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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). 4
#10887194 - 08/19/09 12:45 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hey guys, I was thinking about sharing a VERY simplified brew session with you, from the very beginning to the end. I leave out a lot of little details, because would hate to see you guys bored... I like to start my brew-days pretty early, because usually do two batches. I brew 5 or 6 gallon of beer per batch. Well, here is how my day starts. I hose down the carport, and get my "brewery" out of the garage.
I start to heat up the HLT (hot liquor tank), and recirculate the water thru pump 1 back to the kettle. While the water is heating up, I get my recipe what I formulated before with Beersmith software. According to the recipe, I get the ingredients: base malt, specialty malts, hops and other stuff.
Then I crush the grain, with a malt mill, attached to a drill.
In the meantime my HLT reaches the desired temperature.
I then transfer some hot water to the mash tun, and mash in the crushed grains. Recirculate the mash (after a little rest) thru pump 2 back to the mash tun.
After mash out I slowly start to sparge. It means to transfer the remaining hot water from the HLT thru pump 1 to the mash tun.
Also synchronize pump 2 and slowly transfer wort from the mash tun to the boil kettle.
After the wort has been transferred to the boil kettle, and comes to a rolling boil, I'll add my hops in a schedule, according to the recipe.
Now with pump 1 I push ice-water thru a plate chiller. Pump 2 recirculate the wort thru the plate chiller back to the kettle.
The cooled wort will go to the conical fermenter, and yeast culture will be added. Always have a yeast starter going on about a week before the brew-day.
The fermenters go to a temp controlled chamber, and yeasties begin their little job: creating alcohol!
Well as fermentation finished, depending what kind of beer was brewed, it might need to be filtered. It first has to go in a keg, then with CO2 will be pushed thru a filter into the other keg.
So the beer has been filtered, now it needs to be force carbonated. I like the set it and forget it method. 12psi for a week, in a small temp regulated freezer.
From here I either leave the beer in the keg and hook it up to my 8 tap kegerator:
Or fill regular 12oz. bottles:
Or if I want to make a great gift, fill the beer in champagne bottles, cork it, wire-cage it, foil it, label it, and put it in a nice jute bag:
Anyhow, the beer will end up in one of my favorite proper glassware!!!
Enjoy!!!
Ps: sorry for the long-ass post...
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zenman223
The last Mohican
Registered: 10/23/05
Posts: 384
Loc: NC
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 2
#10887315 - 08/19/09 01:13 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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that is awesome, ive always thought it would be cool to open a restaurant/brewery just dont know anything about brewing. nice setup though, looks like you have alot tied up in your equipment. i cant even imagine how freakin cool it would be to have 8 diffrent beers ON TAP, that i made. must be nice!
-------------------- "I think I am, therefore I become." "In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." - Mark Twain
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: zenman223] 1
#10887338 - 08/19/09 01:20 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
zenman223 said: to open a restaurant/brewery
That's the plan for the FAR future.
Quote:
zenman223 said: i cant even imagine how freakin cool it would be to have 8 diffrent beers ON TAP, that i made. must be nice!
Yeah. I like it, but you should see how my friends like it!!!
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ShockValue
Because, ShockValue.
Registered: 11/18/08
Posts: 5,097
Loc: Tipping at windmills.
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 1
#10887708 - 08/19/09 02:46 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Fan-frickin-tastic. I've brewed quite a few gallons in my day, but it's on pretty basic equipment (the ol' aluminum pot and glass carboys.) Your setup looks very sweet!
Of course, it all comes down to how the brew tastes. Yours looks mighty thirst-quenching
--------------------
- When we built temples to view the stars, we knew about all 2000 of them.
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GetTheFuckOut
Long Gone.
Registered: 10/11/01
Posts: 60,898
Loc:
Last seen: 13 years, 4 months
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 1
#10887808 - 08/19/09 03:20 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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five mushrooms for you sir
-------------------- < I have logged in this once so that I can set the "last seen" feature up. let the faggots flow forth into OTD and have it. Its funny how they all grew nuts after I left. I'm not here, I'm not reading, but I urge you all to keep melting down over me. I know, I hurt alot of people, and they deserved it. epic win for me, epic fail for you. ythan, you rock dude. i feel that my time at the shroomery was very positive and enjoyable, but this site is no longer for me. im not mad or upset or disappointed, i just want no part in a pg rated faggot festival. <
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dstark
Manifesting Minds
Registered: 02/27/08
Posts: 4,144
Last seen: 7 months, 29 days
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: GetTheFuckOut] 1
#10888084 - 08/19/09 05:36 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Nice setup!! What hops did you use? and how much alcohol precent is in your beer?
-------------------- What is a mind, if not something to be messed with? What is consciousness, if not a state to be altered? ~I Feelat Home~
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Beanhead
IS IRONIC PARADOX
Registered: 10/11/08
Posts: 17,257
Loc: Geospatial inversion.
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: dstark] 1
#10888215 - 08/19/09 07:06 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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.
