Recent content by Vintage Iron

Thanks. This is actually what I've been leaning towards. Does anyone have a guide (like a recipe book) where one can look up brewing salt additions to RO water based on style?

I'm having problems with high mash ph (I have a meter) due to very hard water. This is causing a very astringent taste to my beers. Would pre-boiling fix my water? I've tried diluting with 3/4 RO water, but still get the high ph and astringency. (Mash Ph is usually in the high 6's before I...

This is a nearly new USA-LAB 3" Tri-Clamp Sight Glass $85 plus shipping. Discounted from $109 Here's a link to the USA Lab site: USA LAB 3" Sight-Glass $109.00

Yeah, that is probably the best idea given the crappy make up of my water. Has anyone developed a simple spreadsheet type guide that says what needs to be added to 100% RO water for the different beer styles? Something like this: IPA: Add X, Y, and Z Stout: Add S, T, and Z Light Ale: Add X

Thanks so much for the thoughts. It sounds like I should continue with my 50/50 mix of RO water with my own. I've tried pre-boiling, and there is a ton of precipitate when I do that, but it's kind of a pain because I do a single vessel brew day, so I'd have to boil, pull the water out of the...

I'm hoping someone here with more knowledge would be willing to help me decode what I should do with this water profile. I understand that one size does not fit all with regards to brewing different beer styles, but what is a good start for getting this water in the ballpark for a generic...

That's what I always thought too. NorthernBrewer seems vague. Here is how the instruction sheet for the recipe reads: "Those among us who are or were farmboys and -girls will correctly identify them as Holsteins; to the rest of the citified, sissified world they’re “spotted cows” This...

As promised, here are some in-use pics of a 15-gal Spike kettle. First off is sitting in our basement utility sink. You can see that the base of it barely fits in the sink. And here it is with 9 gallons of water and 10lbs of grain. I'd describe it as 2/3 full:

I purchased my 15-gal kettle used (actually two of them) from a guy who had a business making tea on a small commercial scale. The reason I bring this up is because I was actually looking for a 10-gal kettle, but couldn't pass up the price he was selling these for. I was shocked when the UPS...

Yes, that is a 5-gal batch. The OG ended up at 1.102 and it fermented down to 1.029. (9.6%) It still carbing up, but the initial taste test was yummy.

I brew with a 15-gal Spike kettle using a RIMS/BIAB set up and love it! I agree with the comments about getting a larger kettle than you think you'll need. Here is my set up while mashing in a "Ten-Fidy" clone a couple of months ago. I do a full-volume (no sparge) brew, so things can get...

Thanks, here is your tracking info

Come on, it was on the internet, it HAS to be true! LOL . All kidding aside, I'm glad you chimed in on this. I'm a relative newbie to brewing (1.5 years) and have learned a TON by reading your posts on this forum, so I appreciate your insight. The "acid vs base" sanitizer discussion and it's...

Here is a 110V Inkbird PID controller. If you are looking at getting into electric brewing, this is an inexpensive way to get started. I used it for about 3 batches, then decided to go a different route with my brewing. It works perfectly. $75 plus shipping. ($119 new right now) Comes with...

After working through an infection here, I just realized that this piece comes off the bottom of the inner racking cane. I've used this for at least 10 batches without ever removing it! "Maybe" it gets cleaned without taking it apart, but it will always be taken down from here on out. You'll...