HOMEBREW Digest #2282 Monday, December 9 1996

Digest #2281 Digest #2283
		(formerly Volume 02 : Number 002)



Contents:
  Re: Burners
  Starter vs Primary fermentation
  keeping fridge contents cool
  [No Subject Provided By Sender]
  MCI Mail Partial Posting Notice
  Gaaasssp!!!! (and Carmelization)
  Destruction of the HBD by aob
  stoves
  Re: Beer Aging
  IPA woes
  Kraeusening
  Stuck ferment
  Message not deliverable
  WHEW! Question on DME
  I APOLOGIZE for the MIS-POST TO HBD
  HBD functions
  Brew Water
  Indoor Propane revisited
  Re:  Beer aging
  Jet Style Cooker -> cheap!!
  Topping off and gravity variation
  Hop Pellets
  It's Alive!! (and my Gadgets Page has moved (Again...))
  counterpressure bottle filling
  counterpressure bottle filling
  Re:burners
  Re: No sparge


---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 20:00:41 -0500 From: Barrowman at aol.com Subject: Re: Burners I picked up a very nice cast iron burner from a local store for only $40. It was meant to be a Cajun Cooker. The display had a broken pot (which I didn't want) so I offered to buy just the burner. I got a regulator and needle valve with the unit for a neat $30 off. It does simmer well but not efficiently. It stands ~2 ft high. This is a good time of year for buying floor models...... It is nice to see the HBD back on track. I am still working on a list of Web sites. Thanks to all who have helped me with this. I have even picked up some others, after much wading through rec.crafts.etc. Hopefully I will finish in time for Christmas. If not, it looks like I have resolution fodder lining right up. Laura Return to table of contents
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 20:39:25 -0500 From: Denis Barsalo <denisb at cam.org> Subject: Starter vs Primary fermentation I made a starter with Yeast Lab A05 Irish Ale using the recommended "recipe". (5 tbs DME and two cups of water, boil, cool, pitch) I hardly saw a krausen in the starter and the activity was very slow. But in the primary, (an Irish Stout) it became a real monster. Blow off hose and everything! Lots of activity, big krausen, rolling boil kind of fermentation. Is this a usual occurance? This has happened a few time lately where my starter and my primary have very different fermentations. Denis Return to table of contents
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 20:40:27 -0500 From: PVanslyke at aol.com Subject: keeping fridge contents cool Hi all, and welcome back ! For a couple months now I have been experimenting with my beer fridge. Because I keep the beast in an unheated room, when the weather turns cold, I have a problem with the contents becomming too cold. So, I broke off the button for turning the light on and off, and with a hot glue gun made the switch always on. So far with a 25w bulb in place and with the fridge on a setting just above defrost the temp has maintained 40 to 45 degrees F. My only concern is the constant light inside and the bottles of yeast sediment I have saved from secondarys. Coments - criticisms ? Paul >>> brewin' and relaxin' in Deposit, NY Return to table of contents
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 96 21:04 CST From: postmaster at swpe06.sw.lucent.com Subject: [No Subject Provided By Sender] >From postmaster Sun Dec 8 21:04:52 1996 Subject: smtp mail failed Content-Type: text Content-Length: 2172 Your mail to swen01.lucent.com is undeliverable. - ---------- diagnosis ---------- <<< 554 Transaction failed -- I/O error - ---------- unsent mail ---------- >From uucp Sun Dec 8 21:04 CST 1996 remote from swpe06 >From homebrew Sun Dec 8 16:18:38 0700 1996 remote from dionysus.aob.org Received: from dionysus.aob.org by swpe06.sw.lucent.com; Sun, 8 Dec 1996 21:04 CST Received: by ihgp0.ih.lucent.com (SMI-8.6/EMS-L sol2) id VAA27339; Sun, 8 Dec 1996 21:12:07 -0600 Received: from ihig2.firewall.lucent.com by ihgp0.ih.lucent.com (SMI-8.6/EMS-L sol2) id VAA27334; Sun, 8 Dec 1996 21:12:04 -0600 Received: by ihig2.firewall.lucent.com (SMI-8.6/EMS-L sol2) id VAA18022; Sun, 8 Dec 1996 21:03:25 -0600 Received: by ihgw1.lucent.com; Sun Dec 8 21:04 CST 1996 Received: (from dionysus at localhost) by dionysus.aob.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id QAA07226 for homebrew-digest-outgoing; Sun, 8 Dec 1996 16:18:38 -0700 (MST) Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 16:18:38 -0700 (MST) Message-Id: <199612082318.QAA07226 at dionysus.aob.org> X-Authentication-Warning: dionysus.aob.org: dionysus set sender to owner-homebrew-digest at using -f From: (Homebrew Digest) To: homebrew-digest at dionysus.aob.org Subject: Homebrew Digest V2 #1 Reply-To: homebrew at dionysus.aob.org Precedence: bulk Content-Type: text Content-Length: 9204 Homebrew Digest Sunday, December 8 1996 Volume 02 : Number 001 1 HBD technical difficulties 2 The HBD Returns!!! 