Neat tips for homebrewers!

[fretlessman71]

I thought that a thread dedicated to cool brewing tips would be appropriate - a great little resource for everyone. If you have some little tricks of the trade, post 'em here! Here's a few of mine:

-If you're using a bottling bucket, set it up on a counter and put a small stepstool underneath it. This lets you bottle on your feet, yes, but the COOL part is placing a flashlight under the stepstool, aimed at your spigot. This way you can see through your bottle, and you know just how full it is - even with the REALLY dark bottles.

-DME is a lot easier to add to your wort if you take it off the heat first, pour your DME into a bowl, and just slide it out into the wort. No sticky mess and very little lost DME.

[barley ben]

Send me a case from every batch and you won't have a storage problem.

[axis714]

I have 1 very very simple technique that could save a newbie alot of problems....when racking from 1 vessel to another without an auto siphon...simply fill the tube full of weak sani solution and holding a thumb over 1 end to hold it in carefully slide on racking tube and insert....remove thumb and drain liguid into a bottle or bucket and clamp off when beer reaches the end to attach bottle filler .....this saves sucking on the hose with your bacteria infested mouth :o and thats definately not good!

[thewiz]

Originally posted by axis714
simply fill the tube full of weak sani solution and holding a thumb over 1 end to hold it in carefully slide on racking tube and insert....

Great tip - I use it, but I'd like to add to it.... to help prevent sanitizing solution in your beer, 'flick' or drain the solution out of the racking cane only.... leave it in the hose and it will work just the same with no chance of it draining back down into the brew. (when you tilt the racking cane, solution comes out)

I put 2 cups on the ground when I do this... one to drain the sanitizer into and another to pour a tasting sample into 8-)


this saves sucking on the hose with your bacteria infested mouth :o and thats definately not good!

Agreed.... once for whatever reason I had to do this - if you do too... you can minimize the bacteria effect by washing out your mouth with listerine.... no infections in my brew doing this (still not recommended).

[adbachtell]

I discovered this while I was racking to bottles. I have the orange carboy cap with the 2 holes. I use one for the racking cane and blow into the other. I rinse my mouth with rum and then transfer the wort into another carboy. When I am done racking and have the priming sugar in the beer I then put the cap setup onto the carboy. I attach the racking cane, rinse the mouth and blow again. I know there is a risk of infection but with the rinse and the alcohol content of the beer I think the risk is small.

[MARK123]

I just discovered what I believe is the best thing for a new brewer to see...I have done about 70 gallons in opaque plastic buckets... I am now a yeast farmer and and did a starter of wyeast 1056 to start my farm in a 4 ltr glass wine jug..(clear)
I used 2 cups dry malt in 80 ounces of water with a pack.....I have never seen what goes on in the fermentor!!!...The action is a sight to behold!!!...I believe if you can do a small ferment, in clear glass, you will see the incredible action that takes place and will greatly improve your understanding of the fermentation process!!!

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by MARK123
!!...I believe if you can do a small ferment, in clear glass, you will see the incredible action that takes place and will greatly improve your understanding of the fermentation process!!!

I don't know how much "understanding" you might get from it - but it sure is fun to watch ;)

[NewBrewMeister]

I know how important it is to keep everything sanitary. I have found that a great way to protect things from becoming contaminated from airborn bacteria, dust, etc. is to use saran wrap to cover everything. I use it when I'm brewing and it keeps me from hurrying things because I know that the chances of contamination are reduced with plastic coverings all over the place.

[brewmonkey]

My tip is one that was passed down to me from the first brewer I worked for.

Never stick your finger where you wouldn't stick your packer.

I live by it when brewing and it has not failed me yet.