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Disasters averted

Disaster #1: Brewed a smoked porter. I brew inside on the kitchen range and during the boil the ceiling usually gets wet. It went well except - two days later the kitchen still smelled like a campfire. Like smoke damage. Had to wipe down all the surfaces. It looked odd using a mop on the ceiling. Di...

No one I know who wins medals has a complex set-up. That means no one at all, full stop or period as they say in America!!!! (What this tells me is that the more crap/equipment you have, the more likely you are to brew bad beer because you will get subtle infections creep in. Make any sense? PP Huh...

The lowest controlled oven temperature is 77C/170F. Good idea, though.

I could use the 50 qt cooler for a mash tun, or just install a resistive element and PID controller, both would require a pump. Someday.

I will try the suggestions on the next batch, then reply back. BobBrews suggested in another thread to record everything. I will endeavor to do this.

Somewhere in the parts box is a USB thermocouple that can record temp every 2 seconds. I will calibrate it and see if it is still reliable.

The thermometer is a glass and alcohol type, it responds in 10 or 20 seconds. Is that fast enough? What would be quicker? The kettle is wrapped in 3 layers of insulation, each 4mm layer has one aluminized side. The metal does not hold much heat, but what heat energy exists certainly does not escape ...

Nifty!
One of the local hardware stores (Sears) receives garden tractors, the boxes are supported inside with scrap wood slats 1/2" x 3" x several feet. I should try to convert some to beer crates. Perhaps places with motorcycles or ATVs will also have scrap wood.

Someone scoffed at my amazing computer-controlled brewing sculpture recently. Not only did it hurt my feelings, but I now can't get the darn thing of my ear. :lol: Point taken. I do like computer control and all the fiddly bits due to my past work as an engineer. People get hung up on silly things ...

There are LOTS of reasons why the process I described is probably a bad idea. trout I am new to brewing; maybe that's why I do not see anything wrong with fermenting in the kettle. Could you post a reason or two? Trout, I've been slammed for BIAB, 2.5 gallon mash kettle with all grain (delicious ba...

The bag I made uses the same Walmart voile, single thickness, and just a straight stitch. Bob did a pro job with the webbing - the loops are extremely handy. I might try that next. I simply made a pocket for a drawstring by turning down 1 1/2" of the top fabric and seaming it with another straight s...

Finally I understand why BIAB FULL volume is efficient

It finally clicked into place why BIAB full volume is only slightly lower efficiency than traditional part volume and sparge: - The same amount of sugars are present in the traditional high concentration wort as the low concentration BIAB full volume. - The sugars lost from BIAB are those not squeez...

A better result with an actual mash on 2013.01.26. The mash was from 60 to 120 minutes on the chart. The overall temp was a bit high so I threw in some cold water at 80 minutes. Then again I was doing a porter which has a wide range of malt vs dry vs hops. We'll see if it survived. OG was a nice 1.0...

Success Lacking a Herms unit but owning a sewing machine, I cut up an old comforter or duvet and sewed a sweater and cap for my 30l pot. 1 1/2 wraps around, and a pad for the top. Must add Velcro to hold it better. I thought I hit the mash temp of 154F and put on the lid and cap. It soared beyond 16...

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