Jim's Beer Kit

I have two mash tuns and use braid on one and copper on the other. The copper is from an old hot water feed to a dishwasher, small diameter, soft tubing with a brazillian holes drilled in the underside.
I get 78-80% efficiency with the braid and 85+% with the copper.

I just finished using it through 4 brews. Very good yeast. Started it in a 2L bottle using 100g for 1000ml. Kicked off in less than a day.

I think you may have a case of "hypercritical about your own beer".
I'm never completely satisfied with mine. I am justified in my criticism however, when I forget the camden tablets.

My holes are drilled into the bottom of the manifold not the top. When I did that my efficiencies jumped.
Perhaps some rice hulls to add more filtration?

Great job! I love Simcoe is becoming a new favorite of mine.
Sounds like you need to get into casking

Very interesting indeed. Perhaps the hops were a bit old and lost some kick?
Do you know the dates that the hops were bagged or bought?

Another recommendation for Colin Farrah. They deciphered a drawing I sent them and helped me out, even though they were not going to benefit from their guidance.

BYO Magazine did a study on adding different yeast together and commenting on the results. I recall it was mostly adding dry to the "first" yeast. Just looked it up and the article is in the December '09 issue, which unfortunately is not online. I'll try to dig up the article and scan it for you. In...

There's something else that is made by collecting and cooling the condensate. Not legal in most parts of the world.....

Maybe its more of a crutch to me. However, when I don't use it my efficiency drops by about 5%. I really don't measure, just dump what should be a tablespoon into my palm.

I hope the beer turns out well. I truly appreciate the extra effort on the costume with the farmer tan.
Didn't you just love the smell and sound of those gas burners!

OK, now my head really hurts for a Friday morning. There was a reason I struggled through Chemical Eng. classes.
I use 5.2ph stabilizer from StarSan and sometimes add a teaspoon of salt to the mash.

Scotty Mc wrote:... and it will have a drip-tray inside the chimney to catch any condensate which can be drained off.

Just what might you be boiling and doing with the condensate?

Wish I could offer some advice, but the basement needs warming no matter the season.

I'm going to suggest a different possibility. How's your fermentation temperature? When I ferment too low I get a slight "dirt" taste. I'm assuming it may be close to your "musty earthy taste".
Doesn't explain the bottles tasting different, though.