Recent content by mikeljcarr

Just bought a steelhead 2.0 pump and am using it for the first time. Also my first time trying to recirculate my mash (saw it on Northern Brewer video). I'm using a Blichmann kettle with a false bottom. Initially, i tried to use my homemade Sparge tool (copper spiraled tube with holes drilled...

I don't remember the brand, but I got it through Northern Brewer; it was pretty standard, not a high end brand. The tank is in the kegorator and should be at a pretty constant temperature.

So I have been kegging for a couple years now and I still can't seem to get it right. Originally I had my tubing too short, 7'. So I coupled two 7' foot sections together with a barb fitting. It flows well for half a pour and then starts to foam. I'm assuming it's because of the barb in the...

I am brewing a Pale Ale (5 gal batch / 60 min boil) and was planning on using some leftover hops that I have. I was hoping to get some advice / suggestions about how much, which ones to use, and when to add. I have: 3 oz Columbus 0.6 oz US Magnum 0.5 oz US Northern Brewer 0.7 oz Liberty What...

So, I had severe foaming problems and learned from posts here that my tubing (3/16") was too short, about 3' long. I thought, from what I read hear, that I needed to increase the length to around 6'. I've done this and the foaming is better, but still too much (half the glass is head). So...

I aerated my wort and after doing so there was foam all the way to the top of the carboy. Last time I pitched the yeast and when it started fermenting it pushed quite a bit of krausen through my blowoff tube. So this time I decided to let the foam settle while we were out for a couple of hours...

I'm making an all grain bourbon barrel porter (northern brewer kit). Made a starter and had fermentation start within a couple of hours of pitching. Left in the primary for about three weeks and racked to a secondary. After racking I added the bourbon and soaked oak chips. I checked it the next...

Thanks. I was looking at that and let the LHBS guy talk me into cascade. As much as I want to buy local, I may be sticking with Northern Brewer in the foreseeable future. Mikel

It actually is an Arrogant Bastard clone. I'm not so worried about duplicating the beer exactly, but would like to create a similar style beer. Would there be a better hop substitute? Mikel

I have a recipe that calls for: 1.5 oz Chinook at 60 min 1.5 oz Chinook at 20 min 1. Oz Chinook at 1 min 1. Oz Chinook dry hop My LHBS only had 1 oz of Chinook pellets and 1 oz of Chinook whole leaf. I bought 3 oz of Cascade as a substitute. My questions are: Should I use cascade for the...

Went with the RIS for the higher gravity. Would it be best to stick with RIS or would it be relatively easy to change it to a milk stout? Mikel

When you say I don't have to add the lactose at the end what are you saying? Not to add it at all or to add it at a different point? Mikel

I'm brewing a northern brewer AG Russian Imperial Stout kit tomorrow. I was planning on adding a pound of lactose at the end of the boil. The recipe includes 4 total ounces of hops. If I were to add the lactose, would it be advisable to reduce the amount if hops? Maybe by half? Input...

All makes sense. Thanks for the input.

Btw, I also really liked your jig. The cross over pieces will make for great surface area heat exchange contact. Though you'll still probably have to move the wort around to maintain consistent temps.