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I thought I’d post this up as I have read conflicting reports of using old malt. I have had a break from AG brewing for a few years due to having young children, but I had a few extract brews on the go and a load of old malt (crushed) in the garage - so I thought what’s the harm in just brewing...

Hi all Recieved 2 top plate rotokegs from a neighbour who was skipping them - now I know most will say just buy new, but I enjoy bringing old bits and bobs back to life. The main seal around the top plate is dead, so I have cut an oval gasket out of silicone, which I think should do the job -...

Hi all - an all grain brewer here, back on this forum for the first time in about 6 years. Had 2 children in the meantime which have taken my time - but put 2 extract brews on last week (a Californian common and a Amber IPA), just to get back in to the swing of things, then a neighbour passed on...

I am building my new brew kettle to upgrade from my small tesco value element powered one, and have 2 new 2.75kw elements. like these that i know a few forum people use: http://www.heatingelementcompany.co.uk/default.asp?Product=287 infact it is this one with the old style plug...

As the title suggests, my bottle capper has died with 30 bottles batch primed and awaiting capping, any suggestions? For info I think the capper has just worn out, no big breakages, the bottom plates were out of alignment so I realigned them and it worked for a bit but not well, now it just...

Early on in my first all grain experiments I didn't realise the amount that chlorine in water could ruin beer in the mash - anyway about my second brew I did a 7.5% ipa that went quite tcpish. I kept it to see if it mellowed, but no. Surprisingly I have drunk a bit of it but it's not that...

Just a quick question, I have brewed a few beers using hops that I had previously used for dry hopping in as the 60 min bittering addition. These have worked great but my calculations are just nock of a percent or 2 from the alpha acid for ibu calculation - this has got me roughly near. I'm sure...

Hi all, got a bit of a Brew in today, looking to pitch a yeast I have harvested from a couple of bottles of westmalle. It's been doing its thing in a milk bottle for a week now but doesn't look overly active, it's definately growing though - probably should've been somewhere warmer. Anyway I...

Firstly sorry to all those who have gone to the effort of producing how tos and answering my various dumb questions - I have read and digested them, unfortunately that may not be evident from today's botch job. I have been brewing extract for 2years so thought I'd try and go ag as I'm having a...

As the title suggests I'm having a boiler built so I'm thinking is a square boiler a problem? Is it just that cleaning is a bit of a chore or is ther something else to do with boiling dynamics or circulation that make circular more popular? I want a mesh lining inside for a hop strainer and so...

Hello, Having recently moved in with my in-laws whilst i look for a new house (with an outhouse for a brewery) i have done a few brews with my little plastic 15 litre setup - whilst my father in law looked on in bemusement. He owns a small engineering and fabrication company so he has said to me...

Just putting on an earl grey IPA extract brew- 12-13 litres as follows; 1.0kg dme 55g wheat dme 10g crystal malt 2 dessert spoons golden syrup 7 earl grey tea bags steeped in 2 litres water to be added after boil Approx 20grams of old recycled hops used to dry hop (random mix of EKG and...

I fancy brewing a liquorice porter and i have bought "100% liquorice juice" which is a black solid brittle stick of liquorice. I was wondering if anyone knows how to use this or should i just get a piece of root. I assume it dissolves but i have no idea how potent the flavour will be. I love...

Hi I was trying to make some light candi sugar for a summer pale ale but unfortunately I cannot multitask. I took my eye off it for a bit and the temp went around 150 degrees c - a bit too much! So now i'm left with white crystaly type rocks. I made it with a pinch of cream of tartar as I...

I don't know if anyone can help, but a local brewery to me produces a damn fine porter type affair called smokey joes black beer. I want to try and clone it, or brew something similar all I know is that it tastes pretty much like a cadburys crunchy and is very black. Any help or pointers to a...

Hi All, did my first extract brew 4 weeks ago this tuesday (having slightly cocked up the boil times) any way is it usual to take about 4 weeks to ferment out? Its a golden ale, using US-05 yeast, been kept at a steady 16 degrees (is this a bit low, it is the only temp i can keep steady at this...

Hi I have a kit that i have tried everything but re-pitching yeast to get going again, i now need the FVs for another brew, this kit has been in the fvs for close to 4 weeks now. This is just a tom caxton kit (yorkshire bitter)- made with 1 kg beer kit enhancer, and brewed a bit short - SG 1050...

Having read the stuck fermentation how to i have a couple of questions. My tom Caxton yorkshire bitter kit isn't budging from 1018, and i'm petrified of battling it and ending up with glass embeded in all manner of places. I know i have done some daft things, as when i brew i don't like to...

After getting so excited about getting my first extract on the go i managed to make a right bum of it. Thanks to all those who helped me here http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19757 After so much good advice i'm not sure how i made such a basic error, apart from me...

Having had a year of turbo cider and ginger beer, and finally done one kit i am about to put mu 15 litre mini boiler into action with a couple of extract brews. Sorry if these questions seem a little dumb, i think i have cleared up the process in my own mind, but would like the opinions of the...