Search found 7232 matches

by Kev888
Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:26 pm
Forum: Cleaning, Sanitation and Sterilisation
Topic: PBW alternatives
Replies: 23
Views: 10299

Re: PBW alternatives

I never tried the chemlean specifically, but FWIW foaming can be good or terrible depending on the application. In static applications the activity could be helpful in removing dirt, but if a pump is being used then (over and above the annoyance of foaming) the gasses can cause cavitation and damage...
by Kev888
Wed Aug 12, 2020 2:49 pm
Forum: Cleaning, Sanitation and Sterilisation
Topic: Starsan Discontinued ?
Replies: 36
Views: 16413

Re: Starsan Discontinued ?

Yes.. though not the most independent source of information, really. I'm afraid that ever since trying that pH5.2 stuff, which simply didn't work, my faith in taking their claims at face value has not been the very highest. In this case it is harder for me to verify either way. All I can say from fi...
by Kev888
Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:06 am
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Chinese 8mm threads (temperature probe)
Replies: 15
Views: 3500

Re: Chinese 8mm threads (temperature probe)

Knowing chinese threads almost anything is possible, including being out of tolerance (except with each other). The only ones I had were M8 (and yes they rusted too), though they were described only as being 8mm diameter - and a foot note saying allow for 3cm error on all measurements! But there are...
by Kev888
Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:54 am
Forum: Yeast
Topic: Crossmyloof Brewery Dry Yeast
Replies: 99
Views: 42796

Re: Crossmyloof Brewery Dry Yeast

Sounds like its more into APA territory or similar, if there are loads of dry hops. Their PiA kiwi yeast should suit that quite well imo.
by Kev888
Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:13 am
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Your thoughts please Ladies & Gents
Replies: 2
Views: 1293

Re: Your thoughts please Ladies & Gents

Well for me, 60L would be quite sufficient for your brew-length. Thats for full-volume mashing anyway; if you were to sparge or rinse then much smaller would do (I believe the grainfather is noticeably less than 40L for instance). The minimum you could brew would depend on how much wort is outside t...
by Kev888
Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:39 am
Forum: Fermentation
Topic: Optimum Hop Contact Time
Replies: 10
Views: 3330

Re: Optimum Hop Contact Time

Yes, opinion seems headed towards generally shorter times being adequate than was previously thought (in homebrewing). I tend to agree that they can still be effective, though to some extent shorter times are just a preference, not a hard and fast rule, and there are a great many things that affect ...
by Kev888
Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:25 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Hydrometer? Refractometer? Or something better?
Replies: 31
Views: 8913

Re: Hydrometer? Refractometer? Or something better?

Yes, 'better' usually depends on circumstances and objectives, which aren't the same for everyone. Some don't get that but i think most of us do if we actually notice the underlying reasons (which I don't always, so reasserting is rarely a bad thing). The pycnometer is certainly a well proven approa...
by Kev888
Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:44 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Brew in a Bag v All Grain. Difference?
Replies: 9
Views: 3086

Re: Brew in a Bag v All Grain. Difference?

BIAB is simply one form of all-grain brewing, but the amounts of liquor (water) involved can be arranged somewhat differently to many other methods, and the efficiencies might be quite different too, so recipes that try to prescribe these may sometimes list it separately. True (original) BIAB would ...
by Kev888
Fri Jul 03, 2020 8:17 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Hydrometer? Refractometer? Or something better?
Replies: 31
Views: 8913

Re: Hydrometer? Refractometer? Or something better?

The issue I've had with refractometers is not the brix scale or even the effect of alcohol, but how massively they have been affected by wort colour. They're fine with most pale worts of course, but it seems like a different correction factor is needed for almost every shade once getting to things l...
by Kev888
Mon Jun 29, 2020 3:23 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Removeable elements
Replies: 7
Views: 2062

Re: Removeable elements

If you actually need to remove the elements every brew (to get the big filter in/out from below them), then yes - I'd definitely want something extremely reliable or else it might cause more annoyance than it is worth. (If you didn't need to remove them, then I probably wouldn't or at least only ver...
by Kev888
Mon Jun 29, 2020 1:46 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Keg type for a conversation
Replies: 5
Views: 2070

Re: Keg type for a conversation

No worries. I should have mentioned that one other option is to use a coupler and ferment with the spear in. If one removes the one-way valve in the gas side of the coupler (and caps the beer outlet) then a blow-off tube or airlock etc can be fitted to it. There is more gubbins to clean with the spe...
by Kev888
Mon Jun 29, 2020 1:08 pm
Forum: Dispensing
Topic: Pressure Gauge Thread
Replies: 3
Views: 1704

Re: Pressure Gauge Thread

They are certainly BSP. I can't quite recall whether 1/4"BSP or 1/8"BSP but like Lee I seem to think the former. You can check by measuring anyway - if they're 1/4"BSP then the threads will be about 11.5mm inside diameter (or 13mm outside diameter).
by Kev888
Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:53 pm
Forum: Brewing Equipment
Topic: Keg type for a conversation
Replies: 5
Views: 2070

Re: Keg type for a conversation

All my crusader kegs have an inside neck diameter of about 49mm; they're supplied with s-type spears. I've only ever measured one keg that wasn't an s-type and that was the same (though sadly I don't know if it means they all are). S-type seem by far the most common in homebrewing though, partly bec...
by Kev888
Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:00 pm
Forum: Fermentation
Topic: Increasing fermentation temperature? SO4
Replies: 5
Views: 2380

Re: Increasing fermentation temperature? SO4

It goes from fairly clean to a bit more bready as you get towards 20c. But to my taste buds the slightly tart character doesn't come through much until you go warmer. A few people don't get on with its flavour then (or in fact even at any temperature), but it isn't even vaguely something that might ...
by Kev888
Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:17 am
Forum: Fermentation
Topic: Calculating abv
Replies: 6
Views: 2275

Re: Calculating abv

As above, you can guess it based on the difference between apparent OG and predicted FG, plus any priming. The FG can obviously vary quite a lot, depending on the type of yeast and fermentability of the wort, so the accuracy of the ABV prediction will depend on how closely you can predict the FG. Th...