablo Ave; Berkeley, CA 94702; 415-849-0400 Purple Foot: 3167 S. 92nd St; Milwaukee, WI 53227; 414-327-2130 P.O. Box 544; Union Station; Endicott, NY 13760; 607-748-1877 Sebastian Brewers Supply; 1762 Sunrise Lane; Sebastian, FL 32958 The Home Brewery: 16490 Jurupa Ave; Fontana, CA 92335; 714-822-3010 The Modern Brewer Company; P.O. Box 511; Cambridge, MA 02140; 800-SEND-ALE Wine & Brew By You: 5760 Bird Rd; Miami, FL 33155; 305-666-5757 Winemaker's Market: 4249 N. Essex Ave; Springfield, MO 65803; 417-833-4145 Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 13:00:04 EST From: Pete Soper <soper at maxzilla.encore.com> Subject: Wyeast In HBD #345, Mike Charlton asks about liquid yeasts. I highly recommend Wyeast #1056 for pale ales. This is a very neutral yeast that will let the character of your malt and hops come through. I love it. This is also called "Chico Ale yeast" and "American ale yeast" and is rumored to be the same strain as that used by Sierra Nevada (i.e. the brewery at Chico, California). If you don't mind or perhaps desire an estery character (fruity aroma) and less attenuation (i.e. higher final gravity, more residual sweetness) try Wyeast #1098 (aka English Ale yeast, rumored to be Whitbread's strain). For any given brew, this yeast gives me a final gravity perhaps 1/3 higher than a "regular" yeast (just for example, I recently got 1.018 instead of the usual 1.014 for an ale that started at 1.056) To compensate for the higher terminal gravity I boost my bittering hops a bit when using this yeast. This one is also very well behaved and reliable. I've only used #1084 a few times. This is "Irish ale yeast" and is rumored to be the strain used by Guinness. I can't say much about it except that it is well behaved and certainly hasn't added any flavor or aroma that could rise above the massive roasted barley character of my stouts. (I've got a long way to go with duplicating the smoothness of Guinness :-) I got nailed a couple times by #1028 (don't remember its "name"). I found it unreliable and in one case it was clearly defective. If you are good with yeast starters, you can get a lot of use out of a single Wyeast packet. In the past I regularly split a packet across the starter for the batch at hand and 3 sterile culture tubes and kept those in my refrigerator for up to 8 weeks, getting 4 batches of beer out of a single packet. Others will make the sound argument that this is one hell of a lot of hassle to save a few dollars. It is also somewhat risky if you can't carry out really sterile procedures. If you just pitch the contents of the Wyeast packet into a batch of wort directly be very patient. It can take a long time to get going. I recommend 1) letting the packet warm to 70-80 degrees, then 2) activating the packet (i.e. crushing the yeast capsule and vigorously shaking it together with the wort inside), then 3) letting it inflate while lying flat at room temperature. Try to match its temperature as close as possible to the wort it is to be pitched into. Try to keep the rate of temperature change experienced by the yeast down to 5 degrees per day. I get good results with fermentation temperatures of 60-65F with the above strains. They will of course function at warmer temperatures too. On the other hand, used with a 1 quart starter a packet of Wyeast will get your wort actively fermenting in 8-24 hours (depending upon a host of factors). Be sure to swirl up all the yeast from the bottom of the starter. If you get a fresh packet of one of the above strains, figure 1-2 days to fully activate at 70-75 degrees, then 1-2 days to get going well in a quart starter. If you are ramping up through multiple starters try to closely match temperatures. Store Wyeast in the bottom of your refrigerator (i.e. mid-30s). I believe that even at these temperatures, a few months should be the upper limit for shelf life. Absolutely do not freeze liquid yeast or leave it lying around at room temperature before use. I can vouch for your experience with bottled Guinness. I spent a month searching England and Scotland last Summer without finding an unfiltered bottle. A supplier that sells Wyeast and who will put up with Customs paperwork: American Brewmaster 2940-6 Trawick rd Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 phone 919 850 0095 (Mike and Sharon Williams, 10am-7pm EST Tuesday-Friday, 10-4 on Saturday) It is important that the supplier properly pack the yeast to give it some insulation and and send it no slower than UPS 2nd day air during warm seasons. High temperatures will kill some or all of the yeast cells pretty quickly, so spending days in a hot truck or Customs warehouse is no good. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pete Soper +1 919 481 3730 internet: soper at encore.com uucp: {bu-cs,decvax,gould}!encore!soper Encore Computer Corp, 901 Kildaire Farm Rd, bldg D, Cary, NC 27511 USA Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 17:20:30 EST From: mark at zippy.cs.umass.edu (mark gryska) Subject: Re: kegging problems One method for sealing a cornelius keg: Once the keg is full attach the CO2 line before closing the lid. Run the CO2 into the keg at a low pressure (~5psi) and pull up on the bail while gently wiggling it back and forth. You can hear the gas escaping around the seal and when you get it into a good position the pressure in the keg will force the lid up and close the seal. Push down a LITTLE on the lid, it shouldn't budge because of the pressure in the keg. Clamp the bail shut and add more pressure if you like. One advantage to this method is that you will displace any air remaining in the keg before sealing it shut and reduce the chance of oxidation. - mg gryska at cs.umass.edu mark at zippy.cs.umass.edu Return to table of contents