Edited by Beanhead (07/16/15 12:33 AM)
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: Beanhead] 1
#10888499 - 08/19/09 09:00 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thank you gentlemen for the compliment! This particular brew was Denny Conn's BVIP (Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter). It has Magnum and Kent Goldings hops. At the secondary fermentation I've added some vanilla beans, and at kegging some Woodford bourbon. This is a fantastic brew, kudos to Denny!
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: Beanhead] 1
#10888535 - 08/19/09 09:13 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Beanhead said: Fuck yeah. Westmalle sure is tasty...
Respect to your brewing
You live in Belgium, you lucky bastard, you would know!!!
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Rebirtha
I really like bread
Registered: 09/22/03
Posts: 5,680
Loc: over there
Last seen: 1 month, 10 days
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 1
#10888650 - 08/19/09 09:55 AM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Awesome setup! I hope I can get a setup that nice once I start my brewing. Cheers
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: Rebirtha] 1
#10889582 - 08/19/09 01:05 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Rebirtha said: Awesome setup! I hope I can get a setup that nice once I start my brewing. Cheers
I've started with extract brewing in large pots and carboys as well, and only bottled and bottle conditioned my brews. Then I built this brewing rig (it's a Brutus 10 clone)and started with all-grain. Of course after that you need to store and dispense your brews, so I built a kegerator. It's not a cheap hobby, but hey, which hobby is cheap, if you do it seriously?!
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dogwood
Stranger
Registered: 08/30/08
Posts: 142
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 1
#10898373 - 08/20/09 03:22 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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where do you get your recipes or do you create your own?
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Hypercube
80 SRM
Registered: 12/18/05
Posts: 814
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: dogwood] 1
#10898763 - 08/20/09 04:19 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Seriously badass gear. Very organized.
Did I read that right? You pitch week old starters????
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jewunit
Brutal!
Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 34,264
Loc: Ohio
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 1
#10898845 - 08/20/09 04:34 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Fucking intense man. That shit looks awesome.
You should send me some.
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: dogwood] 1
#10898911 - 08/20/09 04:43 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
dogwood said: where do you get your recipes or do you create your own?
There are very good beer related forums are out there, with a lot of fantastic recipes. You start to brew with those, and then figure out if you like it or not. If you think it needs something more or less, or different, you adjust it to your taste. And after that you start to create some of your own.
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: Hypercube] 1
#10898939 - 08/20/09 04:47 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hypercube said: Seriously badass gear. Very organized.
Did I read that right? You pitch week old starters????
No. I make a yeast starter about a week before I brew. Depends what yeast strain you work with I either make a 2 liter starter (ales) or a 4 liter one (lagers). It takes about 4-5 days to ferment out, then it needs to be crash cooled, to settle. So around day 6 or 7 it's ready to be pitched in your new batch of wort.
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Hypercube
80 SRM
Registered: 12/18/05
Posts: 814
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 1
#10900239 - 08/20/09 08:28 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
stonesun said:
Quote:
Hypercube said: Seriously badass gear. Very organized.
Did I read that right? You pitch week old starters????
No. I make a yeast starter about a week before I brew. Depends what yeast strain you work with I either make a 2 liter starter (ales) or a 4 liter one (lagers). It takes about 4-5 days to ferment out, then it needs to be crash cooled, to settle. So around day 6 or 7 it's ready to be pitched in your new batch of wort.
What kind of yeast are you starting with? I assume a smack pack or vial. I personally get a starter going and after the krausen hits I crash and pitch. Never has it taken me more than 72 hours from starter -> pitch using a mag stirrer. Then again it might depend on starting cell count. Using a wedge and step starters is obviously going to take some time.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but starters are just to get your cell count up to pitching levels, yeah? Krausen forms after the yeast budding stage so I figure you're at your max cell count when you hit krausen, which is why I do it that way. It seems to me that waiting till your starter is fermented out might be a waste of time, no?
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: Hypercube] 1
#10900494 - 08/20/09 08:55 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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I mostly use yeast slurry from previous batches, harvested from the conical fermenters, which of course don't need to be stepped up. However I have frozen yeast cultures in test tubes, so it has to thaw out, and need to be stepped up. That's why it's usually takes a week. 'There are two schools of thought on when the best time to pitch your yeast might be. One way of thinking is that you should pitch the entire yeast starter into your beer wort when it is a high krausen (anywhere from 8 to 18 hours) as the yeast is actively eating sugars and is ready for more. Another way of thinking about this is that you should pitch the yeast portion of the starter after it has completely fermented the starter sugars and has had a day or two to build up its cell reserves. I see both sides of this and, for me, it boils down to which method fits into my brewing schedule best. If I think ahead enough to prepare a starter a few days ahead and allow ample time to settle out, great. If I think of preparing the starter the night before or even the morning of the brew day, I can pitch at high krausen.'
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GabbaDj
BTH
Registered: 04/08/01
Posts: 19,682
Loc: By The Lake
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: stonesun] 1
#10904671 - 08/21/09 01:54 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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WERE NOT WORTHY!
-------------------- GabbaDj FAMM.ORG
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: A Brew Session With Stonesun (Pictorial). [Re: GabbaDj] 1
#10907888 - 08/21/09 09:13 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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You're not worthy!
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