Recent content by hhouken

Now that I am into AG and harvesting yeast I am down to $1 per liter for the ingredients. One of my more expensive brews (and quite possibly the best to date) was a chocolate hazelnut porter (extract based) which set me back $60 or so for 23 liters. The joy of going AG (& BIAB) is great because...

Is this the sort of winch to consider for lifting BIAB bag? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-3000lbs-Ele...=item3f065270c4 12V option is somewhat cheaper than 240V. Can get it for around $70 delivered rather than pay the "buy it now" price through same supplier. I find that my single pulley...

Stay away from Coopers if you can. I have had many bottles leak at the molding at the bottom. Try Copper Tun bottles available from home brew shops. Same price as Coopers but better quality IMO.

I recently moved from cheap 15l chinese stock pot & 1.5kW portable elec stove to a Crown 40l concealed element & BIAB bag. Bought latter second hand for $250. I find that the urn is a tad small as I no chill in a cube. Usually around 2 liters short. If there was a 50l urn that would be the go...

Hmmm - makes me feel homesick. Still brew better beer here in Aus though. Must be the water :rolleyes:

I place the probe in a 1 litre container filled with water. This cuts out some of the temperature fluctuations when you open the door to take a peek had it been suspended in air. Have also increased the temperature differential to 5C (default was 2C) to ease the strain on the compressor - I am...

I am experiencing the same issue. I am starting to think that the STC temp controller may be leading to seal failure. Fridge has been operating fine until I started using external temp controller. Don't know the working of a fridge at all mind you. The internal thermostat must cut power to the...

Bit of a tekkie question but would like to hear other's experiences / thoughts. My fermentation fridge does not get up to normal fridge temperature and runs all the time. Minimum temperature it reaches is 6.6C. Could it be that since I have the STC on the power input side (compressor loses power...

Would love to use the QHC conference hops freebees. Forum search did not pop up with anything. Any ideas on suitable styles or better yet a recipe I could use.

Used S05 yeast

Brewed a Dr Smurto's golden ale. After 1.5 weeks in PET bottle thought I would have little taste. Smells a bit "rotten eggy" :unsure: . Tastes ok though. Not sure of source as I have had a few firsts with this brew - first time using unfiltered water, first time cleaning bottles with (unscented)...

Second brew with this yeast, both with issues. The first, a sweet stout, I bottled to early with FG too high. The second, a strong Scottish Ale, I waited for FG to drop within bottling range (1.015). The latter has been a week in PET bottles and very little carbonation. The sweet stout is...

I kept the bottles at 18C in temp controlled fridge. Have a strong scottish ale in fermenter at present also with S04 so will definately give it a bit longer and watch FG prior to bottling. What would be the alternative to S04 if it is prone to stalling?

Brewed a milk stout out of Brewing Classic Styles. Bottled after 2.5 weeks. FG was 1.030 (target 1.023). Bottle primed at 4.5g/750ml as per recipe. I normally prime higher at 7g/750ml. Beer is flat and sweet after 2 weeks in bottle and unlikely to go anywhere. Tried adding sugar now but it...

When I take a gravity reading at the end of the mash do I need to correct for temperature in order to calculate the extraction efficiency? I am using the example in John Palmer's book page 192, 3rd edition if that helps.