Those are Hallertauer, Willamett, Saaz and Cashmere. All second year growth. Funny, the Cashmere did the best last year. Still a few months to go though!

The winters are a perfect excuse to stay in and brew! In the summer I sit by the smoker, read and drink the brew I made all winter. "Yes, honey, I DO have to sit here all day and monitor the smoker!"

Central NY, where I live was the hop capital of the US during the heyday of the Erie canal! I have the Cashmere, Saaz, Hallertau and Willamet. All have sprouted already! Typically, I use Lemondrop or something similar just for the bittering, then the Cashmere for dry hopping. So, pretty much...

I love 'em! I make a blonde ale and dry-hop using the ones I grow myself.

May I ask what hardware you are using and what versions of GF, Tilt, etc? I have never been able to get my Tilt to connect to the GF brew session.

Just an amusing side note to the shaken v stirred debate: I oxygenated my starter wort in a 1 gallon jug. Pitched 2 packs of yeast and plugged it with a foam stopper. Gave it a good swirl every now and then. After about 12 hours there was some activity, but not alot - no krauesen, but definitely...

If I remember correctly, it was packaged in November. I got that from the website, looking up the lot number. I think it actually said something "entered into QC".

Thanks for your input, everyone! I went ahead and oxygenated the starter and it worked great! Pitched it at 62f, let rise to 66f, went from 1.046 to 1.007 in 5 days.

Hi Gang, I'll be making a starter for a Kolsch using WLP029. I don't have a stir plate, so I was thinking of oxygenating the starter wort like I would for the full batch. Would this help, hurt, or do nothing? The calculator shows a definite improvement using a stir plate over shaking, so I...

I broke a few bottles with a wing capper so I went a bought a bench capper similar to the one above. I haven't broken any bottles since! One caveat, though, is that you need to get the bottle centered properly or the cap won't go on straight. I've had a few bottle not fully carbonate because of...

Welcome from Central NY - we're practically neighbors!

My basement runs 65-70f, so a good fermentation temp. If it looks a little slow, I'll bring it upstairs where it's a bit warmer (70-72f). If I need it cooler, I have a Cool Brewing fermentation cooler and use their Cooler shock ice packs. Four ice packs and I get get the temp of the beer down to...

Yes, I have the two-port lids and use them during fermentation - one for the lock and one for a temp probe. Only drawback is the the straps are actually made for the single-port tops. I just criss-cross the straps and it works fine. I use the sing-port lids for the secondary and just have a temp...

I have the 6.5g and 5g models; I do 5 gal batches. I use the 6.5 for the fermentation then transfer to the 5 for secondary. Both have the spigots which are very useful. I don't use a blow off tube, just a regular airlock and have had no problems. Definitely get the carrying straps - makes them...

A good friend of mine who's been brewing for years has promised me his old grainfather - once the pandemic is over and we can actually get together! I'll likely still do the "hands-on" approach just cuz I like the touchy-feely stuff :-)

They are good - always looking for improvement! :-) I've recently bought, but haven't used yet, a grain mill, yeast starter kit and an oxygenation kit. Also got some brewing salts and whirfloc. I also have a pH meter.

My basement stays pretty stable at 65-70F. I have a CoolBrewing insulator if I need it colder. I keep a thermometer in the fermentor to keep tabs on the internal temp.

Nope, I'm not having any problems - yet :-) Just wondering if my process was sound or could use some tweaks/suggestions.

OK, I’m still pretty new to this, but I’ve made a few brews that my friends and family have liked very much. Any suggestions any of you may have are more than welcome! I’ve done all my brews as 5 gal. (in the fermenter) BIAB. I don’t have space for all the equipment for more traditional...

I use a mesh-type colander in the bottom of my kettle (better known as a lobster pot) to keep the brew bag off the bottom of the pot. I use another one that has expandable handles to drain and sparge. I drilled a small hole in the lid to the pot and put my thermometer (Thermoworks Smoke with a...