22 replies to this topic

[3rd party JKor]

First electric brew. First indoor brew since switching to AG ?? years ago. First extract brew since switching to AG.Water is heating...I should probably figure out what recipe I'm going to brew now...:lol:Ooops, forgot, will be my first time using a refractometer, as well.

Edited by JKoravos, 11 November 2009 - 05:51 PM.

[ncbeerbrewer]

First electric brew. First indoor brew since switching to AG ?? years ago. First extract brew since switching to AG.Water is heating...I should probably figure out what recipe I'm going to brew now...:covreyes:Ooops, forgot, will be my first time using a refractometer, as well.

Wow JK sounds like a lot of great things for you tonight. I hope it all goes well and you enjoy it too. I am sure you will like using a refracto, I love it myself too. Did you get yours off of ebay? Don't forget that extract batches are best with a full wort boil

[3rd party JKor]

Yeah, $30 shipped off eBay. Oh, I got me a full wort boil. 14+ gallons, baby.This one is going to be a Mild, the yeast will be pitched up to a brown ale (with coffee) and finally to a Winter Warmer for next year.

[HVB]

I predict you will love both electric brewing and the refractometer. Lord knows I do.

[3rd party JKor]

How long should I steep my grains for?(Brewing within arms length of the taps could be bad )

Edited by JKoravos, 11 November 2009 - 06:45 PM.

[Big Nake]

30 minutes at 150° baby! Wow, I haven't brewed with extracts since 2004! Have fun!

[3rd party JKor]

30 minutes at 150° baby! Wow, I haven't brewed with extracts since 2004! Have fun!

Nice, that' exactly what I was doing. I haven't killed all my brains cells yet!

[MakeMeHoppy]

I predict you will love both electric brewing and the refractometer. Lord knows I do.

I predict you will also love brewing inside

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I predict you will also love brewing inside

man - if I could have a hood and utility sink brewing in my basement would be so sweet....

[HVB]

I predict you will also love brewing inside

Yes, this too. I love being able to brew in any weather and stay dry and still watch TV. I love garage brewing .. LOL

[3rd party JKor]

Well, it took way longer than I though it would. Didn't get to bed until 2. A lot of it was the first time using the system, I was still putting things together while I was boiling, which didn't allow me to start cleaning until well into the boil (what, you can't do 2 hours of work during a 1 hour boil? ). I really need to get a sink in the basement. Running up stairs to get water, outside to dump water and pulling the hose through the window made for way too much exercise.

[HVB]

Well, it took way longer than I though it would. Didn't get to bed until 2. A lot of it was the first time using the system, I was still putting things together while I was boiling, which didn't allow me to start cleaning until well into the boil (what, you can't do 2 hours of work during a 1 hour boil? ). I really need to get a sink in the basement. Running up stairs to get water, outside to dump water and pulling the hose through the window made for way too much exercise.

Sounds like and adventure of a night.So, how did you like electric brewing?

[3rd party JKor]

Sounds like and adventure of a night.So, how did you like electric brewing?

No major mishaps, everything just took longer than expected. The electric brewing was nice. The boil is much more even with the element than with my jet burner. With the burner, the boil tended to have a lot of flare ups and spill-overs. I still have to work on the boil control with the element, though. I have to set my controller to like 208 so the element would cycle on/off about every 15 seconds. I could've left the burner on full blast, but the boil-off rate would've been too high.

[HVB]

No major mishaps, everything just took longer than expected. The electric brewing was nice. The boil is much more even with the element than with my jet burner. With the burner, the boil tended to have a lot of flare ups and spill-overs. I still have to work on the boil control with the element, though. I have to set my controller to like 208 so the element would cycle on/off about every 15 seconds. I could've left the burner on full blast, but the boil-off rate would've been too high.

What are you using for a control for the boil? I have one of the Auber PID and I run it in manual mode. Set it to 100% to get up to a boil and then back it down to 75-80% to maintian the boil. I end up with aobut 1.5g/hr of boil off in a converted keg.

[3rd party JKor]

What are you using for a control for the boil? I have one of the Auber PID and I run it in manual mode. Set it to 100% to get up to a boil and then back it down to 75-80% to maintian the boil. I end up with aobut 1.5g/hr of boil off in a converted keg.

The controller i have doesn't allow for that, I don't believe. I put a manual boil control system in my control box, but it wasn't working for some reason. I have to check the wiring and components.

[BrianBrewerKS]

Don't get me wrong, I like my refractometer, but I still use teh good 'ol hydrometer as well for a couple reasons;1. I feel that it gives me a more accurate gravity (as long as I adjust for the temperature)2. When I'm done measuring, I have a small sample of beer to drink! (as opposed to the drop or two that the refractometer uses):lol:The refractometer comes in handy to get pre-boil gravity so you can make any adjustments...and to get a gravity throughout the boil.

Edited by BrianBrewerKS, 12 November 2009 - 08:23 AM.

[HVB]

Don't get me wrong, I like my refractometer, but I still use teh good 'ol hydrometer as well for a couple reasons;1. I feel that it gives me a more accurate gravity (as long as I adjust for the temperature)2. When I'm done measuring, I have a small sample of beer to drink! (as opposed to the drop or two that the refractometer uses)

I sometimes find myself using both. I like to make sure they are both reading close to the same number. The sample does not hurt either.

[3rd party JKor]

I have to admit, not mashing left me kind of unfulfilled. It's great to have beer in the fermenter, especially because I haven't brewed since September, but the act and smell of mashing has really become what I identify as 'brewing'.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I have to admit, not mashing left me kind of unfulfilled. It's great to have beer in the fermenter, especially because I haven't brewed since September, but the act and smell of mashing has really become what I identify as 'brewing'.

I haven't gone back yet but I may at some point possibly as an informational session for someone else or just for fun. I think I would miss the mashing as well though.

[3rd party JKor]

Well, that WLP007 lived up to it's reputation as a fast attenuator. Before I left the house this morning I noticed that the Krausen has already dropped. When I got home I checked the gravity and it was already down to 1.013 after pitching at 1.038 at 1 am Thursday morning. Not even 60 hours after pitching.