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1500 questions
23
votes
7 answers
About going all-grain
I have made 7 or 8 extract brews over the past year and am interested in moving up to all-grain. What equipment is needed, and what steps are added to the process.
Aaron
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23
votes
7 answers
No-rinse acid sanitizer - is there a risk?
My homebrewer friends recommend the StarSan acid sanitizer, hands-down. I tried it once and it foamed everywhere and left a bunch of rings in the carboy and the bottles. It made me paranoid that it would ruin my batch, but the beer tasted fine. …
Carling
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23
votes
2 answers
What's the difference between 2-row and 6-row malt?
I know the difference has to do with how the grains grow on the stock, but I'm not completely sure what that difference is. It also seems like 2-row is more commonly used as a base malt, but I've seen some recipes that say it's ok to substitute…
Jeff L
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23
votes
7 answers
Is there anyway to tell if a glass bottle of beer is carbonated without opening it?
It would be great if I didn't have to ruin a bottle of beer by opening it to test to see if it carbonated. Is there any way to tell?
CLJ
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23
votes
3 answers
What does gypsum do?
I'm brewing from an Austin Homebrew extract kit, and it came with some gypsum. I thought gypsum was only for modifying water chemistry, but there seems to be some other schools of thought around.
So:
What does it affect?
When/how should it be…
Fishtoaster
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23
votes
4 answers
Open-Fermented or Native Yeast Beers
I've always been very careful about control and sanitation with beer. But with my wine I do some native yeast Pinots, and some friends of mine are into the same with beers- they like funky, sometimes sour, open-fermented farmhouse ales & Saisons…
Juanote
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23
votes
16 answers
Fermentation Temperature Control Methods
What different methods do people use to maintain or control fermentation temps? This includes maintaining temps for both Ales and Lagers. For most climates, active control is necessary for doing lagers. However, I have seen multiple neat tricks…
brewchez
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22
votes
5 answers
How to grow yeast?
I have read that it is possible to grow your own yeast, but I have not been able to find exact instructions. I would like to grow my own yeast so that I don't have to spend money on those small sachets, which cost around $3.5 for 7 gr around here.
yoquese
22
votes
1 answer
Always making a starter vs. following package description
I have noticed that the smackpacks say on the package that the package is meant for a 5 gal. batch and that you should pour the pack directly into the wort.
On the otherhand - nearly everyone tells me to always make a starter.
Is this just because…
Flyhard
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22
votes
14 answers
What are the most citrusy hops?
Which hops do you guys find are the most citrusy? I'm looking to create a super-citrusy IPA, and have limited experience with most hops.
Brian
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22
votes
6 answers
Why do all my beers taste better after having aged for a couple months?
My impression is that ales are typically best drunk within a couple weeks of brew day. It's my experience that letting them age in the bottles for 2-3 months yields the best beer, both improving body, head, and desirable flavours, and reducing…
Nick
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22
votes
4 answers
How to Properly Oxygenate Wort
How much oxygen do I need to put into my wort?
I've heard that homebrewers need to aerate with an oxygen stone and either aquarium pumps or oxygen. Is this true, or is shaking my carboy enough to get proper oxygenation?
How much oxygen is needed? …
Brandon
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22
votes
7 answers
Are beer kits any good?
I started my first homebrew a few days ago. I used a John Bull India Pale Ale beer kit made by Young's (West Midlands, UK). The airlock is bubbling away merrily and I've taken the lid off the fermenter and had a sniff - got a huge fizzy hit in the…
robaker
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22
votes
7 answers
How long can I leave beer in the secondary fermenter?
My first home brew beer is ready to be bottled but I've been busy and haven't gotten around to it yet. The beer was in a primary fermenter for 2 weeks, then I racked it into a secondary fermenter (carboy with airlock) where it has been for about 3…
Kyle Boon
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22
votes
6 answers
[WIKI] Bottle Sanitizing Techniques - Pros & Cons
What are the pros and cons of each bottle sanitizing method? Let's look at time, equipment, quality of sanitation, and other factors.
Post one answer for each method. Edit the answers if you have things to say about that method. (Community…
hookedonwinter
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