Recent content by jsupe

I don't explicitly aerate. I pour vigorously into the fermentor and the top-off water should have plenty of suspended oxygen (since I have boiled it). I also give it a quick swirl after the yeast sit on top for 10 minutes. So far, no problems.

Thanks!

Take a temperature reading and if you are in the 70F-80F range, pitch the yeast. Let it sit on the top for 10 minutes, then give it a quick swirl. Secure the lid and place in the airlock. Place fermenter into a cooler large enough to fit most of the bucket. Use frozen water bottles to...

Once the wort is boiling, put the lid askew to allow the release the Dimethyl sulfide. The total boil time is 60 minutes. At 45 minutes, add the hops. Stir. After 60 minutes, turn off the burners and remove the pot from the heat. Remove and drain the nylon bag. Prepare an ice...

Check the temperature — it should read close to 150F after the grain addition. Your mash time will be 60 minutes. Cover and let sit for ten minutes. Every ten minutes, take the lid off and stir. The best mash stirrer is a good whisk. Use it to pull up grain from the bottom and push...

Pour two gallons of water into each pot. Place the nylon bag into one pot. This is now the mash tun. Your other pot will be the lauter tun. Place a floating thermometer into the mash tun and set your burner to high. Bring the water up to between 160F and 165F. In addition to the...

I have brewed for about six months now with the same number of batches bottled and drunk. Aside from the small pamphlet that came with my True Brew kit, most of my knowledge came from these excellent forums. I thought it might be helpful for other new brewers to see the method I use since it...

Hard to say not knowing how smokey your beer already is. I would probably brew up 8-10 oz or so and taste the tea and go from there. You will need to trust you palate.

I would brew some Lapsang Souchong tea and add at bottling (like you would for a coffee stout). I get mine from here: http://thetealounge.com/onlinestore/tea_black.htm. Use sparingly, it's REALLY smokey.