3 Check 4 Good brewing burner? 5 Beer aging 6 Re: Good brewing burner? - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 05 Dec 1996 17:26:44 -0700 From: Melinda Bywaters <melinda at aob.org> Subject: HBD technical difficulties The Homebrew Digest has been experiencing growing pains. The Association of Brewers (AOB) became home to a much smaller Digest in June of 1996 and has been working to keep up with the growth ever since. On November 20 growth-related technical difficulties forced temporary shutdown of the Digest. The ever-increasing number of subscribers and volume of messages overloaded the AOB's computer systems. Both hardware and software problems have been diagnosed and corrected. The Digest will be Return to table of contents
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 96 22:20 EST From: POSTMASTER <POSTMASTER at mcimail.com> Subject: MCI Mail Partial Posting Notice - -----------------MCI Mail Internet Gateway Service Message------------------ Message Post Time: 03:20:00 GMT, Mon 9 DEC 1996 Status: Message Posted into MCI Mail - INVALID Addresses were encountered Message Information: From: homebrew EMS: Internet MBX: homebrew at dionysus.aob.org Subject: Homebrew Digest V2 #1 Message Statistics: Total Recipient Addresses In Envelope: 13 Invalid Addresses and Reasons: 607 Either no address or no MCI Mail user matches recipient information BCC: 0005631241 EMS: MCI MAIL MBX: 0005631241 Additional Message Information: - ------------------------------ Received: from gatekeeper2.mcimail.com by mailgate5.mcimail.com id aa22184; 9 Dec 96 3:20 WET Received: from dionysus.aob.org (dionysus.aob.org [205.168.231.72]) by gatekeeper2.mcimail.com (8.6.12/8.6.10) with ESMTP id DAA01536; Mon, 9 Dec 1996 03:25:46 GMT Received: (from dionysus at localhost) by dionysus.aob.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id QAA07226 for homebrew-digest-outgoing; Sun, 8 Dec 1996 16:18:38 -0700 (MST) Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 16:18:38 -0700 (MST) Message-Id: <199612082318.QAA07226 at dionysus.aob.org> X-Authentication-Warning: dionysus.aob.org: dionysus set sender to owner-homebrew-digest at using -f From: To: homebrew-digest at dionysus.aob.org Subject: Homebrew Digest V2 #1 Reply-To: homebrew at dionysus.aob.org Sender: Errors-To: Precedence: bulk - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Return to table of contents
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 21:03:28 -0800 From: Steven and Nancy Gray <sgray at calweb.com> Subject: Gaaasssp!!!! (and Carmelization) Whew!!!!! Talk about holding your breath. I was turning blue and = hallucinating about the wonderful, beautiful, sumptuous.......Oh,.... = that's for alt. something else. Really though, it's be so long that I just have to come out and let = everyone know how my beer has been doing. Usually just listening and = asking a question here and there is enough but I'm about to POP! In September I ask about carmelization techniques for making Scotch Ale. = All responses were about the same and this is what I did. I used Gregory Noonan's recipe for 1991 90 Schilling Scotch Ale and = bumped up the base malt about 10% to account for my utilization, = otherwise I followed Noonan's recommended processes. After the specified = rests and 1 hour sparge to get ~7 gals. I boiled approximately 15 = minutes then removed 3 quarts for carmelization. I reduced this 3 = quarts down to ~1 quart over 80 minutes. When the main boil was almost done, I added the reduced wort to the main = batch, chilled racked to my primary and pitched. The OG was 1.065, one = week in primary, one week in secondary, and six weeks in keg. The FG = was 1.012. After the six weeks the taste was very pleasing. The maltiness is what = I have experienced in other Scotch Ales I've tasted, and liked, and the = sweetness was where I thought it should be (not too sweet, but there). = Overall, very satisfying.....and now very gone. The batch and process = are worth repeating for me. Well, I got that off my chest, now back to my current batches. And time = for all of us to continue on where we left off (but hopefully with a = little more consistency). Steve Gray Shingle Springs, Ca sgray at calweb.com=20 Return to table of contents
