My LHBS is an Adventures in Homebrewing store. Not exactly a mom & pop operation, and they do receive semi trailers full of deliveries. Maybe they're just greedy. I checked the Northern Brewer website and they're not much cheaper than here. Weyermann Pilsner is only 40 cents less per pound...

If you watch CL you can find them used for a lot less. I bought mine in 2015 for $250. It's a Sanyo and holds 4 Corny Kegs or a full Keg. It was made in Mexico...not China. It was new in 2006 and still going strong. If it (when) it craps out, I'll get it fixed.

Absolutely. CO2 dissolves into the wort. It begins right away which is part of the reason it can take a while for the Air Lock to start bubbling. And the lower the Temp, the more readily it dissolves.

Jeez. My LHBS Is a LOT more expensive than yours. I use a lot of Weyermann Pilsner and it's currently $2.99 a pound. Czech pilsner is $2, but requires an acid rest. Even buying a 55 pound bag of Weyermann is $99. I should shop around online.

I have a very similar capper that i bought new in late 1972 when I first started brewing. It always sealed well and the only problem was that I prefer German 1/2 Liter bottles. Those are slightly larger diameter and the bottle and cap would be slightly stuck after capping and I'd have to give it...

Before I had a batch spoiled by DMS I always boiled 60 minutes. That beer tasted like it was brewed with leftover corn-on-the cob water. I threw it out. Since then I always boil about 90 minutes or a little more...until I reach my target SG.