Recent content by TxBigHops

The only effect I can think of is that it might finish a couple of points higher and have a touch of residual sweetness. Nothing bad.

Looks yummy! This place is still on my bucket list. My daughter ran Boston this year, but unfortunately I wasn't able to get away from work and go with. She'll probably go back again in a couple of years and I'll catch Treehouse then.

I just found out about this. You're right they are very appealing. One earlier post mentioned putting something similar together on their own, but I don't see how you could touch anything that does what this does for the cost. To build your own Brew in a basket one vessel system you have to...

Nevermind. I found their online instruction manual and the capacity is 16 kg, or a little over 35 lb. So okay up to around 7. 5% ABV maybe ?

What's the capacity of the grain basket? The More Beer website says 18 lb, but that's not near enough to do a decent-sized 10 gallon batch over 5% ABV. Some of my 10-gallon batches now use over 30 lb of grain.

I'm not questioning that it's a great tank. I looked at them, and I would love to have one. But I don't think you're quite remembering the price differential correctly. I added quite a few extras to my CF 15 and my total cost was 1350. The base CF 15 plus temperature control bundle is just a...

Well that's not too surprising. Isn't it more than double the cost? Not exactly an apples to apples comparison. Or as you said, ZERO comparison.

Here's the analysis I did last fall. I went with the cf15 and I have absolutely no regrets. Spike has improved the leg stabilization issue. Cooling is great and I love the larger lid on Spike. When the time comes to add another fermentor to my fleet, I can't imagine not going with Spike.

If you want to do 10 gallon batches of BIG beers, I would get the 20. Honestly, you may not be happy with the 15 gallon BK either. I do 10 gallon batches in a keggle, which is supposed to 15.5 gallons, and it gets a little tight at the beginning of the boil. I like to put a full 12 gallons into...

Thanks! That's good to know that CBS fixed some issues and that the newer systems don't have the same problems. I think another issue the individual who reported under 70% might be having is less than a full capacity batch. HIs attachment indicated he was only putting 12 gallons into the...

I hope you get a reply. I asked the same question two months ago... Got several answers that this or that was "good enough." Like you, I'm not looking for good enough. I'm looking for as close to PBW as possible.

This may be just me, but last time I bottle carbed an imperial stout to 2.0, I was not happy. I got very little head. I'll do my next one about 2.3. YMMV.

I also have some 3-4 year old bottle carbed beers with only caps, and carbonation loss has never been a problem. Other problems, yes, but not carbonation. If anything, they often become over carbonated with time.

Are you going to bottle carb, or bottle from a keg?

Why do you think efficiency is so low? Doesn't CBS advertise getting over 80%? I've been seriously considering purchasing a 1bbl Dual for some time, but under 70% efficiency would be a deal killer.