Yes Stainless is more expensive but it is also more durable than softer metals. I have learned over the years that you get what you pay for so its more of a personal choice than it being a critical error either way. Other than my chiller my system is completely stainless. I've been using it for...

My counter flow chiller is made with copper tubing probably like most coil chillers. I've never had any issues with taste. I don't have any experience with brass but why not just stick with stainless for such small parts?

Really? Could someone explain to me how C02 forms in a flat liquid without yeast? :geek: ? :ugeek: ?

I rack to a secondary and cold crash before kegging. Cold crashing drops all of the suspended yeast and leaves a clear beer. You can only Cold Crash if you are kegging and force carbing, if you are going to bottle condition you need the suspended yeast.

You could always make a few differant teas then add a few drops to a sample of your brew. That way your not making galons of beer you wont like.

The way that i dry hop is using pellet hops ground to a powder and thrown in the primary about 4 or 5 days before racking to secondary. I have had great results doing it that way. I have dry hopped in the secondary in the past and have gotten some off flavors. I think dry hopping for too long...

I at one point thought about getting a refractometer but after doing research and checking cost I decided it wasnt for me. Instead I purchased a top of the line hydrometer to replace my triple scale hydrometer and dont regret that decision at all.

This is only my opinion and I have nothing scientific to back it up just experiance. Yeast nutriants are great for starters because of the ratio of yeast to wort but in a full batch I have seen no positive effect. In your case I wouldnt even bother using it. There are plenty of sugars in your...

Cheers!

I used a center punch to mark one of my old boil kettles. I liked it because you can see the marks on both the inside and out and you don't have to dip anything in your brew.

I've got 4 cases of the bomber flip tops if anyone wants them they can have them.......They are junk! Do yourself a favor and get a capper and real beer bottles. I dont mean to sound so negative about it but you get really pissed when you work hard on your brew and half of it turns out flat.

SRM of 9 to 18 is where you want to be. Over 6% may be a little strong especially with no flavor hops. A few tablespoons of Gypsom and you've got a winner.

Either the White Labs WLP004 or Wyaest 1084 Would be the best. The hardest thing to get right in a Red is the color. What is the SRM on this recipe?

I guess I'm pretty lucky, I've got 2 LHBS less than 20 miles away. One I can bring my brews in and taste some of their samplings and the other is attatched to a full service liquor store that has about 40 beers on tap that I can bring home growlers of.

The cider is finnished! When I racked it the first time it had a pretty sharp alcohol bite so I decided to back sweeten it. I used a can of welches white grape juice concentrate. After only a week in the secondary it cleared up great. Since I had 6gal I filled 7 wine bottles for a later date and...

I just wanted to share this with everyone. It's a great short book on recipe formulation by Chris Heier. What I like best about it is it doesnt get into all of the tiniest of details that you forget as fast as you read them but covers everything for the beginner and a great refresher for the...

Pale Ale and two row are the same thing. It will be fine.

The vodka will extract the vanilla flavor plus it don't hurt the Abv. :D I just checked my recipe. The yeast that I used the most is WLP 080 Cram Ale Yeast Blend and I don't use any dextrine malt but other than that. Your recipe is the same.

Being a child of Chicago myself. I grew up with a sump pump and all the damp rid in the world wouldnt help. My folks always had a de-humidifier going in the basement. As long as your beer isnt stored in light and heat it will be fine.

I made a milk stout once, only to find out that lactose gives me gas.. :oops: ....I gave most of that batch away. Just remember to warn everyone who samples your brew that it has lactose in it. There are alot of lactose intolorant folks that it would really mess up.