Date: 09 Dec 96 00:49:58 EST From: Lynn Ashley <73744.3234 at CompuServe.COM> Subject: Destruction of the HBD by aob To: INTERNET:homebrew at aob.org Homebrew Digest, Sunday, December 8 1996, Volume 02 : Number 001: > The digest will be sent out when it reaches 1500 lines in length, or once > a day, whichever comes first. Many of us thought that the biggest threat from the aob would be from censorship. Little did we realize that aob would choose to destroy the HBD by allowing it to consume itself. Rob Gardner restricted the daily output to 50KB. He provided a mechanism whereby posters could delete their queued posts. If a post was sub-standard or already answered, the poster deleted it. Given time to reflect, I purged many. The HBD is too important to allow to die. Hopefully it will be picked up by someone who cares. Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 02:02:08 +0000 From: ksmith2 at wingsbbs.com Subject: stoves hollen writes... which are available. They will boil your wort faster than any of the other commonly available burners, but may scorch it, or may boil it too fast during the boil. Boil it too fast? Is there such a thing? I have found that if you use a good heavey bottomed stainless steal pot, your wort will not scorch no matter how fast I boil it.... hollen writes further..... Superior cast ring burners which are really nice burners, but unless you go with someone and buy a few, the price will be way over $90 each. Actually this is not true. You can get a VERY GOOD multi-jet burner from Pico Brewing in Ypsilanti MI for 65 bucks. (no affiliation etc etc). This rig is 170K BTU and very adjustable at the low end of things. This burner also will not leave much (if any) soot on the bottom of your pots. You can find an advertisement for Pico in any of the brewing rags. Good Brewing Ken Smith Britten & Smith Brewing VyLtd ...where the BS stops at the label... Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 17:13:54 -0800 From: Rich and Lori Cox <lori at kdn0.attnet.or.jp> Subject: Re: Beer Aging > Does anyone have any recommendations or guidelines, > other than by taste, on how long various styles of beer > should be aged? I know you're looking for the flavors > to blend and mellow some, but I'm looking for some > kind of time frame for say pale ales, ambers, and darks. > > -Jay Reeves There was an article in the Thrid Quarter 96 issue (Vol 5, Number 3) of the "The Malt Advocate" discussing "Vintage Beers". While the focus was on commercial beers, how beer is affected by aging was discussed fairly indepth (i.e. fruit, spice, and hop cahracteristics). Richard Cox Okinawa Japan Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 04:35:00 -0600 From: "Goodale, Daniel CPT 4ID DISCOM" <GoodaleD at HOOD-EMH3.ARMY.MIL> Subject: IPA woes Dear Collective (v. 2) I've made an IPA that screams hops for days. My unenlightened friends find it too bitter. Being the eager to please type, I was toying with the idea of diluting this batch with a lightly hopped batch in another carboy. Stylistically bankrupt I know, but has anyone ever blended beer and gotten satisfactory results? Does two good beers make a bad beer or will they have a synergistic effect? BTW, thank whoever for the early Christmas present of the HBD. You never realize what you have got until it's gone. Daniel Goodale (good lagers as well) The Biohazard Brewing Company (formerly The Semi-Permeable Membrane Brewery & Grill) Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 07:08:04 -0500 From: Nicholas Dahl <ndd3 at psu.edu> Subject: Kraeusening I've always bottled using corn sugar. Then, I got a kegging system, and force carbonated everything. I would, however, like to experiment with kraeusening my beer. I've read CP's appendix, but would like more information, and actually, more "real-world" anecdotal evidence. For those of you who kraeusen your lagers and ales, how do you do it? Is the process the same for both lagers and ales? What formulas do you use for calculating how much wort to reserve? Have you tried using different worts (e.g. fermented brown ale with a pale ale kraeusen, or fermented munich lager with a DME kraeusen)? And, probably most important, are you pleased with the results, or are the "advantages" assessed in other ways? Lots of questions, huh? Hopefully more will come up, too! Truth in brewing, Nick Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 96 09:10:01 est From: Mike Spinelli <paa3983 at dpsc.dla.mil> Subject: Stuck ferment HBDers,, First, welcome back everyone! There IS a Sanni Claus. My latest brew, a porter, was pitched with a 3rd generation primary dregs of Brwetek's CL-10 American Ale #1 yeast (Chico?). OG 54 FG 21!!! AAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!! I figure the yeast just pooped