Comments on: Budget Your Booze: Homebrewing 101, part 2 http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/ Living Less Large in Central MA Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:33:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mike Walsh http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3402 Mike Walsh Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:46:00 +0000 http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/#comment-3402 I noticed you said about dry yeast being problamatic. I had terrible results with Wyeast smack packs and have been using Fermentis Safe-Ale and lager dry yeasts since. I sprinkle the yeast on top of the beer after cooling to 78 degrees. Let hydrate for 30 minutes then airate. I have made 66 batches of beer in 4 years. I used dry yeast in the past 40 and have had only 1 batch that needed another packet as the yeast was no good. Fermentation always starts in under 4 hours. I ferment lagers warm and then age them a couple of weeks and come out tasting like lagers. Black lager and even Pilsners. Most people can't believe that I use dry yeast as they cannot tell the difference between that and liquid. Northern Brewer carries many types of their dry yeast. Under $2 a packet. Just thought I would let you know if you wanted to try them. Thanks Mike I noticed you said about dry yeast being problamatic. I had terrible results with Wyeast smack packs and have been using Fermentis Safe-Ale and lager dry yeasts since. I sprinkle the yeast on top of the beer after cooling to 78 degrees. Let hydrate for 30 minutes then airate. I have made 66 batches of beer in 4 years. I used dry yeast in the past 40 and have had only 1 batch that needed another packet as the yeast was no good. Fermentation always starts in under 4 hours. I ferment lagers warm and then age them a couple of weeks and come out tasting like lagers. Black lager and even Pilsners. Most people can’t believe that I use dry yeast as they cannot tell the difference between that and liquid.
Northern Brewer carries many types of their dry yeast. Under $2 a packet. Just thought I would let you know if you wanted to try them.

Thanks
Mike

]]> By: Frugal in the Fruitlands » June Wrap-up http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Frugal in the Fruitlands » June Wrap-up Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:39:16 +0000 http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/#comment-639 [...] Your Booze,” my homebrewing series (part one, part two) didn’t get much love, alas, but I’ll mention it’s still there, in all its beery [...] [...] Your Booze,” my homebrewing series (part one, part two) didn’t get much love, alas, but I’ll mention it’s still there, in all its beery [...]

]]> By: Matt http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-630 Matt Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:11:33 +0000 http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/#comment-630 I recall seeing a more 'bucket' shaped fermentor that had a 'lid' that could be placed at variable heights. Though, considering the foam and other materials produced on the top of wort while it brews, I think you'd want to avoid getting too over zealous with the air minimization. If memory serves, the aforementioned 'adjustable lid height' fermentor was meant for wine not beer creation. Which makes sense since, as I understand it, wine is far more sensitive to oxygen than beer. I recall seeing a more ‘bucket’ shaped fermentor that had a ‘lid’ that could be placed at variable heights.

Though, considering the foam and other materials produced on the top of wort while it brews, I think you’d want to avoid getting too over zealous with the air minimization.

If memory serves, the aforementioned ‘adjustable lid height’ fermentor was meant for wine not beer creation. Which makes sense since, as I understand it, wine is far more sensitive to oxygen than beer.

]]> By: Chad http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-628 Chad Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:34:32 +0000 http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/#comment-628 This time of year is a good time to make a blueberry ale! Has anyone developed a flexible bag-style carboy, or carboy liner, so you can really pull out as much air as is reasonable? It occurs to me that it would be a better way of making variable size batches with less equipment. This time of year is a good time to make a blueberry ale!

Has anyone developed a flexible bag-style carboy, or carboy liner, so you can really pull out as much air as is reasonable? It occurs to me that it would be a better way of making variable size batches with less equipment.

]]> By: Matt http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-626 Matt Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:46:10 +0000 http://www.frugalfruitlands.net/2008/06/27/budget-your-booze-homebrewing-101-part-2/#comment-626 One note in regard to using containers no larger than needed: Over time oxygen can cause chemical reactions in the beer leading to off flavors and similar problems. Minimizing the oxygen exposure during the extended brewing time and time in the bottle is arguably the primary reason to focus on having properly sized containers. One note in regard to using containers no larger than needed: Over time oxygen can cause chemical reactions in the beer leading to off flavors and similar problems. Minimizing the oxygen exposure during the extended brewing time and time in the bottle is arguably the primary reason to focus on having properly sized containers.

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