Search found 726 matches

by Matt in Birdham
Thu Dec 24, 2020 12:56 am
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Topsflo pump issues and an electrical question
Replies: 0
Views: 1739

Topsflo pump issues and an electrical question

Hi all, been away form the forum for quite a while, hope you are all keeping well! I had a hiatus from the brewing (and drinking) for a year, but have been driven back to it by current circumstances :) and now have an issue with my Topsflo TD5 (stainless head) pump that I use in my HERMS rig. The is...
by Matt in Birdham
Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:09 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: Hop Growing 2018
Replies: 33
Views: 12856

Re: Hop Growing 2018

Yeah I think they are pretty tough. More than happy with the crop on my Cascade which was literally just a 6 inch piece of rhizome last winter, but I think I will try and disturb the Centennial as little as possible and just dig a massive root-ball around it, slide on to tarp and relocate. Can't be ...
by Matt in Birdham
Tue Aug 21, 2018 9:21 am
Forum: Hops
Topic: Hop Growing 2018
Replies: 33
Views: 12856

Re: Hop Growing 2018

I'm going to resite my Centennial to nearer the Cascade, where I have now built a more effective trellis system for next year. I'm no expert (first year growing) but had a bit of a Google and it seems the way to do it is to wait until winter/dormancy and just dig it up and move it, bringing as much ...
by Matt in Birdham
Sat Aug 18, 2018 8:11 pm
Forum: Brewdays
Topic: AG BIAB #13 POTUS45 Grisette Thing
Replies: 15
Views: 6085

Re: AG BIAB #13 POTUS45 Grisette Thing

Why shouldn't we? Just because we are brewing at home doesn't mean we can't seek to craft the best beer we can. Plus less trub into the FV means less waste when it comes time to package, and an easier time of it. Why be in a race for the bottom just because of the home brewer tag? I'm not sure that...
by Matt in Birdham
Sat Aug 18, 2018 7:28 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: Hop Growing 2018
Replies: 33
Views: 12856

Re: Hop Growing 2018

Update on my hops in West Sussex. Cascade has confounded all of my "first year" expectations and looks like it will give a decent yield - is probably about 5 metres long in total, mostly along the top of a fence: https://s33.postimg.cc/bc56rp3e7/image.png Close up: https://s33.postimg.cc/hd2vp32yn/i...
by Matt in Birdham
Sun May 06, 2018 10:15 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: Hop Growing 2018
Replies: 33
Views: 12856

Re: Hop Growing 2018

Yeah - popular view around the web is that any sort of stall in the first season might not be something to worry about (or it might be). I gave them a liquid feed today just in case it was nutrient deficiency, and will keep them watered and weeded and see how they go. Not much more I can do really -...
by Matt in Birdham
Sun May 06, 2018 9:40 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: Hop Growing 2018
Replies: 33
Views: 12856

Re: Hop Growing 2018

Well my hops seem to have stopped growing! Not much has happened at all for a month now, bar perhaps another 6 inches of slow growth - this after they came barrelling out of the gates and put on a foot or so in the first month that they were above ground. Also lower leaves are yellowing a little aro...
by Matt in Birdham
Sat Apr 07, 2018 10:29 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Campden Tablets
Replies: 11
Views: 3167

Re: Campden Tablets

Not a chemist, but I do remember reading once that the campden/chlorine reaction is very fast, so time shouldn't be an issue. As for hot water from a combi being potable - I think it should be absolutely fine. It is literally coming in the same mains as the cold and getting heated before travelling ...
by Matt in Birdham
Thu Apr 05, 2018 7:54 am
Forum: Hops
Topic: Hop Growing 2018
Replies: 33
Views: 12856

Re: Hop Growing 2018

Quite a forest of Cascade coming up there!
by Matt in Birdham
Wed Apr 04, 2018 1:02 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: Hop Growing 2018
Replies: 33
Views: 12856

Re: Hop Growing 2018

South coast checking in. Here's a pic of my Centennial from this morning - perhaps 6 inches now: https://s7.postimg.org/h2urn6kzf/DSC_0197.jpg I also have a Cascade which is not as far along - about the same stage as your pic, with just a few shoots visible. Good to see both are doing something thou...
by Matt in Birdham
Tue Apr 03, 2018 1:44 pm
Forum: Hops
Topic: First time growing
Replies: 5
Views: 2522

Re: First time growing

Thanks all. I'll let them go for this year and see how things look next year. I know not to expect too much in year 1, but still quietly hoping for at least enough for a brew! (realistic?)
by Matt in Birdham
Thu Mar 29, 2018 11:40 am
Forum: Hops
Topic: First time growing
Replies: 5
Views: 2522

First time growing

Now that we have our own pad (and garden) I've put a couple of hops in; Centennial and Cascade. Thrilled to see both have broken ground recently - pic of the Centennial below: https://s7.postimg.org/6newfh2mj/DSC_0180.jpg This one has 6 shoots at the moment. Can any seasoned growers advise on how ma...
by Matt in Birdham
Fri Jan 12, 2018 8:29 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Carbonating half full kegs
Replies: 13
Views: 3824

Re: Carbonating half full kegs

Agree about the O2 - it is very hard to effectively purge a keg of O2 using CO2. Someone ran the numbers once, and although I won't search for them now suffice to say that you would need to burp at least half a dozen times from decent pressure to make a meaningful dent in the O2. I'm a big advocate ...
by Matt in Birdham
Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:29 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Kegerator in shed
Replies: 9
Views: 2750

Re: Kegerator in shed

Just out of interest why is a problem when its cold? Surely if, for example, its out overnight in winter it'll be plently cold enough anyway and won't need to come on? I don't know the mechanics of it, but you will find ambient temp ranges specified for new fridges. We recently got a new one in the...
by Matt in Birdham
Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:34 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Kegerator in shed
Replies: 9
Views: 2750

Re: Kegerator in shed

I have more trouble with my fermenting fridge in the cold (as Kev mentioned), than I do in the hot. Both fridge and keezer are in an uninsulated shed, although I think about mid thirties is the hottest it has been (and not that often). No real issues with the keezer though and really, what's the wor...