Recent content by BrewclearAssault

So I wanna fix this hot plate I have been using so that it can be used to make 1 gal batches again. Let it be known that I'm very new at tinkering with this stuff, but I'm interested in it. So this hot plate is a pretty basic $20 Oster model from Sears (pictures at the end of the post) and...

Well, anytime someone enables me to spend less money, I'm inclined to lean in their direction. I'll give it a shot and, like you said, its only 1 gallon. Mostly I just want to brew on the cheaps here, so I guess I'll be more happy doing it than having it turn out fantastically. Thanks everybody...

Hey guys, just wondering how long does dry yeast keep in the fridge for? Made a few 1-gal batches a couple months back, and I only used about half the packet, then taped off the opening so it's been (Hopefully) airtight. Wanting to make a couple more 1-gals but not sure if I can still use this...

So here's my situation: I really like brewing large gallons of beer using propane, but when my funds are limited and I can't afford all the ingredients for that I fall back to brewing single gallon batches. For this, instead of propane, I just use a hot plate outside. (Roommates don't like the...

Bottled a batch of Ginger Saison that I thought was done fermenting. I took the Hydrometer reading at the end of the bottling session (almost forgot to do it at all!) and found that the gravity was still like 1.030. So I poured aaaall 48 bottles back into the fermenter and let them sit awhile...

It comes with hopped malt extract, but I will be adding some of the DME I have at home, maybe some belgian candi sugar as well. I guess I more wanted to know if there is a benefit to boiling the wort for 60 minutes, or if I am fine with just doing it for 5-10 minutes to get the aroma out of the...

So my roommate's aunt heard that I'm a home brewer and asked if I wanted some of her husbands old brewing supplies that he doesnt use anymore, and I said "yes!" I was a little disappointed when she handed me a Mr. Beer kit, but I thought what the hell, I can sub out some ingredients in this...

That makes sense, glad to hear it :)

Oh no! Haha I guess its bound to happen sometimes. How'd the beer turn out? Duct tape was my first thought too, sadly I had none on hand. I ended up just rigging a rubber band around the rubber stopper and the handle of the jug with a pen through it, like a sling shot... a practice which I will...

Ah thanks guys, much obliged :) So I woke up to a surprise this morning- the pressure from the yeasts fermentation had blown my rubber stopper & blow-off tube off the fermenter. While I was re-sanitizing everything and cleaning off all the yeast residue that had climbed down the outside of the...

I've been doing a lot of 1 gallon batches lately and have been getting great results with the dry yeast I've been using. I've been pitching 1/2 a packet of it for every batch and the fermentation has been very vigorous. Last batch I pitched 1/3 of a pack and it worked just as well. Today, I...

Ahhh, I was wrong- I'll adjust the air door for next week, hopefully that will fix it. Much appreciated!

I have a silly question about propane (this is only the second time I've ever used it!) more specifically about the creosote that is on the bottom of the kettle. Mostly its just annoying that it dirties up the sinks when I'm giving my wort an ice bath. I want to know- can I prevent it at all or...

Brewed another SMaSH 1gal again yesterday. I was watching the temp like a hawk during the mash and maintained it in the 149-152*F range for 60 minutes, but the gravity still came up low (1.038, aiming for 1.056), therefore I clearly have an efficiency problem. On the upside, It's fermenting...

Amen! Yeah, I took the reading and either read the temp wrong or the thermometer wasn't in the mash far enough to get an accurate reading. Never really realized how important temperature is to the whole process, y'know? But I'm glad to have a confirmation that the high temp is the reason I...