Took another gravity reading today, starter really, REALLY worked. It is now at 1.005. So:
1.080 – 1.005 = 0.075 then 0.075 x 131 = 9.825% as of today. I am going to take another reading this weekend. I think is is close, I hope it is done. I can only read from 1.000 to 1.070. I guesses at the 1.080…
Category: Home Brewing
Home Brew Stir Plate DIY
Counterflow Homebrew Chiller
Home Brew Pre-Chiller
Sometimes the tap water is just not cold enough to do the job required to cool the product. Here is what I did to create a pre-chiller. The idea is to have the water run through the copper coil that is packed in ice.
Partial / Mini Mash Tun
Continue to brew like you normally do….
* Varies by recipe
Kegerator Build
Homebrew Yeast starter
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Make sure everything is clean to the eye. Then clean and sanitize using your normal sanitizer the way you normally would.
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Bring 3 cups (720ml) of water to a boil and turn off heat.
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Add 1/8 tsp of yeast nutrient, either Fermax or Wyeast
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Add light Dry Malt Extract (DME), 3oz (approximately ½ cup) Or 3 table spoons of the malt extract you are going to use for batch. Stir until everything is dissolved. Return the solution to a boil approx 15 minutes.
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Careful not to burn yourself, remove the solution from the heat and pour into the 1000ml Erlenmeyer flask. Imerse the flask into an ice bath and cool to approximately 70 degrees, about 10-15 minutes.
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Prepare you yeast
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White Labs: Shake the yeast container to breakup the solid yeast bed. Open the container.
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Wyeast: Open the shake and then open the packet.
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Dry Yeast: Prepare using the instructions on the packet.
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Pitch the yeast into the room temperature water/malt mix in your flask.
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Swirl the mixture aerating it well.
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Fill your sanitized air lock with water or vodka.
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Put the sanitized air lock and stopper in the mouth.
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Allow the mixture to set in a dark place at room temperature.
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Your airlock should start bubbling in about 12 hours. Fermentation has started.
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When fermentation is evident, the yeast starter is ready.
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Pitch the yeast starter as you normally would when you brew. Remember to swirl the yeast mixture in the flask very well to re suspend all the yeast from the bottom of the flask.
Honey Starter (For all meads):
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Make sure everything is clean to the eye. Then clean and sanitize using your normal sanitizer the way you normally would.
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Warm 3 cups (720ml) of water and turn off heat.
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Add 1/4 tsp of yeast nutrient, either Fermax or Wyeast
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Add 1 cup of honey from the batch you are going to brew. Stir until everything is dissolved.
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Careful not to burn yourself, remove the solution from the heat and pour into the 1000ml Erlenmeyer flask. Imerse the flask into an ice bath and cool to approximately 70 degrees, about 10-15 minutes.
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Prepare you yeast
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White Labs: Shake the yeast container to breakup the solid yeast bed. Open the container.
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Wyeast: Open the shake and then open the packet.
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Dry Yeast: Prepare using the instructions on the packet.
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Pitch the yeast into the room temperature water/honey mix in your flask.
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Swirl the mixture aerating it well.
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Fill your sanitized air lock with water or vodka.
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Put the sanitized air lock and stopper in the mouth.
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Allow the mixture to set in a dark place at room temperature.
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Your airlock should start bubbling in about 24 – 48 hours. Fermentation has started.
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When fermentation is evident, the yeast starter is ready.
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Pitch the yeast starter as you normally would when you brew. Remember to swirl the yeast mixture in the flask very well to re suspend all the yeast from the bottom of the flask.
Brewed up a Mead II
Starter for the mead
OK, when did my local home brew store start closing at 6pm? WTF? So, I get back with no yeast and I look in my lager chamber.
I used the wash to create the starter, it started fermenting! Success! I poured it in to the rest of the wash. I will post how it turns out.
Brewed up a mead..
Brewed up a mead little over a week ago, 10 pounds of Honey, 3 jars of Molasses, and 1 bag of alcohol boost from Austin home brew.
Made 6 gal, I am guessing 1.08? was my OG, my hydrometer does not go that high. Now it is about 1.070
At least I can read it now. But no or very little activity. I am going to get another vial of champagne yeast and create a starter using some of what I have in there now and re-pitch. Hope it lights it off again