out . Batch 1 started from slant to starter and finished in the low teens. Same with Batch 2 with using the primary dregs from Batch 1. Batch 3 started showing problems with a FG of 20. I used the dregs from batch 3 on batch 4 (porter) and sure 'nuf another high FG (21). So I made up a fresh starter from Wyeast's 1275 Thames Valley (about a gallon) and poured the slurry between 2 carboys and then racked the porter onto the yeast (no aeration) . Will this knock the FG down into the teens? Should that Chico yeast have pooped out only after 2 batches? Mike Spinelli Cherry Hill NJ Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 96 08:07:32 PST From: Administrator_at_ASTBMOUND at ccmailsmtp.ast.com Subject: Message not deliverable Homebrew Digest Sunday, December 8 1996 Volume 02 : Number 001 1 HBD technical difficulties 2 The HBD Returns!!! 3 Check 4 Good brewing burner? 5 Beer aging 6 Re: Good brewing burner? - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 05 Dec 1996 17:26:44 -0700 From: Melinda Bywaters <melinda at aob.org> Subject: HBD technical difficulties The Homebrew Digest has been experiencing growing pains. The Association of Brewers (AOB) became home to a much smaller Digest in June of 1996 and has been working to keep up with the growth ever since. On November 20 growth-related technical difficulties forced temporary shutdown of the Digest. The ever-increasing number of subscribers and volume of messages overloaded the AOB's computer systems. Both hardware and software problems have been diagnosed and corrected. The Digest will be relocating within the next two months to a site with dedicated computing power that is able to handle the forum's increased growth. The AOB will continue to support the Digest until it moves to its new location and will work closely with the new site to ensure a transparent transition for subscribers. The Digest has doubled in size during the past six months from 2,500 subscribers to more than 5,000. The AOB is committed to keeping the Digest up and running as a service for the homebrewing community, but are unable to provide the service from their computer system. We, at the Association of Brewers, regret any inconvenience the Homebrew Digest's technical difficulties have caused subscribers. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Melinda W. Bywaters, M.A. Association of Brewers, Marketing Communications - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 15:37:56 -0700 (MST) From: Dionysus <dionysus at dionysus.aob.org> Subject: The HBD Returns!!! Welcome to the first issue of Volume II of the Home Brewer's Digest. Because we rebuilt the server, things might look a little bit different, but we're sure that you'll find it works much better and is everything you expect of the HBD. To provide a summary of the basic commands available to you: To post a message to the digest, send your message to <homebrew at aob.org>. It will be resent to any of the list subscribers, and it will also appear in the next digest (two totally separate functions). To subscribe to the list or to the digest: Send a message to <majordomo at aob.org> with the text "subscribe <listname> " in the body of the message, where <listname> is either "homebrew" (the list) or "homebrew-digest" (the digest version of the list). To unsubscribe from the list or the digest: Send a message to <majordomo at aob.org> with the text "unsubscribe <listname> <your email address>" in the body of the message, where <listname> is either "homebrew" or "homebrew-digest", depending on which you're subscribed to. To receive a listing of the archived digests available for download: Send a message to <majordomo at aob.org> with the text "index homebrew" in the body of the message. NOTE: The "index" and subsequent "get" commands are only available to people who are subscribed to the list. To receive a list of other commands available to you: Send a message to <majordomo at aob.org> with the text "help" in the body of your message. To report any difficulties experienced with the list: Send a message to <owner-homebrew at aob.org> with a description of your problem. The digest will be sent out when it reaches 1500 lines in length, or once a day, whichever comes first. I know that there has been some confusion over who is subscribed to the list and who has unsubscribed, et cetera, and we apologize for that. At this point we have put together what we believe is the most up-to-date list available. If you have unsubscribed in the past and are still on the list, please unsubscribe again (see above for how to do this). If you were on the list and somehow have been