Home Brewing...

25 lbs after pitting, yield about 4 gallons pulp, plus 20# sugar and 6 gal h2o. looks like just shy of 12 gallons of "must"... 
This is all a big first experiment, I hope it works

Jim whats your original gravity?

25 lbs after pitting, yield about 4 gallons pulp, plus 20# sugar and 6 gal h2o. looks like just shy of 12 gallons of "must"... 
This is all a big first experiment, I hope it works

Jim whats your original gravity?

I'll find out tomorrow before I pitch the yeast.  I have to get a mesh bag and hygrometer in the morning.

The blueberries were store bought.  I put them through 5 freeze/thaws to breakdown the cell walls.  Last thaw I mashed them in the bag, then used a big funnel to put them into a sanitized 6 gallon carboy then racked the blonde on top. 

The fermentation started back up pretty fierce so put on a blow off tube.  I really am looking forward to this batch.  Even the fermentation smells amazing!

That sounds awesome Roughster!!

Eric. - initial gravity is 1.12, yeast is in

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Damnit, degrees Plato!

Dividing by 4 is hard...



MolBasser

Damnit, degrees Plato!

Dividing by 4 is hard...



MolBasser

28 degrees Plato

This might come out a bit strong   looks like (from web info) I might end up with roughly 16%...phew, that will wake you up      I cant wait 

Just a quick update....  I've now moved on to being a beer brewing Pro....direct all your beer brewing questions to me 

Kidding of course. I"ve brewed six 5 gallon batches and I've drank just about one and a half of those batches. The first batch is drinkable but isn't anything to start a blog about, I fermented it at too high a temp.  No worries, I've learned quite a bit and have changed my process so things are getting better.

Art being the bad ass that he thinks he is came over a while back and wanted to brew a Pliney clone...we almost lost that batch...let's just say he's not a very sanitary person.  Time salvaged the batch and it's now bottle conditioning.  Who really needs 2 cases of Pliney though....that's like 3 months of full on drunkenness but that's how he rolls yet he complains about the guys on his street corner enjoying a taco or two and sharing a hot 40 of Old English.

Here's a pic of what I'll be drinking in a bit when I get home...it's a watermelon wheat beer.  Don't be afraid of the labels, I bought them online to try out the cling labels before I buy  some sheets and print my own.

Thanks for the update.  I've been enjoying this thread. 

I think I want to build a still.

Thanks for the update.  I've been enjoying this thread. 

I think I want to build a still.

Hit me up Eric, I built an all copper 5 gallon and have run it about 12 times, its getting good.......

Thanks for the update.  I've been enjoying this thread. 

I think I want to build a still.

Hit me up Eric, I built an all copper 5 gallon and have run it about 12 times, its getting good.......

Yes....Yes it is!!

Great thread!

Pacifico, I have been brewing for a couple of years and have always gave my business to my local brew shop. I have never bought anything for brewing off the internet. You may consider doing that if you have a good local shop. They have always set me straight with equipment and advice. It is valuable to have those folks around.

I have wanted to go to all grain brewing but have not made the move yet. This thread may have pushed me to start investigating it... I just need more equipment now

One other thing... you may consider bottling 22oz bottles. I never bottled the 12oz. 22s are the perfect size to share or give away.

Loren

Great thread!

Pacifico, I have been brewing for a couple of years and have always gave my business to my local brew shop. I have never bought anything for brewing off the internet. You may consider doing that if you have a good local shop. They have always set me straight with equipment and advice. It is valuable to have those folks around.

I have wanted to go to all grain brewing but have not made the move yet. This thread may have pushed me to start investigating it... I just need more equipment now

One other thing... you may consider bottling 22oz bottles. I never bottled the 12oz. 22s are the perfect size to share or give away.

Loren

I'm luckily in that morebeer is my local home brew store. The guys in there know me by name already. 

I might try going all grain but for now extract is good enough for me... At least until I learn a bit more and find more time to brew.

As for bottling... I've decided to move from 22 oz to 12 oz to keep myself from drinking too much. Opening the bottle keeps you a lot more conscious of how much you've drank.  I had thought of going to kegging but probably won't for the same reason.  Bottling isn't as much of a PITA as everyone makes it out to be.  Maybe I'll think differently in a year from now though.

I had thought of going to kegging but probably won't for the same reason.  Bottling isn't as much of a PITA as everyone makes it out to be.  Maybe I'll think differently in a year from now though.

If you like the bottle aspect try bottling from a keg.....soooo much easier, less time to carbonate, and clearer beer. You don't have the spent yeast in the bottles and you can keep some on tap or bottle to hand out or take with you.It's even nice to be able to fill growlers for parties or get-togethers.

I just use a cheap party tap faucet with a straight racking cane and a stopper. I use this method with both my beers and hard ciders (especially when back sweetening).

Do you have any good leads on a cheap keg system?

As for bottling... I've decided to move from 22 oz to 12 oz to keep myself from drinking too much. Opening the bottle keeps you a lot more conscious of how much you've drank.  I had thought of going to kegging but probably won't for the same reason.  Bottling isn't as much of a PITA as everyone makes it out to be.  Maybe I'll think differently in a year from now though.

Just don't think about going into kegging because your glass never seems to empty!  I was just about to get back into brewing when my kegerator fridge crapped out on me. Took all the parts off it and will re-build or sell all the parts. It must have been a sign not to get back into kegging.  Might have to look into picking up some bottles since that is probably the best way to go for me now. Maybe we might need to start an annual brew fest / fish fry gathering. I am sure we could get some judges to taste and score for us!