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My first brew at my 5th Wheel RV

Post #1 made 11 years ago
by OldGoat
OK...Although I have been brewing for MANY years, this is only my third BIAB, and my first at my 5th Wheel RV. As some of you already know, I have retired and my wife and I full-time it in our RV. I used to use a 3-tier brewing system, but downgraded (in size....) to a BIAB system due to the space constraints. Over the past month, I brewed my first two BIAB batches (Dr. Smurto's Golden Ale and an Irish Red) at a friend's house while I was getting the hang of BIAB. That way, I had his help and all of the amenities that real houses have (like big sinks, water pressure, etc, etc...). Today, I attempted my first BIAB at my RV while parked at Ocean Pines RV Park near Oceana Naval Air Station, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. I intend to do many more of these brews while traveling this beautiful country. I chose a Honey Cream Ale (great summer beer) that I have brewed in the past and that my wife loves (I think more than she loves me even...which is a lot....I think). In the past, I have always just called this "OldGoat Honey Cream Ale" However, in commemoration of my very first beer brewed while on-the-road in my RV, I think I will call it "OldGoat Trailer Trash Ale." I am slowly getting used to the BIABacus (LOVING IT), and have some questions, but I will save those for another post in the correct forum. Right now, I just want to share some pictures.

I plan to do this in many different areas of the country. Rim of the Grand Canyon, Four Corners, Iowa cornfields (July 2015), Michigan International Speedway in August, etc.... I intend to take pics and post them here. It was suggested that I start a blog, but I can't for the life of me figure out how and I gave up.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

OldGoat
05April2015
Virginia Beach
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OldGoat
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Post #2 made 11 years ago
by Scott
Very cool! Been waiting for your RV brewing picture posts. Was thinking about that a few days ago. Had to laugh about the cat comment... ;) They do tend to think "they own the place".

Let us know how you like that new fermenter. I bought a couple of those Speidel plastic fermenters. Very nice, lighter and way easier to clean than the old glass carboys, but not conical. Would seem to be possible to easier harvest yeast, etc. didn't see when researching fermenters in December. (Haven't yet harvested yeast but the thought intreagues me).
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Post #3 made 11 years ago
by OldGoat
Hey Scott...

I do like this fermenter. Found it at my local brew shop just yesterday. Wasn't even in the market for one, but bought it thinking it might be the way to go in my situation. Back when my wife got that cat tree, I wasn't too happy...but now it makes a perfect mount for the conical. Look it up on www.thefastferment.com. They advertise how easy it is to harvest yeast with this system.

I used to harvest yeast and it worked ok. But it was too much trouble (more trouble than just buying some more yeast, especially if you use dry yeast). It definitely won't work for me here...too many constraints in an RV. But if you make a specific style of beer consistently, then harvesting might make sense for you. Give it a shot. lots of info on YouTube, etc.
OldGoat
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Post #4 made 11 years ago
by Scott
Pretty varried on beers...with different yeasts used most every time.

If I had a couple beers planned that can use the same yeast, maybe can run one than the next. One of my local microbrew places in Albany, Oregon just pitches on top of the yeast cake in his large fermenter, so if I have this situation may just try the same technique... That might be the best way for me, with my beer brewing rate, to give this a shot.

Thanks for the input. It is easy to buy new yeast with my brew rate. Haven't used dry yeast for many years but that would be easier, especially with your situation. Happy Easter!
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Post #5 made 11 years ago
by OldGoat
You're in some beautiful country. Driven through there many times. Served my last 8 years in the Navy at Whidbey Island WA and my family lives in central CA....long drive on I5. You ever try to grow your own hops? You're in the perfect zone for it.

I remember many years ago when I started brewing, all there was was dry yeast....at least as far as I knew at the time. When liquid yeast came out, I though it was the greatest thing. But with some of the big beers I was brewing at the time, I had to make a yeast starter almost every brew. Bought a stir plate, Erlenmeyer flask, etc... But the dry yeasts have come so far in the last 10 years. I could use one, maybe two, packets of dry yeast and get the same or better fermentation than with my starters. I still use liquid yeasts mostly. But when I find a recipe that calls for a dry yeast, I don't try to convert it to a liquid.

At any rate, in the end it doesn't really matter. Because both make beer!
OldGoat
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Post #6 made 11 years ago
by Scott
Oregon is a beautiful place. And lots of good microbrews...with lots of different styles.

I've got two plants of Cascade hops growing outside (on the side of) my home, facing west. I'm a newbie there. Harvested it after first year, last year. Was so worried about under harvesting it I think I waited too long. Oh well... Came in handy late last fall when I ran short on a batch and needed some more hops. Worked!

I sometimes am on Whidbey Island because of work. And other times close...Anacortes, Mount Vernon, etc. I will be in the area again in a couple weeks.

Nephew is in SOAR at JBLM and had to go through some training, under water helicopter self extraction stuff up at Whidbey Island. Sounded pretty intense. Crazy, he was born a couple years after I got out...(spent four years in). Makes me feel old... Oh well...
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Post #7 made 11 years ago
by OldGoat
Airborne! Impressive! I know exactly what you are talking about. I spent my first few years as a H-53 crewman and finished my career at NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue working on the H-60s. been in the helo dunker many times. Always a rush.

Thanks for your service as well and enjoy those hops.

BTW, we will be driving through on I5 around the Sep-Oct timeframe this year. Maybe we can meet up and enjoy each other's beers.
OldGoat
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Post #10 made 11 years ago
by PistolPatch
Great thread thanks OG. Am looking forward to seeing more pics and hearing more of your adventures. Maybe you can take a few of us foreigners on a virtual tour of the USA? Maybe you'll meet a few fellow brewers on the way?

:drink: :party: :drink:

I brew outdoors and, to be safe, I cover my kettle while chilling with a towel. I also cover the fermentor while transferring from the kettle. The logic is not to get caught out with a wild yeast or something similiarly aggressive :shoot:.
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Post #12 made 11 years ago
by OldGoat
Thanks Windrider!

PistolPatch,
I think I used to do that (cover kettle) years ago. Funny how, for some unknown reason you stop doing something a specific way and it never occurs to you to go back to that routine. (talking about ME of course). It IS a good idea to cover the wort and I am going to start doing it again. Thanks for the tip!

In the future I intend to get some scenic pictures as well. There isn't much at the place I am presently, so I concentrated on the beer.... Expect better canvas in future pics.
OldGoat
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