dropped, we also apologize. Please resubscribe, and you will see that the problems have been resolved. If there are any questions or concerns, please send mail to <owner-homebrew at aob.org> for resolution. We thank you all for your patience, and we wish you happy brewing! The Association Of Brewers http://www.beertown.org - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 06 Dec 96 10:08:44 EST From: "David R. Burley" <103164.3202 at CompuServe.COM> Subject: Check Hallo, Are you still there? Keep on brewin' Dave Burley Kinnelon, NJ 07405 103164.3202 at compuserve.com Voice e-mail OK - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 6 Dec 96 07:18:03 PST From: hollen at vigra.com Subject: Good brewing burner? When looking for a good burner for brewing, what should be looked for and what is available? dion - - -- Dion Hollenbeck (619)597-7080x164 Email: hollen at vigra.com http://www.vigra.com/~hollen Sr. Software Engineer - Vigra Div. of Visicom Labs San Diego, California - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 09:22:38 -0600 From: Jay Reeves <jay at ro.com> Subject: Beer aging Does anyone have any recommendations or guidelines, other than by taste, on how long various styles of beer should be aged? I know you're looking for the flavors to blend and mellow some, but I'm looking for some kind of time frame for say pale ales, ambers, and darks. -Jay Reeves Huntsville, Alabama - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 6 Dec 96 07:32:14 PST From: hollen at vigra.com Subject: Re: Good brewing burner? >> hollen writes: dion> When looking for a good burner for brewing, what should be dion> looked for and what is available? Several factors should be considered. First, it must have a high enough BTU rating (get hot enough) that it does not take an overly long time to bring your wort to a boil. This will depend on 1) the volume you boil, and 2) to some degree, your patience. You can use a very low BTU burner (35K BTU) if you are patient. The second factor, and IMHO, the most important, is the burner controllable. The 170K BTU Jet burners, while they may be very hot and get the wort boiling very quickly, are not as controllable on the simmer as other burners which are available. They will boil your wort faster than any of the other commonly available burners, but may scorch it, or may boil it too fast during the boil. Burners which are available: All sorts of "cajun cooker" burners meant for seafood cooking which are generally the jet type and usually come with an aluminum pot and legs. Superior cast ring burners which are really nice burners, but unless you go with someone and buy a few, the price will be way over $90 each. Many restaurant supply houses have natural gas ring burners, but the price will be high. In my estimation, the widest range of burners for the least amount of money is made by Metal Fusion. You can buy anything they sell directly from them, but you will pay full "list price". You can buy many different ones of their burners from homebrew shops. They have the King Kooker which comes in both the jet burner and ring burner style and puts out 135K BTU for ring and 170K BTU for jet. They come on tall stands, shorts stands, round stands and square stands. Metal Fusion will sell individual pieces, like just ring burner and gas regulator if you are building one into a stand. THE BEST DEAL GOING: Cabela's 800-237-4444 Kamp Kooker by Metal Fusion Spring 1994 catalog page 161 Outdoor Cooker 136k BTU Single Burner Unit AE-50402-000 $49.95 Double burner unit AE-50403-000 $84.95 30" extensions legs AE-50536-200 $19.95 Fits keg perfectly, 8" high and about 12" square, also fits any sort of pot because of the grate they use over the burner. It is complete and needs nothing but a propane bottle. This is the one I use and am quite happy with it. I have called Metal Fusion when I first got my burner from Cabela's because one part was missing. They sent it out with no charge and no questions asked other than my name and address. When my burner was sooting up the bottom of the pot, they sent me out a whole new burner assembly free of charge. When I wanted to switch from propane to natural gas, one of their technical people talked to me for 15 minutes discussing the options. These people are one of the best companies I have ever had to deal with. I have no financial interest in Metal Fusion, I am just a *very* satisfied customer. If you need, they can even build special stands for you (but that will cost a lot, but you know it will be done right). dion - - -- Dion Hollenbeck (619)597-7080x164 Email: hollen at vigra.com http://www.vigra.com/~hollen Sr. Software Engineer - Vigra Div. of Visicom Labs San Diego, California - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- end of Homebrew Digest V2 #1 **************************** The following is an attached File item from cc:Mail. It contains information that had to be encoded to ensure successful transmission through various mail systems. 