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Brix refractometer
I just bought a new Brix Refractometer for 15$ off of Ebay. I didn't think I would ever get one of these, but going all grain almost requires it I think. I Like to take a reading of the first runnings, the preboil, and then of course the og, this should make things alot easier then waiting for the samples to cool. Hell, now I can even take samples mid boil.
Let us know you like it. I was going to get probably the same one you got. I asked Santa instead, although I had listed other places with a higher price. I think those had special features maybe.....
As an all grain brewer, I think the refractometer is a must have.
I too like to take gravity readings of my different runnings while I batch sparge. lets you see exactly what's going on and where you get the most efficiency. Taking reading often allows you to head off problems at the pass when you know what to look for.
The refractometer is also great during the boil.
Many of us boil for a set period of time. With the refractometer I boil to my gravity. I like to boil for 90 minutes usually, but at 60 minutes I will check the gravity and see where I am at. Then I can estimate how much longer I actually need to hiy my target OG. Makes for a much more controlled brew session and I now always hit my target OG.
Yea, I noticed that with my second all grain batch the cream ale, I missed my og by 2 points, where as with my first all grain batch, I nailed it without even trying. It makes alot more sense to boil to your gravity then to wait and see, and lets face it cooling wort for a mid boil reading is a pain in the ass. This should make a big difference. and as it was only 15 bucks, the wife never has to know, ha ha ha.
Now for my christmas present, I need the shirron plate chiller. I've been using my aluminum pot that came with my burner, filling it with ice, and putting it inside my 15 gallon pot. it takes 40 lbs of ice to get 10 gallons of hot wort down to 80f, but it does it in 30-40 minutes. (suprisingly fast actually.) but the ice cost another 10 bucks, so the chiller will pay for itself after 8 batches.
I don't know where you get your ice, but I was picking up 15lb bags from Market Basket for $1.75. Two bags in 20 gallon bucket, some hose water a 15 gallon pot of boiling wort.......30 minutes later it's ready to pour and pitch......
hmm, maybe you have a better recipe for ice? haha.
That does seem weird. maybe it's better to put it in a ice water bath. I just don't feel like pulling that pot (must weight at least 100lbs when full) full of hot wort and putting it in a bath, I just don't trust myself. Same reason I don't use carboys.
Ice water will always cool faster than just ice. This is because the cold water fills the air gaps left by the ice cubes themselves. Ice water is colder than cool air, and along with better surface area, it cools much faster. Try this on a smaller scale....take a couple of warm beers, or soda. Put one in ice water, the other in just ice. Wait 10 minutes and check them. The just iced beer will be somewhat cooler, while the beer in ice water will cold and ready to drink. You can also add salt to the ice water, which will increase it's ability to cool. I can't remember why, but it helps a bit.
As for moving it, unless you have 10 gallon fermentors you'd have to split it at some point. Try splitting the batch first, it may be easier to move....
I brew outside, and keep the cooling buket within a few feet of the cooking area. Right now, it's fairly heavy with a 6 gallon batch.....I'll probably need help when I start doing 10 gallon batches
This will all be null for me soon anyway. I'm building a wort chiller as my next brewing project. I have to wait for the copper tubing to get in stock. Copper isn't cheap right now unfortunatly, but I was able to secure a 50' coil for a good price. I haven't decided on size yet though. The guy I talked to said I can choose from a few different diameters ranging from 3/8" to 3/4"......I'l probably go with something in the middle, maybe 1/2"........
Yea, I don't feel like splitting the wort first to cool, then pour it in my fermenters. To much GD work. I'll just get the Plate chiller. I saw that in action during the last brewday, and It cooled 13 gallons of wort as it filled the fermentor. It was frickin awsome. definately the way to go. Plus it's only 80 bucks
I thought of a plate chiller, but I heard it's harder to clean and also a bit harder to control the temperature....
If you are taking readings by pulling off with an eye dropper of sorts, make sure it contains only wort. When I first got mine I was sucking in some sanitizer for a few squirts to clean out the sample. I was nailing my preboils, but was getting weird postboil readings lower than my preboil. I realized there was still some sanitizer stuck in the dropper. Never even considered it, but the sample is so small, a little can affect a lot. Now I just suck up and squirt out a few times before I pull the actual sample. You were prolly smart enough to think of this, but for anyone else who may want to dabble w/ the ol refracto- don't forget!
good point, I would have run into that and been scratching my head for a few days. Can't wait to get it and start brewing.
Speaking of that. Thirsty, how do you brew in the winter months. Chilling your wort and such.
bruguru wrote:
good point, I would have run into that and been scratching my head for a few days. Can't wait to get it and start brewing.
Speaking of that. Thirsty, how do you brew in the winter months. Chilling your wort and such.
The furnace in my garage cranks it up to about 70 deg in 15 minutes. We brew in t-shirts in the winter.
Then the coats go on for the chill. That is when I have to open the garage door, hook up the hoses, and freeze. Luckily w/ the plate, and the water so cold, I can fill each carboy at full blast and the whole process w/ cleanup and aeration is prolly 20 minutes. I keep the hoses in the basement until ready so they don't freeze.
And drink s-loads of whiskey
thirsty wrote:
And drink s-loads of whiskey
Hell yeah! Amen brotha to that...
Hell, you know Thirsty...I'm going to put up a toast to all fly spargers in their honor...
3 cheers with Crown Royal 18, Glen Breton Rare, and Russels Reserve.........
ricka182 wrote:
thirsty wrote:
And drink s-loads of whiskey
Hell yeah! Amen brotha to that...
Hell, you know Thirsty...I'm going to put up a toast to all fly spargers in their honor...
3 cheers with Crown Royal 18, Glen Breton Rare, and Russels Reserve.........http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/lil … orange.gif
I usually just scorch back the JB, works for me!
I got the Refractometer today. It goes up to 40 brix, and has the alcohol readings on the other side it has the ATC feature so you can just put hot wort right on it. All for 15 dollars not bad, can't beat that. With shipping I think it was 22 dollars. Already I know that orange juice is 17 brix, hmmmm, I wonder how many brix urine is? Hold on I'll be right back.
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