Recent content by Bigarcherynut

Sounds good, now that I know about the seal. Do you reuse the balloons? Wasn't sure about sanitizing them after being used.

I have been cold crashing many of my beers for the last couple of years. I have read and tried many tips about helping with dealing with the vacuum that occurs when the fermenter is chilled. I have used cotton balls with Star Stan and Vodka in the airlocks for the most part. The other day I...

I have done 2 batches of a Dragon's Milk clone and a Backwoods Bastard clone and used oak and bourbon. All three I soaked 2 oz. of medium toast oak chips with 8 oz. of bourbon. I placed the oak in a hop sack and placed it into a ball jar of bourbon for about 3 to 4 weeks. I then added the chips...

I brewed this on 1/19/2020. I followed the recipe that I posted and only changed the amounts for a 5.5 gallon batch. My water profile was pretty close. I feel it came out pretty close to the original. It's been over 6 months and I sample a small glass every month. I find it changes slightly for...

I did brew the clone recipe on 1/19/2020. I tried to duplicate the recipe as close I could or say I wanted to. The one thing I did not add was the vanilla. The original beer I didn't taste vanilla and I'm not a fan of it. The brew was intense and quite complicated but in the end well worth it. I...

I have been following this post in hopes to lower my boil-off rates from 2.1 Gal/Hr. to a lower level which I'm doing by lowering my power output to the electric element. My boiling action went from very rigorous to a mild movement of the liquid. I have partially covered my kettle, to leaving it...

When I first began BIAB brewing, I was asking for help on hitting my numbers and everyone posted to take Good Readings!!! I continue to do that and in my own program I developed. I actually have estimated levels for pre, post and levels into my fermenter so I have ideas when I don't hit my level...

I think the thermal stress issue is what lead me to this thread. As you can see by my earlier post, I boiled at max output on my E-kettle and my boil off rate was 2.1 GPH. After reading this thread and another was ready to scale down but then a link that was posted here, stilled said the...

Oh yes, forgot about the hop bittering. My current IBU's is 20.7 IBU's with a 45 minute boil would be 19.5 or 21.3 if I did an hour and 15 minute boil, so not excessive either way. Longer and higher a OG is never a problem with me. Thanks!

I'm not using any pilsner malt so that wont be a problem I have my program dialed in to hit a 60 minute boil but trying a different boil rate may impact this. I do use BS so that is helpful. Thanks

I'm going to brew tomorrow and have decided to try and lower my boil-off rate. As I earlier mentioned my current rate is at 2.1 GPH. My test run got it down .6 GPH which is about 8%. My test run was with the lid partially on but have decided to do it without the lid. Question is, I'm going and...

Do you keep your rate in the 4-10% range? I feel my stouts benefit but now sure about my cream ales and Scotch ales.

For those of you following this thread, how many of you use a lid to partially cover your kettle and a lower heat to maintain a lower boil-off rate? My first test run at lowering my boil-off rate I did partially cover my kettle. After some of the later responses, I may try it without any cover...

I understand what you're saying. Things do change all the time and I think that podcast was from 2016 and things change quickly. My stouts have been great and I did one with a 1.5 gallon batch that I boiled down to a quart for a carnalized addition. Worked great so I can see where a heavy boil...