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Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 09:11:31 -0500 (EST) From: Paul Ward <paulw at doc.state.vt.us> Subject: WHEW! Question on DME WHEW! Did anyone else find him or herself becoming irritable, twitching uncontrolably and experiencing formication (with an M) during the early HBD withdrawal stage? About 3 weeks ago I decided to brew a real quicky (extract) thick brown ale to have ready for Xmas. From memory it was: 6 lbs. Laaglander (Laglaander?) dark Dry Malt Extract .5 lb crystal (unknown L) .5 lb black patent 1 oz. Galena pellet 1/2 oz. Cascade plug last minute 1/2 ox. Cascade plug dry hop 12 oz starter made from the above DME & Coopers yeast *VERY* well aerated at pitching (cooled wort siphoned through a sanitized strainer with a 2' drop into open plastic bucket) The starter was not very impressive after 24 hours, but it showed signs of activity and smalled O.K. This was the only day I would be able to brew until after Xmas, so I had to go with it. 24 hours after pitching I had some bubbling evident in the airlock. 24 hours later, nothing. I was patient adn kept an eye on the lock for the next couple of days - still nothing. I removed the bottled slurry from an earlier batch I had in the fridge, warmed it to pitching temp (same as in primary), saw signs of life and pitched. Nothing! A couple of days later I rehydrated and pitched the only other yeast packet I had in the house, a Morgans dry lager pack left over from something earlier. Nada! After a week I dryhopped and let it set for another week. OG 1.048 FG 1.038 Bottled with 5 oz. corn sugar. I have good carbonation, and the beer has a great thick luscious brown head like I wanted. Just that I wasn't looking to brew a sweet brown LA ale. Brewing and sanitation practices were normal (for me anyway). I had tried rousing the yeast and introducing additional oxygen prior to the 3rd pitch ( 3 strikes and out?). The only thing I can think of is that this DARK DME is just chock full of non-fermentables. Anyone know if this is the case? Had this produced a little alcohol, it would have been just what I was looking for. Where did I screw up this time? Paul - -- If vegetarians eat vegetables, what of humanitarians? Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 14:18:56 GMT From: Bob Noonan <bnoonan at acadia.net> Subject: I APOLOGIZE for the MIS-POST TO HBD To All Home brew digest and rec .beer readers; I sincerely APOLOGIZE for the ACCIDENTAL post I made to the home brew digest just before it went down. I had received over 70 e-mails from the digest and too hastily typed out a letter of protest, meant ONLY for Software Solutions. As soon as I clicked the wrong button I realized I had made a mistake but it was too late the post was on it's way. I had hoped that this mistake would blow over if I didn't post any thing else but It has not. I realize that I offended many and am truly sorry. Those that have never made a mistake won't buy this but I hope the majority will. P.S. I hope this message gets out today 12/9/96, I have been trying to post it for about two weeks, again sorry. Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 08:32:24 -0600 (CST) From: "Bryan L. Gros" <grosbl at ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu> Subject: HBD functions Good to have the digest back. If we're starting from scratch, is there any means to discuss what functions we want/need? Is there enough demand for a reflector list to keep it? And does that mean that the cancel post feature can't be implemented? - Bryan grosbl at ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu Nashville, TN Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 96 09:54:12 EST From: Kirk Harralson <kwh at smtpgwy.roadnet.ups.com> Subject: Brew Water Hello HBD!!! Nice to have you back! Thanks also to Dion for the info on Metal Fusion burners -- Very good advice, and very timely for me. This post reminded me of a question I was about to post around the middle of November. What do all you "outdoor brewers" do for a water source? I have an outdoor spigot on my porch, but I don't think I want to run my brewing water through 50' or so of rubber garden hose. I've seen the cartridge filters at Home Depot, etc. and have been