Hyrdometer's and gadgets

[Dmp]

Here's another tid-bit-of-information. I found another local home brewing supply store. The last place I was disorganized, lacked supplies, and had hardly been kept up.

[Henning1966]

I don't like coming off as an asshole on these forums because the majority of people are here to learn about brewing, but if you just want to "make beer" and not buy a $4.75 piece of equipment, and want to save a few cents buying incorrect equipment at PETCO than a LHBS, then just go fucking buy a Mr. Beer Kit. If you want to brew beer correctly, use the right hydrometer with a hydrometer jar (eg. the one I suggested 15 minutes after you started this thread), or even better, a refractometer.

Hey this is the bn forum not the b3 forum back up and cut your fellow army member some slack
ps i did this post with no punctuation just to piss on the fire

[Brandt]

I kinda have to agree with 1dermike here on one point: Get the right tool for the job. I can attest to countless wasted hours and dollars trying to re-invent the wheel, as it were. In the end, I wound up not only buying the cheap alternative, but had to immediately replace it with the proper homebrew approved tool after realizing the re-purposed item was not up to the task. I think I paid about $6 for my beer making hydrometer. It came in a tube, and that is where I take the readings.

Still.... be nice to a brotha when he's asking for help.

[BigNastyBrew]

Dmp.... you need the correct tools. Cutting corners will not create great beer. I promise.

I'm not saying you need the most expensive shit out there. Hell, I use a leaky cooler, a nasty-ass table and chair and a floor as my "brew sculpture."

I'm new too and my beers have been great lately (to me). Once I realized that the tools for the person to make wort with were as important as the brewer himself, my beer started to mature, as well.

[Quin]

Now I'm sure you can get great deals at PETCO for thermometers, but do you really want to use an anal thermometer for your beer?

Do you know the difference between an anal thermomemter and an oral thermometer?



THE TASTE.

[Dmp]

HAHA, this thread has gotten out of control.
All I ever wanted to do was get some information about brewing great beer.

Anyways, I'm learning the hard way that: Cutting corners is only going to cost me more in the end. And further, I am only going to make mediocre beer by cutting corners...

Today, I got a mini fridge. I modified it so it would fit my five gallon Jug. Now I am going to make a few adjustments: i.e. tweaking the temperature, creating a base at the fridge, getting an extension chord, etc. and I will be well on my way to a better beer.

5-11-09 Update: My first beer came out very watery. The gravity read at 1.08 (yikes!).
This is why, I figure...
a) It was fermented at 85 degree and higher weather!
b) The yeast wasn't activated, or aerated!
AND c) I didn't pour all the extract and mush from the wort into the ferment! Which, is probably the number one reason why it didn't ferment well.

Quick question...
When I bottle my next batch...which will be in a modified fridge with a adjusted temperature...do I want to keep the bottles at the same temperature as when I was fermenting the beer?

[Fritz Eye]

Quick question...
When I bottle my next batch...which will be in a modified fridge with a adjusted temperature...do I want to keep the bottles at the same temperature as when I was fermenting the beer?

Congrats on the mini fridge
When carbonating in the bottle, the best temps are around 70 dgrees or so and it normally takes about 2 weeks. If you want, sneak a bottle after one week to see how it is going. Once you get the level of carbonatuion you like, then it is best to keep the bottles cooler so they will last longer.
Enjoy.
Fritz

[linuxelf]

I use one of these:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products ... rodID=4356

the hydrometer goes right inside the thief. Couldn't be easier.