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So, I brewed Jamil's Chocolate Hazelnut Porter today. Hit all the targets and the brew went well. The weird thing was that when I aerated the wort by stirring, try as I might I could not get any foam created. I stirred vigorously for three minutes but nothing! Could this be because of the...

I did brew number two yesterday (a citra pale ale) in my new HERMS system :party: I found I had a serious loss of efficiency in the mash, ending up around 7 points below target gravity in the kettle. When I'd finished sparging I noticed the grain bed was not flat, it was peaked in the...

Hi, I started my first brew with the new system today. All was going well until...pump failure :( I was recirculating my mash, and after 30 mins it just stopped working. The mash was coming out through a fully opened valve, into the pump (not turned on until primed) through the HERMS and...

Anyone know how slow you can reduce the flow rate down to before it starts to punish the pump? Also, is it best to control flow rate with the tap before the inflow of the pump, or after the outflow of the pump? I've been testing a couple today, cheers

I've been searching for a guide to cleaning and sanitising a HERMS system. I have found one that seemed to be posted to all major forums, alas the poster's site that it forwarded to is no longer up. Does anyone have any tips on the most efficient/effective way to clean and sanitise before a...

Hi, I'm having a problem with my Sestos PID, purchased from Homebrew Builder. Each time I switch the thing off and try to turn on again, the fuse blows. I was surprised at how small the fuse was, as it's only 100ma. Anyone know what it's protecting and why it might be blowing each time...

Hi, I've recently brewed a Rogue Dead Guy clone using Wyeast 1272. I kept the temps down to 16c throughout the initial stages using my temp controlled fermentation chamber. The whole brewing process beforehand went as well as it possibly could. I tested temps sporadically through the...

Hi, I'm looking for a non toxic cleaner to use when cleaning brewing vessels. I have been using an alkaline chlorine based cleaner, and tried PBW today, but have decided I'd like to look for something that won't hurt the pets. I use starsan for sanitise. Cheers!

Hi I'm selling my old all grain brewery. This includes Hop & Grape's 28l coolbox insulated mashtun, with copper strainer and sparge arm (retailing at £96.98) and also a Bufallo 40l boier (retailing at £149.99) with a hop strainer. There is also a Hop & Grape copper immersion chiller. Any...

Hi, I recently had http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/cornelius-stainless-taps.html given to me as a Christmas present. As it is it will only attach directly to the disconnect on the corny. Does anyone know where I can get a shank to attach to the back so I can then attach a beer line? Cheers!

Hi, I'm looking to upgrade my whole system and have come across these. Has anyone any experience with these guys? Cheers

I've had a failed s-05 based beer due to excessive diacetyl. Obviously this is strange, as s-05 is usually pretty bulletproof. I deduced that the temps got too high in there (I set it at 20c with a 1 degree tolerance) probably because the fermenting wort temp rose well above the surrounding...

Hi, It's my first time using WLP810 San Francisco Common, and I'm not sure if I'm on the right track. Any help would be appreciated. I've brewed a Steam Ale recipe from Brewsmith, and after four weeks the beer is still in the fermenter and still cloudy. I started off at 15c for two weeks...

Hi folks, Not posted on here for a while. I was wondering if anyone can help me here. I'm aware that if you sparge at too high a temp or sparge for too long you can end up pulling out a lot of tannins which I've read cause a bitter taste (like sucking on a teabag?). For this reason I used to...

Hefe... Everyone's brewin' 'em at the moment, and I brewed my first a couple of weeks ago. Bottled it up last night, and it tastes nice - not a bad first attempt. :thumb: I've used a very simple recipe, 50/50 wheat and pilsen malt with 12ibu's of saaz and the all important wlp380. My...

I was wondering what, in your opinions, should changed in a beer during this period (apart from carbonation) and specifically how the head and it's retention should change. I've brewed a beer which is a similar recipe to a previous brew. I added some wheat in order to aid some head retention...

Hi folks, I'm trying to put together a black ipa recipe. Anyone done one before? So far I have this; Ingredients: ------------ Amount Item Type % or IBU 2.30 kg Pale Malt, Maris Otter (5.9 EBC) Grain 77.97 %...

Hi folks, Tomorrow I'm planning on testing out my new equipment with a German Weissbier, and using a liquid yeast for the first time! I've sorted out a starter using Graham Wheeler's instructions, and it seems to be going well although he only talks about 300ml which is contrary to what most...

Hi folks, I was wondering if anyone knew how to reduce or cover up the alcohol flavour in higher abv beers. I did a 7.2% IPA recently and it was great, but to improve the recipe I think I need to smooth it out a little. Would it just be a case of ageing longer or is there a trick to it...

Hi, I've recently followed Leedsbrew's Black Chocolate Stout recipe, but have suffered a pretty appalling efficiency. I had a similar issue on the last brew (AG#3, Big Kenny) but it wasn't quite so severe. I had put it down to sparging too quickly and at a low temp (I moved the sparge water...