thinking about buying one to mount to a brewing stand, etc. for a "clean" water supply, but don't know if this is a good way to go. How could I store the filter between uses to prevent bacteria, etc. from taking it over? What is the best way to go on this? I would really appreciate some good advice on this and other details about brewing "out of the kitchen". Kirk Harralson Bel Air, Maryland Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 96 11:06:15 EST From: "[Michael Otten]" <motten at fcmc.com> Subject: Indoor Propane revisited Welcome back to the HBD. Several months ago I sent in a question about the dangers of using propane indoors. For the most part, the replies came back advising against using propane indoors due to the possibility of leaks and explosions caused by even the slightest of sparks igniting the propane which has pooled/collected in a low lying place (in my "basement brewery", near the furnace, perhaps?) Not a pretty picture. Another concern, less severe, but very important to avoid, is the creation of carbon monoxide. Now the questions. At what point would the leak be most likely to occur? Is it at the tank, or at the point where it connects to my cajun cooker, or somewhere in between? Is there anyone out there who has eliminated most of the risks associated with indoor propane use? Would keeping the tank outside (and running a long line to the cooker) eliminate the risk? If the leak is at the tank/hose connection, would keeping the tank and a foot or so of hose submerged in a garbage can filled with water resolve anything? If anyone has suggestions or remedies, fast responses will be greatly appreciated, since it's starting to get a little nipply here on Long Island to continue outdoor brewing. Mike Otten motten at fcmc.com East Islip, NY Return to table of contents
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 96 15:30:59 UT From: Don Van Valkenburg <DONVANV at msn.com> Subject: Re: Beer aging Jay Reeves <jay at ro.com> inquires about Beer aging See the article on old ales in the latest issue of Zymurgy. Good article. Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 10:34:24 -0700 From: Ken Sullivan <kj at nts.gssc.com> Subject: Jet Style Cooker -> cheap!! Hi, I've located some 200K BTU jet style cookers with deflector plate but without a regulator at ACE HARDWARE stores for $25. I've bought one but haven't used it yet. This is a really good price!! They advertise them to deep fry turkeys??!! The Aluminum pot sells for >$120. Forget the pot - get the cooker. KJ Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 12:53:07 -0500 From: MaltyDog at aol.com Subject: Topping off and gravity variation I am just posting this to the newly-reactivated HBD to see if anyone else has had a similar experience. Saturday, I was working on a high-gravity triple-as it turned out, it was even a little higher gravity than I expected! (I'm beginning to think my grain scale is off!) Anyway, I could see it was running high, so, towards the end of the boiling, I topped off my ten-gallon brewpot with water, to lower the gravity some. After that I stirred the water in to mix it fairly thoroughly, though I admit I'm a little careful about how much I stir at this point, because of worry about hot-side aeration. Anway, fifteen minutes later, I turned off the heat. Then, I let the pot sit for about fifteen or ten minutes. Then, I started running the wort through the wort chiller, from a tap I have at the bottom of my brewpot. After a few minutes, to let all the water I had run through the chiller to sanitize it to run out, I took a gravity reading. It was 1.090, a little higher than I planned! Okay, so I fill up my first carboy. Then I get my next one ready, and start filling it up. I decided to take another gravity reading, because I was afraid if the water I topped off with didn't mix well with the wort, the gravity reading for the second carboy, which was from the top of the pot, would be lower. Actually it was 1.100! This doesn't make any sense to me at all! I would think the gravity from the second half of the chill, if it were different, would be lower, because the water sat at the top off the pot, and didn't mix with the heavier wort. But it was higher! It doens't make any sense to me. A couple of hours later, I check the gravity in each carboy, just to verify that the gravity variation wasn't just due to some water in the wort chiller. Sure enough, one carboy was 1.090, and the other was 1.100. It looks as if my yeast has some work cut out for it. Can anyone explain why this happened? Bill Coleman MaltyDog at aol.com Return to table of contents
