Recent content by BigFatDad

I also was able to get the 4 tap Kegerator all up and running with the handles my 9 year old and I made together. He picked out all the logos from his favorite Xbox game, Portal 2. He and I play it somewhat frequently and I try to have him solves the puzzles a little more each time. I was able...

My venting issue has always been a problem. In this new house I have an egress window right here so I figured I might as well use it. This is a Mason's mixing tub and a 4 inch duct vent with a cheap Amazon fan. It's vented directly outside with such a short run and being able to mix in ambient...

So I was finally able to brew again. I ended up using the math from Brewfather just to try it out. The beer tastes okay, I think it needed a bit more dry hopping. But anyway, the gravity was still substantially low. So I got annoyed and brought a grain mill. Then I milled up a new batch of a...

My efficiency target is 75% and I have been as low as 55%. I sometimes compensate with dme. I have tried mashing as long as 90 min recently and that helped quite a bit of gravity points, but dried out the beers too. (fine for oktoberfest and helles and such, not great for stouts and amber ales)...

The brew father app said to use that level for an ipa.

Thanks for the responses guys. I have not brewed an ipa with that high of sulfate ever. The other numbers are about in line with brun water. I typically shoot for mash pH at 5.2 or 5.3 pending style. Ipa usually 5.2 accomplished with 88% lactic acid (sorry, my error there, new program and all)...

I recently started re-calibrating all my equipment because I figured out I have some error there. I also have been very far off from expected og. My thought is to tackle one variable at a time. Equipment has all been calibrated correctly now, so that one is fixed, but still missing gravity by...

Thanks for all the replies. I will be looking into replacing the thermometer. Might have to bite the bullet and get a thermo works one. The Hannah one looks awesome but too spendy for me.

Sorry, I was a bit unclear. The Pic is from strike water. I agree, very different readings. Also, I found out (new to me) that water boils at 224 degrees. At least according to the stick thermometer.

I have been noticing that my beers have been very dry lately. All of them, even the bigger stouts and pale ales. So yesterday I tested my thermometer against an old stick one and one my wife uses for cooking. No joke, they are all different. Here's a Pic heating up strike water. Then I tested...

Updated from a 2 tap Kegerator to the 4 tap draft system. It was a Christmas/ birthday/ Father's day/ all other special days present from my wife and boys. Now to make some tap handles.

So I have been using this controller now for a few months without issue. However, I was reading some other electric brewing posts about failed ssrs and stuff. If the SSR on this design (running a rheostat) fails, how will I know? Will only the GFI trip? Also, since we moved, I brew on a...

All it takes is a very energetic Notty fermentation to realize the biggest blow off is the best blow off...

The copper pickup and whirlpool are because I had all female fittings before. To add stainless nipples to use the old stuff made my immersion chiller not fit. The copper threaded in as a male fitting easily. I do plan on tracking chilling time to see if a counter flow chiller would be better. If...

Cold side updates I started with a bucket in the basement and still use that from time to time. Then I got a free fridge and played around with how to control temperature. This has made vast improvements in my beer. Now I've gotten to where I'm trying to use fermentation gas to purge kegs to...