Homebrewers - Whats in the fermenter?

[Salvelinus]

Good idea on the local homebrew store for your ingredient kit. They should be able to help you through any issues with the first batch.

If you don't mind a little work you shouldn't need to pay for bottles. When you get to the homebrew supply buy some b-brite powder, fill up a 5 gallon pail with water and some b-brite, add bottles of beer you've finished after you've rinsed them. The b-brite will make most labels fall right off, a light scrub will remove the glue. You've got a month to get 50 so get to drinking!

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Salvelinus

Good idea on the local homebrew store for your ingredient kit. They should be able to help you through any issues with the first batch.

If you don't mind a little work you shouldn't need to pay for bottles. When you get to the homebrew supply buy some b-brite powder, fill up a 5 gallon pail with water and some b-brite, add bottles of beer you've finished after you've rinsed them. The b-brite will make most labels fall right off, a light scrub will remove the glue. You've got a month to get 50 so get to drinking!

Dang...such a high price to pay

[Salvelinus]

Originally Posted by steve

Dang...such a high price to pay

I subtract the cost of new bottles from the cost of the beer

Most of my pals are on notice to save me any decent bottles, and I've got them trained to rinse properly so that I don't have mold in the bottoms.

I use oxyclean now, never seen it at a homebrew store though which is why I recommended b-brite. Same concept, just put a bit in the water. I keep the bucket full of solution in a closet in the kitchen, that way every bottle which happens into the house winds up label free down in the brewery.

[kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by Salvelinus

I use oxyclean now, never seen it at a homebrew store though which is why I recommended b-brite. Same concept, just put a bit in the water. I keep the bucket full of solution in a closet in the kitchen, that way every bottle which happens into the house winds up label free down in the brewery.

Yep, same here. I also will toss in airlocks, stoppers, tubing, etc., just to have it ready the next time. I use One Step as my sanitizer

[rack04]

Test run of my new two burner, single tier stand and 15.5 gal sanke keg HLT and BK tomorrow. I like the idea of double the beer in about the same amount of time. I need to plan it right because my temperature controlled chest freezer will only hold two 6 gallon better bottles at a time.

[rack04]

Originally Posted by rack04

Test run of my new two burner, single tier stand and 15.5 gal sanke keg HLT and BK tomorrow. I like the idea of double the beer in about the same amount of time. I need to plan it right because my temperature controlled chest freezer will only hold two 6 gallon better bottles at a time.

Well the inaugural brew was a success. No issues to speak of. Got 10.50 gallons fermenting away. Just wished I had a bigger chest freezer because tomorrow would be a great opportunity to brew.

[Salvelinus]

Originally Posted by rack04

Well the inaugural brew was a success. No issues to speak of. Got 10.50 gallons fermenting away. Just wished I had a bigger chest freezer because tomorrow would be a great opportunity to brew.

That switch to double the beer in the same amount of time is great. I went to a plate chiller when I switched and think I wound up saving time.

I brewed up an Irish Red that I'll be entering into our local clubs competition in a couple months. 5 gallons on some slurry from a scottish ale (wyeast 1728), and the other half on some marzen slurry (white labs 820). The 820 was slooowww the first time around, I hear the second round with it is usually faster though. We'll see...