Date: 09 Dec 96 14:05:19 EST From: John Chang <75411.142 at CompuServe.COM> Subject: Hop Pellets Welcome back to all the HBDr's out there! During the time the digest was down, I had my brother pick up some brewing supplies for me and he mistakenly brought back hop pellets instead of whole flowers, which I'm used to using. Now that I have them I'm actually looking forward to using them (K. Goldings) in a Pale Ale. I'm assuming my brewing process will be essentially the same, only there will be no "sparge" following immersion chilling, only waiting to allow the hops and trub to settle out prior to racking to primary. Any hints/warnings/suggestions would be welcome. John 75411.142 at compuserve.com Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 14:13:46 -0600 From: Marty Tippin <martyt at wwgv.com> Subject: It's Alive!! (and my Gadgets Page has moved (Again...)) Holy cow! Looks like this HBD thing is back up and running - (how about let's not tell Dave and Al... ;-) Just wanted to pass along that "Marty's Homebrew Gadgets Page" has a new (and, hopefully, permanent) home at http://alpha.rollanet.org/users/mtippin If you have links to the old location, please update them as appropriate. - -Marty - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Marty Tippin | Tippin's Law #24: Never underestimate the martyt at wwgv.com | power of human stupidity. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out my 2-Tier Converted Keg Brewing System Design Plans and other homebrew gadgets at http://alpha.rollanet.org/users/mtippin - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 15:44:57 EST From: George Techentine <ustuix2v at ibmmail.com> Subject: counterpressure bottle filling Instead of using a counter-pressur bottle filler, couldn't I just gently put some kegged, carbonated brew in a bottle and cap it? When you pull off your bottle filler rig, isn't your bottle at atmospheric pressure? What is the benefit of using one? As a side note, I just finished the last of my Pumpkin Ale-loved it! Those that will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. (H) geotek797 at aol.com --George Santayana (W) ustuix2v at ibmmail.com Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 15:45:30 EST From: George Techentine <ustuix2v at ibmmail.com> Subject: counterpressure bottle filling Instead of using a counter-pressur bottle filler, couldn't I just gently put some kegged, carbonated brew in a bottle and cap it? When you pull off your bottle filler rig, isn't your bottle at atmospheric pressure? What is the benefit of using one? As a side note, I just finished the last of my Pumpkin Ale-loved it! Those that will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. (H) geotek797 at aol.com --George Santayana (W) ustuix2v at ibmmail.com Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 16:33:08 -0500 From: Btalk at aol.com Subject: Re:burners I have a King Kooker ring type burner that is rated at 170,000 btu's, their jet burner is rated at 200,000 btu's. Unless the specs have changed in the 2 or 3 years since I got my cooker. Sam's Club and some of the do it yourself home supply type stores have had the ring type burners in the $60 price range. THese cookers are definitely the way to go. Regards, Bob Talkiewicz, Binghamton, NY <btalk at aol.com> Return to table of contents
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 15:37:40 -0800 (PST) From: Jeff Frane <jfrane at teleport.com> Subject: Re: No sparge Good to see the HBD back on-line; someone can turn off Al Korzonas' life support system now. Through some discussion on the Digest before the Crash, I had gotten the notion of doing a no-sparge mash, with the intention of replicating George Fix's success in enhancing malt flavor. When I get a chance, I'll send along some details, but for now, let's say I'm a convert. My basement has gotten pretty cool lately, so I decided to do something with Wyeast 2112 (a steam beer, natch!), and try George's technique at the same time. Big success all around, a sort of steam bock. Because I was uneasy about the whole idea, I added less water than I had originally planned, and ended up with a stronger beer, and less of it. Very nice result for the season, however, and the main point is that the results seem to bear out George's idea: malt flavor was *very* high, relative to beers I've brewed to a similar OG (1.060). Lots of hops, too, as I used another technique I learned from George: first wort hopping. As I said, details to follow (if not here, then in BYO magazine). For the time, though, I'm sold. - --Jeff Frane Return to table of contents
End of HOMEBREW Digest #2282