Houston, TX Newer Brewer

[rahmdog]

Hello BN community! I have recently made a commitment to becoming a better brewer and after researching extensively for a few months I am ready to find out how little I actually know! Hopefully I have a better understanding of the fundamentals and underlying principals now after listening to many BN podcasts and reading a whole lot. Now comes the learning by doing phase.

I brew out of Houston TX.
I brew extract and extract w/ specialty grains.
My current setup:
7G plastic ferment bucket
Kettle (Not actually sure what size/composition)
Bayou Classic jet burner
Home-made immersion chiller w/ submersible pump
Stir-plate for starters
Larger bucket w/ aquarium heater to control ferment temp (or attempt to)

Right now I have a Baltic Porter (which was biting of more than I could chew) in the fermentor.

Look forward to improving my beer and getting to know the community.

Thanks all!

[TheDarkSide]

Welcome!

Since you have a Bayou Classic burner, is your kettle at least big enough to do a full boil. This can make a huge difference in your beer.

[rahmdog]

Thanks TheDarkSide, I think I get about 6 gallons at a full boil before I get too close to the top for comfort. Would like a larger pot just to be able to relax a bit during the boil but I guess relaxation begets mistakes. This last brew day I needed a couple hours after the fermenter was sealed to let my blood pressure fall back down to normal. Should become easier with more experience and a better mental image of the entire process.

I actually lived most of my life in NH, love it up there, miss the weather and the fishing but maybe I am being nostalgic as far as all the snow is concerned...

[TheDarkSide]

Some tricks to prevent boilover in a full kettle:
1. Heat doesn't need to be full blast...just a roiling boil
2. Spray bottle with water. Even blowing on it can get to foam to back down
3. Fermcap-S, antifoam magic.
4. Getting a good hot break (maybe 10 minutes into the boil) before adding your first hop addition.

You can come to my place and take all the snow you want...I've got plenty and I'm totally sick of it by now

[NervousDad]

Welcome! You'll learn a ton from the BN.

[brewinhard]

Welcome aboard! Let us know how that Baltic Porter turns out.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

I've said it before, I'll say it again: brew any recipe Bugeater posts!

There are a lot of folks with all sorts of of experience. We're happy to help, and we hop you'll help other noobs. I've learned so much here. These s are pretty smart.

(Don't tell them I said that.)