Recent content by oakasfan

Thanks all... I can understand the variety argument... I guess I haven't expanded my recipes enough yet to take advantage of the other malts yet.... Guess I need to get to brewing!

Then why not use only DME... available in a wider variety of weights, easier to weigh out... why use LME at all?

I have been brewing less than a year and still consider myself very much a beginner... few extract brews and 4-5 partial mashes so far have gone better than I expected. I have been reading BYO magazine over this past year and have been confused by some of their recipes use of BOTH DME...

After decanting and adding new wort I watched for evidence of growth, bubbles, anything..... and there was nothing. I checked the gravity after about 30 hours on the yeast and it was 1.04+ so I was even more convinced it was't doing anything. Down the drain it went.... But better the...

Arguing with myself over that exact point....

Thanks for the input thus far.... Re-pitched into a new batch of starter wort. Aerated as well as I could by shaking it in a "sanitized" container until foamy. Hoping to see better results to make me more confident. This is supposed to go into a stout that I intended to leave in the...

Are there any indications of an infected starter I should be watching for? Is it worth pitching even if I can confirm the yeast are active?

The glass jar is covered with foil... I remembered that at least. I may step-up tomorrow and see what it does for a day or so. Alternatively, the sanitation failure makes me believe I should just pitch it all and spend the 6 bucks on a new vial..

Hey all - I am an inexperienced brewer with a grand total of 2 extract brews under my belt thus far. Both were Midwest kits - Irish Red and a wheat (currently finishing fermentation). Both used dry yeast. I will be doing a stout next (also from Midwest) and this will be a partial...

Hey all, I just got this 10 gallon aluminum pot and lid from Amazon and wanted to share with those who might be looking for one.... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CHKL68/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 Pot is about $35, lid is 7.50.... shipping to my neck of the woods was $12.50...

Thanks for the info so far.... I appreciate your thoughts on the recommendations as well. I won't go with Papazian's at this point. I am leaning toward Radical Brewing at this point... then maybe Brewing Classic Styles once I get a few brews under my belt and start looking beyond extract kits.

I recently finished reading Palmer's third edition of How to Brew and started back through it for the second time. I am looking for another book to read now and thought about Joy of Homebrewing (Papazian) on Amazon but thought I'd check in before making the purchase. I am very much the...

Thanks.... it will be a great help! I will be referring back to this in a few months after I get moved/settled and start brewing. i thought about the typical immersion chiller but for the little extra cost I like this better. The ends where you have the fittings makes more sense now...

I think I followed some of what you did but some specifics would be great! Up to you if you want to put much effort into it..... although it would be much appreciated!

I'd be really interested in the posts you used to come up with the CFC build that you did if you don't mind sharing.