Search found 131 matches

by Top Cat
Thu Oct 15, 2020 9:14 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: How accurate are ph indicator strips?
Replies: 18
Views: 6712

Re: How accurate are ph indicator strips?

Hi guys.
I think my original question has been answered to great extent.
I’ve sent a water sample to Phoenix analytical for a comprehensive check, so I’ll know what I’m working with to make adjustments in future.
by Top Cat
Thu Oct 15, 2020 6:47 pm
Forum: Beer Recipes
Topic: Fixed Wheel Brewery Blackheath Stout
Replies: 8
Views: 2638

Re: Fixed Wheel Brewery Blackheath Stout

Why not message Scott at the brewery with your recipe and ask him if you’re going in the right direction he started as a home brewer and is very friendly always ready to discuss beer with other home brewers. I’ll second that. I live a few miles from the brewery, and have visited the tap house there...
by Top Cat
Fri Oct 09, 2020 7:05 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: How accurate are ph indicator strips?
Replies: 18
Views: 6712

Re: How accurate are ph indicator strips?

Thanks for posting Eric, to answer your question no, the water board report wasn’t much help a year ago, and reading previous posts it’s obvious chemically it varies, but by trial and error the sulphate and chloride additions I’ve made produce clean tasting beers. The efficiency of my mashing is be...
by Top Cat
Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:00 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: How accurate are ph indicator strips?
Replies: 18
Views: 6712

Re: How accurate are ph indicator strips?

Hi all. I’ve been using these things for a few years now, and over the last few brews I am doubting their accuracy. My last water report claimed an average ph level of 7, sulphate 50ppm chloride 45ppm, measuring with the strips and comparing the colour to the chart it is more like 6. When mashing, ...
by Top Cat
Thu Oct 08, 2020 4:55 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: How accurate are ph indicator strips?
Replies: 18
Views: 6712

Re: How accurate are ph indicator strips?

Jockey, fully understand that water ph before mashing is different to mash ph due to the malts bringing it down, and obviously that’s the important bit. I just wanted to know in the most simplest way how accurate I am working to. I think you confirm my feelings on the strips, might have to dip my ha...
by Top Cat
Thu Oct 08, 2020 1:03 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: How accurate are ph indicator strips?
Replies: 18
Views: 6712

How accurate are ph indicator strips?

Hi all. I’ve been using these things for a few years now, and over the last few brews I am doubting their accuracy. My last water report claimed an average ph level of 7, sulphate 50ppm chloride 45ppm, measuring with the strips and comparing the colour to the chart it is more like 6. When mashing, a...
by Top Cat
Thu Sep 10, 2020 9:08 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Beer Life Expectancy in a Cornie
Replies: 11
Views: 1833

Re: Beer Life Expectancy in a Cornie

Hey Jocky So i see. So for convenience and to be able to pull a pint on draft though, the corny is the aspiration. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk Hi Wizz. It’s certainly very satisfying! When I started brewing again I wanted to take it to the next level, and had thoughts just like you. Initia...
by Top Cat
Wed Aug 26, 2020 7:40 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Dry hopping advice
Replies: 6
Views: 1837

Re: Dry hopping advice

Hi Bedders. Add your malt extract at the start or during the early part of the boil, the strength of the wort has an influence on the hop performance. Regarding dry hopping, it depends how hoppy you want your beer, and experimenting to get it right for you is really the only answer. Your hop schedul...
by Top Cat
Wed Aug 19, 2020 9:48 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: First brew advice please
Replies: 10
Views: 2020

Re: First brew advice please

Thanks top cat I am going to purchase a wort chiller before my next brew. For my next brew I am going to have a go at mango pale ale using 4kg maris otter 1.2kg mangrove Jack's pale liquid malt Crystal malt Torrified wheat Citra hops Mosaic hops Safeale 05 us yeast My question is how much crystal m...
by Top Cat
Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:53 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: First brew advice please
Replies: 10
Views: 2020

Re: First brew advice please

Hi Bedders. Just endorsing all what Orlando has posted. Just to add, in the early eighties when I started grain brewing, I used to cool my wort that I had boiled in a large stainless pot, in a bath of cold water. Later after a little more experience I purchased a Bru heat plastic boiler for convenie...
by Top Cat
Sat May 30, 2020 9:34 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Recipe help for a first all grain brew
Replies: 9
Views: 2983

Re: Recipe help for a first all grain brew

Collecting and disposing of sparged spent grain from your mashtun is APITA. Well it is to me! A mash bag obviously retains the grains so all you have to do is lift the bag out of the mashtun and dump the grains without the messy collecting and rinsing. If you wish to go down that route make sure you...
by Top Cat
Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:48 pm
Forum: Fermentation
Topic: Reusing Dry Yeast.
Replies: 10
Views: 3604

Re: Reusing Dry Yeast.

I asked a very similar question some time ago and was advised to download the mr malty app. Works a treat for yeast stored in the fridge. All you do is put the age of the yeast in the appropriate box with the gravity and amount of beer you wish to brew, and it calculates the amount you need to pitch...
by Top Cat
Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:52 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: Shelf life of opened packs of leaf hops
Replies: 6
Views: 2828

Re: Shelf life of opened packs of leaf hops

All replies took on board, may thanks. I generally brew English bitters/ pale ales, so the hops are quite common English varieties. Fortunately I’ve got a decent nose to test hops I use for aroma reasons, I’ve actually noticed different aroma in newly opened packs of the same hops from different sup...
by Top Cat
Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:14 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: Shelf life of opened packs of leaf hops
Replies: 6
Views: 2828

Shelf life of opened packs of leaf hops

Having gone through five pages of posts, I still can’t find an answer I’m looking for! I’m getting conflicting opinions on the life of leaf hops when the vacuum pack has been opened. Generally the procedure I follow when opening a new 100g pack, is cut the pack just below the seal for access, remove...
by Top Cat
Sat Nov 16, 2019 10:19 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Help With Inkbird ITC-308 Controller
Replies: 7
Views: 1986

Re: Help With Inkbird ITC-308 Controller

I agree with Guy, placement of the sensor is a big issue, you will be surprised to find various temperature readings in different locations. I have three of these Inkbirds, and find them excellent bits of kit, but I don’t use them above fermentation temperatures, ie for fermentation, chilling and co...