Recent content by Bramling Cross

Any thoughts on that beer? When I went home to Oregon last year, for the first time in nearly twenty years, I was frothing at the mouth to tour the Pfriem brewery. Then I had a six pack, then another six pack, then another six pack of their lager and decided, as much as I love going out to Hood...

Writing from the USA, it most certainly is. I have no data to back this up, but I've seen it enough times that I think there's something to it: Myself and a few others are enjoying a pint while our other friend finds it undrinkable because of the onion/garlic/cat piss thing. I'm not arrogant...

Kind of you! So am I, but well, The Law of Keg Necessity... Mind coming over for a pint, maybe ten?

On further reflection, I lied about this. I was not "scrupulous about maintaining the instrument." Rather, when I drove from DC to Oregon last Fall, I took the Apera with me because an old buddy of mine that recently took the AG plunge needed some water chemistry help. I tossed the Apera in its...

I agree that a long, escalating mash is good. But I'm not sure about the 60min steps, the bulk of the conversion happens quickly at each step. Aggregated over the length of a standard Hochkurz mash, you're going to get just about all the conversion you could ask for. Moreover, don't 60min steps...

And a glass of that APA that I'm rushing to get rid of because it's getting a bit warm out here.* *Meanwhile, in Alabama, Rish enjoys a Belgian Quad and thinks to himself, "Wow, it's already June. I guess I should check the AC filters and make certain it'll fire up in August in case it gets a...

Final fermentation curve, prior to kegging. As you can see it's fully crashed and just waiting for a keg to blow. I was hoping that I could quickly get it into a keg, but the Law of Keg Necessity* is in full force on this beer. *The law states: "Any keg you would like to fill will last for at...

A glass of that overly dry hopped blonde that I made.

Today has been a great day! A couple weeks ago I sent MaxStout some dry Kolsch sachets that I nabbed during the pandemic. I came home to a big USPS mailer full of coasters and stickers from the magnificent MaxStout. It's no joke, it's a no BS horde of stickers. Sticker dragons would happily...

I am such a weenie! As a guy from the West Coast, I go into panic mode as a bit of mild Mid-Atlantic humidity starts to converge with just barely 90F temps. "Alarm!!!!!! It's getting hot and muggy! Drain all the winter and spring kegs immediately! Secure the hops and make ready the adjuncts...

The motherlode came in the mail today! A while back I sent MaxStout some expired Kolsch yeast that purchased during the pandemic. Today, I found a big ol' envelope full of coasters and brewing stickers. Those of you familiar with the "What Are You Drinking Now?" thread might guess what happened...

Pleased to hear it! Your last remark, "...and slowly build from there." That is the core of homebrewing. It's all about gaining the courage to actually do it and slowly building from there. I also enjoyed our chat and I wish you the best. Edit: Also, talk to Lizard about your water. You're...

Bingo! See? You're already half-way there! A good homebrewer never, ever gets rid of a perfectly good fridge! You got this, my man! :bigmug:

Wish I could offer more help, but I can't. Others will. You don't need to build a fancy kegerator. You just need a fridge, a CO2 tank, a regulator, and some cobra/picnic taps. A bog standard single-door-with-the-freezer-on-top fridge will hold two 6-gal and two 5-gal kegs with a 5lb CO2 tank...

Also, buy a case of 100ml beakers. These things are incredibly useful. They're great for capturing pH measurements, weighing brewing salts, and hops. They also help you to organize your boil additions. While your mash is doing its thing, break out your scale and beakers and weigh your hops and...