Recent content by Crispy31

I rarely use my hydrometer, I usually just guess based on the recipe calculator. I never take samples to know a beer is done either yet never had a bottle bomb.

Lol packets, not pallets, damn auto correct! I went ahead and put the blow off tube in.

I've just brewed a RIS with a OG of 1.105, pitched 2 pallets of rehydrated Nottingham yeast on it. I have a 1" blow off tube to put in the carboy, but I started wondering if I were to leave it loosely covered with foil for a day, while the yeast are reproducing, would that be beneficial? I...

I opened the bucket to pitch another packet of yeast but there is a thick head of krausen already. Not a bubble from the airlock though and I made sure everything is sealed securely. It's unusual but I'll go have a beer and relax. :)

I've used Nottingham a fair amount, it's one of my favorites, and I've had it foam when hydrating it before...which is what I meant by activity. Though I will admit I usually dump it right in the fermenter. I was concerned about using it again after my last batch so I hydrated it this time...

I just pitched Nottingham yeast that was showing no activity when hydrating it. I have read that it is not a sign that the yeast are inactive...however, I had a batch that did not ferment well with Nottingham the last time I used it (pitched dry right onto wort that time) and a guy at a...

Make sure your thermometer is accurate. I've had some thin brews because my mash temp was lower than I realized. My digital is reading 5F warmer than it should.

I've been thinking of trying a rye and wheat beer myself. After reading this I came up with a beer that'll be 50% 2-row, 33% rye, and 17% wheat with around 25 IBUs.

Tasted this today... Very smooth, mild roast character, with a chocolatey finish. I'm very happy with it.

I brewed this over the weekend. Might have messed it up, time will tell. I thought I'd add yeast nutrient (DAP), bottle said 1 tsp per gallon so I added 5 tsp. Read on here later should've only been 1/2-1 tsp in 5 gallons. Fermentation was slow to start but after a couple days it's bubbling...

I really like the idea of mixing coffee with the priming sugar. Hadn't thought of that.

I appreciate the input! The original recipe had roasted barley but the LHBS was out. So, went with the de-bittered black instead. If it comes out bland or lacking I may try adding coffee at bottling, thanks. And the reason for the 45 min addition instead of 60 was to keep the IBU around 30...

Hi everyone, I'm brewing my first oatmeal stout. After tasting de-bittered black malt I've decided I wanted to do a whole pound for a strong coffee flavor. Thoughts / opinions? Style: Oatmeal Stout Boil Time: 60 min Batch Size: 5.5 gallons (fermentor volume) Boil Size: 7 gallons...

Hi, I started this recipe wanting a stout with a nice roasted character. But then I thought to add cocoa to it because I had a porter recipe which I had added cocoa to that was really good. I'm wondering if chocolate will go well with the roasted barley and the higher IBUs of this beer...

I once dumped a vanilla porter(it was a very sad day.) The base recipe was good, I had brewed it twice before attempting to add vanilla beans to it. I used 3 and waited a week and what I ended up with was simply undrinkable. I would not use 3 beans again, nor recommend it, and I would...