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The Wort is fermenting away nicely now after the addition of the dry yeast. I would have thought after 21 hrs in wort @ 20 C the starter would have been showing some signs of taking off, then another 28 hrs in the 20L wort, still no further signs of activity.

I smacked the pack as directed and sat it aside for the 3 hours but it just never swelled. I went ahead and added it to the starter wort I made up, which was around 4pm Saturday. By 1pm Sunday the yeast starter still wasn't bubbling or showing any signs of activity. I pitched the yeast anyway...

I recently experienced a yeast failure from a packet of Wyeast 1187. I followed their instructions on the Wyeast packet for creating a yeast starter but it never took off. The batch date was only Jun 09. I was wondering if others have experienced this and if so how often and with what brand...

An update on the madian brew day using the BCS-460. The madian brew was a Dogfish Head 60min IPA. It all went well. The temperature of the MASH was spot on 67 C and held there during the whole MASH, only wavering 0.2 C momentarily for a second then back to 67 C, so I was really happy with the...

Well the HERMS is finally finished, well except for a trip to bunnings saturday morning to get a in-line tap for the inlet of the water filter and some that gray insulation foam tubing for the hoses. The maiden brew will be this sunday. . . and on sunday, he created beer. All should go well...

Added the green bezal lights to indicated when each component is switched on. You can also see the red LED on the SSR for the Fridge circuit and the green bezal illuminated. If an electrican can help me with this quary. The green bezal lights work as intended when each component is switched...

The BCS was $187 USD and each temp sensor was $16 USD. I got the SSR's from ebay. They came with heat sinks and cost $64 USD for the 4 of them. You can do without the wireless router fi you plug the BCS directly into your laptop.

The readings from the BCS during HLT, HEX and Fridge temp control.

The SSR relays arrived. Found a suitable aluminium component rack case from Dick Smith's. Bought 4 single switch power points from Bunnings and 2 - 25m power leads to run my heating elements, which run off a power point outside the garage, hence the length of the power leads. I bought 4 green...

If anyone has heard of Dogfish Head beers, I have a DFH 60 min IPA receipe that uses Wyeast 1187 if anyone is interested, I can post the receipe on this topic and in the receipe database, let me know. ;)

The BCS-460 and temp sensors arrived. Have fitted the sensors to the MLT outlet, HLT outlet, HEX outlet, and to the refrigerator. I'm now waiting on the SSR relays to arrive so that the BCS-460 can control the heating elements of the HLT and HEX and compressor of the refrigerator. I'm not...

One thing to note with cider making is that tradional cider contains upto 25% pear juice, which give a rounder, more mellow profile. :icon_chickcheers:

I really enjoy the taste champagne yeast gives cider. The cider has a champagne nose and slight taste. I use a Berri Apple and Pear mix juice from the supermarket, 1 kg brew booster with some Lactose to sweeten. AnEnglish and Canadian couple commented how good it was and began making cider...

My BCS-460 and temp sensors arrived yesterday. Have been playing around with the computer and iphone, setting them up so they communicate with each other. I have one temp sensors connected and is working great. The temp response time is really quick and accourate. Have had it in a glass of...

Mr Malty has an awesome setup, green with envy. It sounds like the way to go, using an A/C unit. Would love to use this freezer for something though. Any ideas anyone? The cooling elements are the shelves. :icon_chickcheers:

Isn't that why we have safety switches in the circuit breaker box outside. . . . just kidding The system isn't in use yet, bits and pieces are built and functionally tested. I'm waiting on a pump, chiller and plumbing and i'll be brewing. I will get an enclosure around that plug though...

This is a G&G element installed into a keg. Simple to do. Cut a hole to fit socket and tighten. Works great. I have installed a element from a $19 Target kettle into my HERMS HEX. It's a bit of work to remove the element but nothing a screw driver and hacksaw can't fix. If you have a...

I read in a home brewing book an idea of using an upright freezer as the chilling source for a cold room. The idea is that you remove the door from the freezer, build a insulated cold room chamber, at least the height of the freezer, attach and seal the insulated chamber to the freezer opening...

Have you had to have installed a 20A-30A power point for all the electrics, pump and heating elements or are you using multiple 10A power outlets? :icon_chickcheers:

Well I just ordered a BCS-460 controller, 2 X 6'' temp probes and 2 X 4'' temp probes. I will follow up with a post with pics once it is all up and running on my HERMS. This project should be a hell of a learning curve for me, but I always have fun along the way too. :icon_chickcheers: