Jake Bell replied to the topic IPA Yeast in the forum Ingredients 4 months, 1 week ago
S-04, S-05, and Nottingham are all good options. If you’re really worried about the temps (I wouldn’t be) you can do some evaporation cooling. You can pretty easily drop the fermentation temp 5-10 degrees by placing the carboy in a pan of water, soak a towel in the water and wrap the carboy keeping the bottom of the towel in the water to absorb…[Read more]
Jake Bell replied to the topic Tap beer at home in the forum Home Breweries 9 months, 1 week ago
I had one just like that one in college Anthony! It worked great. We only used it for commercial beer (before I was brewing), but it worked like a champ and fit a fullsized keg. Good times!
Jake Bell replied to the topic all in one brewing system in the forum Brewing Equipment 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I have a robobrew and I love it. Not seeing anything from the grainfather that I’m really missing out on other than the bluetooth connectivity, and I don’t really care about that anyway. The anvil foundry looks awesome though and I might have gotten that one if it was available when I bought my robobrew.
Jake Bell replied to the topic Best Kveik Strain? in the forum Ingredients 11 months, 2 weeks ago
I have gotten super into kveik yeast. I’ve used Hornindal, Hothead, and Voss. Hornindal is best for porters, stouts, wee heavies, etc. Hothead was fine, but Hornindal is amazing compared to it so I probably won’t use it again. Voss is good for pale ales, IPAs, etc. It ferments really clean and doesn’t lend much to the beer, but it’s a good yeast.
Jake Bell replied to the topic Best Hops for Cream Ale in the forum Ingredients 11 months, 2 weeks ago
Willamette or Centennial
Jake Bell replied to the topic Immersion Chiller Length in the forum Brewing Equipment 11 months, 3 weeks ago
I have a 25′ one I got on Amazon and it works pretty well. My dad has a 50′ one that I’ve used a couple of times and it cools WAY faster. If I could do it over I’d get a 50 – they arent that expensive.
Jake Bell started the topic Breakfast Cereal? in the forum Ingredients 11 months, 3 weeks ago
I know, I know – this has been done to death. But all of the buzz about these cereal NEIPAs has me thinking about adding cereal to my next beer. Anyone done this? Should I add to it to the mash, boil, or something else? And why?
Jake Bell started the topic Alcohol as Sanitizer? in the forum General Brewing 1 year ago
Have any of you heard of using 70% Isopropyl Alcohol as a spray sanitizer instead of starsan? I saw it recommended by a pro brewer on a facebook group. I know it’s pretty fast acting against bacteria for cleaning in general, and I know when I use Starsan to spray surfaces and fittings I’m supposed to leave it for at least 1 minute of contact.…[Read more]
Jake Bell replied to the topic Stuck Sparge in the forum All Grain Brewing 1 year, 1 month ago
2 large handfulls of rice hulls in every mash. Never had a stuck sparge since I started doing that.
Jake Bell replied to the topic Fermented Hot Sauce in the forum Fermented Foods 1 year, 1 month ago
I am on my second batch of lacto fermented hot sauce. I use a mason jar and add 3 tbsps of salt and sugar. Pack it full of peppers and make sure everything is submerged in the brine. I usually add a piece of store bought kimchi to give it a start too.
Jake Bell replied to the topic RedX Malt in the forum Ingredients 1 year, 1 month ago
I used it as the base malt in an Irish Red I brewed for last St Patrick’s Day and I was really happy with it. Red x is an awesome malt if you let it be the star of the beer and don’t cover it up with a bunch other malts or over hop it. I definitely recommend it for an Irish Red!
Jake Bell replied to the topic Season Aluminum Kettle in the forum Brewing Equipment 1 year, 2 months ago
I’d upgrade soon. Aluminum can have a much higher level of heavy metals than Stainless Steel. Like Lead and Mercury. If these pot are manufactured in Asia and Mexico beware.
Plus they are harder to clean due to rough surfaces which microbs love, and you have to be really gentle and not use any strong cleaners.Jake Bell replied to the topic New Grain Mill in the forum Brewing Equipment 1 year, 2 months ago
Agree to all the above, slow rpm on the drill works best, many people adjust the gap to credit card sized, I went a bit tighter on mine with better efficiency but it depends on a lot of factors.
Jake Bell replied to the topic False Bottom Hole Size in the forum Brewing Equipment 1 year, 2 months ago
To drill stainless you need high pressure slow drill movement. If you go too fast the stainless will work harden and your drill bit will be useless.
False bottoms are cheap – I recommend just buying one.
Jake Bell replied to the topic Shipping Homebrew in the forum General Brewing 1 year, 2 months ago
The clerk at my local post office told me to send it as yeast cultures or as a marinade since it doesn’t actually qualify as hazardous material because it’s not high enough in alcohol. But the rule book says it’s hazardous at 5% which we know cannot burn in any normal means so as long as the name is different on the claim sheet its legal.
Jake Bell replied to the topic CO2 – Is there a difference? in the forum General Brewing 1 year, 2 months ago
I didn’t know there was a difference nor have I’ve experienced any ill effects having my tank filled with industrial by the fire extinguisher guy. Both are 99 5 percent pure, yet industrial is not tested thus it is cheaper.
Jake Bell replied to the topic New Beer Styles? in the forum General Brewing 1 year, 2 months ago
Not beer, but I think we’ll see most breweries jump on the seltzer bandwagon. I bet in 2020 almost every brewery will have a couple on tap. It’s incredibly cheap to make so I imagine the margins are pretty good, and it helps serve people who don’t drink beer.
Jake Bell replied to the topic Bottles in Dishwasher in the forum General Brewing 1 year, 2 months ago
I wash bottles with the dishes after use. On bottling day, I put them in the dishwasher, no detergent, sani-rinse on. Then I bottle. They are sanitized by the heat in the dishwasher, making StarSan unnecessary. I’ve done it this way for five years now and it works great.
Jake Bell replied to the topic Beer Guns Worth It? in the forum Brewing Equipment 1 year, 2 months ago
I just throw a tube on the tap long enough to reach bottle bottom, make sure that I get the inside of the bottle wet with star san (helps reduce foaming), then fill. Works well for my purposes. So yeah, same as you.
Jake Bell replied to the topic Keezer fan in the forum Brewing Equipment 1 year, 2 months ago
Always on so there is no temperature stratification and the temperature probe is always reading a correct temperature so the inkbird turns on at the correct temperature.
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