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 17:39:41 EST From: aem at mthvax.CS.Miami.EDU (a.e.mossberg) Subject: Re: HB archives In HOMEBREW Digest #345, boubez at bass.rutgers.edu (Toufic Boubez) asks: >I have tried several times to recall a digest from the archives, to >no avail. I don't know if I'm doing it right, but here are two of the >different ways I tried: > > send 329 from homebrew > send 239 from homebrew-new > >Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks. Well, the first won't work because 329 is not in an archive of it's own. Issues that are not current are stored in monthly archive. Thus, if you want 329, you would need to send the message send 8912.shar from homebrew likewise, the second request you example won't work because 239 is not a current issue. Only the current month's issues are available individually from homebrew-new, for instance, you could send send 346 from homebrew-new to get this very issue. Neat, huh? Anyway, if my instructions in the index for homebrew aren't clear, I would welcome an improved version. aem - -- a.e.mossberg / aem at mthvax.cs.miami.edu / aem at umiami.BITNET / Pahayokee Bioregion Despite the enormous civil rights gains of the past three decades, even the rawest forms of racism persist. - Jesse Jackson Return to table of contents
Date: 27 Jan 90 14:27:41 cst From: klein at c10sd3.StPaul.NCR.COM Subject: Hello from a new reader, couple of ?? <Tony Klein> Greetings! I just recently joined this mailing list and would like to toss out a general 'Hello!' to all the loyal readers and a 'Thanks for a job well done!' Mr. Rob Gardner. [Pause for polite applause to subside.] In an effort to get a 'feel' for things, I grabbed the last four months of digests from the archives in Miami. Lots of Very Useful Information in there! I am just about finished reading through it all, and as you might imagine I have a few questions. Perhaps I should first do a little introduction. I checked my brewing logbook last night to discover that I have brewed 24 batches of beer so far (first one was in 1982). Probably one quarter of them were lousy (more than one was dumped), one quarter were really good, and half were mediocre at best. So I guess I rate a solid 'amateur', maybe just above 'wet behind the ears' experience-wise. My initial attempts were based on a book called `The Art of Making Beer' by Hull and Anderson. (Recipies have as much as 50% adjunct sugar.) Later I got Byron Busch's `Brewing Quality Beers' which improved my success somewhat. Recently I acquired Papazians TCGTHB, which as you all know, is terriffic. Since discovering this forum I have sure gained a lot of insight. There is no substitute for learning from the experience of others! I live in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is the land 10,000 lakes and sky blue waters. I feel sorry for all the people who have said lately that they have to buy bottled water for brewing. Bummer! Here the city water is good, but the Schmidt Brewery has a tap on the side of their building where they offer free water (1100 ft deep well) to the public. It's great! Although we are not a bee-hive of micro-brewing entrepeneurs like what seems to be the case in California or Colorado, there is an increasing interest in 'regional' brewing which is (I believe) part of a national trend. In addition to the Big Boys like The Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company (G Heilemann) and The Hamms Brewery (owned by Strohs), St.Paul is home to Summit Brewing (a microbrewery) and at least three brewpubs. In addition, the Shells Brewery in New Ulm, Mn, brews a number of beers under contract to a local bar. (There are a number of smaller breweries in small towns throughout the state.) I think its great that 'regional' beers are experiencing a renaissance! I look forward to the day that Minnesota could have 200 regional breweries as it did before prohibition! So, anyway, enough rambling. Lets get down to brass tacks. [Pause while the assembled crowd pop open homebrews all around....] Speaking of the Complete Guide to Home Brewing, I noticed a few times that a 'net index' was mentioned. [groan from audience ignored] Where is this bugger? (I know, I know, the archives! But point me to a month at least....) Here are some other things I am wondering about: 1) The term 'sparging'. Someone tell me why this is something different from `rinsing'. In my last coupla batches that used specialty grains, I used a simple infusion mashing technique (grain placed in ceramic bean-pot with water in 150 degree oven for 60 minutes), followed by a `rinsing' step. I have this colander that fits inside a matching enamelware pot. I scooped the mashed grain into the colander (letting it drain into the brewing kettle) then sunk it into the pot (filled with maybe 2 quarts of water). I just lift and sink this colander a few times, the water rinses through and through. Comments? Do I need a more sophisticated sparging technique? (Basically what I mean here is suppose you took the familiar bucket-in-a-bucket apparatus (inner bucket with holes in the bottom), filled the thing with mash, then just lift the inner bucket out and let the water drain off. Then sink it, lift it out, sink it, etc, thus rinsing the grain. Will this work?) 2) On the subject of Yeast - I read a few comments on Red Star Ale yeast that suggested that it's not too good. Is this the general consensus? I used to just buy the cheapest yeast, I think now I will pay more attention. Which brings me to 3) Fast starting fermentation and slow staring fermentation. I can't believe all you folks get fermentation in less than 24 hours. The batch of Scottish Style Brown Ale that I have going right now was brewed last saturday (cooled and yeast pitched), and it was *wednesday* before bubbles started blurping out of the primary. I considered this normal. Should I worry? [I am aready relaxing and having a homebrew.] Here I read all these panic messages about fermentation failing to get started within a few *hours*. I guess all my batches have been slow. From now on I will definately rehydrate my yeast in warm water, though, that sounds like a great idea to speed things up. One final note: I also read with interest some talk of a Hunter Energy Monitor Thermostat being used, I assume, to control a refrigerator. Why not just use the refrigerator thermostat? (Not that I need such devices! In the basement of this house, there is a partially excavated area (under the front porch) that stays about 40-45 degrees in the winter. Its a perfect place for lagering!) (Sorry for the length of this posting.) Cheers! [Polish off last few drops, slam down mug, exit with smile and wave!] <TK> ____/| Tony Klein NCR Comten, St.Paul, MN 612-638-7861 () \| klein at stpaul.ncr.com ...uunet!ncrlnk!ncrcce!klein Return to table of contents
End of HOMEBREW Digest #346, 01/29/90 ************************************* -------
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