Jim's Beer Kit

One issue I do have is with my 2L flask - it seems to have a base which isn't flat and unless I am super-careful, the magenetic stirrer spins off the centre of the base and lands (not stirring) at the side. Maybe I bought a flask which is too cheap? Anyone else have similar issues? Would a differen...

Can anyone tell me what thread is needed to screw on a hose adapter to coper tube. I assume it is 22mm diameter, but is it possoble to buy the threaded part to solder on a hose adapter. Cheers. It depends entirely on the diameter of your tube and the thread of your hose connector; there are differe...

The odd scratch or two isn't usually a problem, but the more scratched they become the less easy to clean and sterilise to the same standards. TBH I've never had any problems with even quite old buckets, so I think the impact can be overstated 'if' your cleaning and disinfecting regimes are high qua...

In the past I've seen gauges with a 3/8" diameter plain stem that could simply be fitted into the gas line using a push-fit tee, though I can't immediately see any of those on ebay, perhaps having a search around for such things would make your job simpler. The threaded type of gauge are much more c...

Yes agreed Dave, unless there are any special circumstances for more, which don't immediately come to mind. Personally I only add a few ppm and even that is just making doubly sure, as there will likely already be enough. Magnesium Sulphate works out very cheaply in those quantities, even for food g...

It has probably been 15-20years since I bought a new cool box for mashing in, but even then all the basic ones were exactly as you describe - only the flat sections had thin polystyrene insulation sheets between the walls, none of the corners and few of the lids had anything between them other than ...

Ah I understand better now, yes it seems worth a go. It sounds like decent power might be very much more preferable to you, for the HLT side of things so if a better supply can be arranged than great. If not though, then I'd bet you could manage well enough, you've probably got enough power for at l...

Yes we do disagree (to some extent anyway) on these kinds of subjects, but of course that isn't unusual on a homebrew forum! In case it isn't already clear, it is nothing at all personal; there is a great deal you say that I do agree with and appreciate your contributions to homebrewing. Anyway, I a...

Well.. There is nothing mysterious about line length, it does exactly the same as a flow control; they both cause restriction. So if a flow control works then so will a long narrow line (it just cannot work for one and not the other); both are valid methods. If you have found line lengths count for ...

There is also the human factor, acceptability is not an objective measure. Some would consider an opened pack not worth keeping beyond a few days, others in the exact same situation would keep it for months. The nearest I can suggest to an answer is to smell and taste them to help judge for yourself...

Personally I find it helps to view this kind of thing within the context and purpose that it is being applied to. In many home-brewing cases such subtleties or high accuracy is out the window for a number of reasons, and often unimportant in any case. A lot of uses are also relative rather than abso...

The first thing is to decide how carbonated you want the particular beer to be, this is typically referred to in 'volumes of CO2' as contained within the body of that chart. You can use formulas to work out the priming sugar needed to achieve that, or else you can force carbonate. If you force carbo...

As with so many things, one could do it but it introduces more problems so there would need to be a reason that justified it. Often industry has such reasons of course, but I doubt many homebrew situations would. If I were to hold a wort at say95 degree,sC, for,95 minutes, would I get the same hop e...

Hello, and welcome back! The disconnects shouldn't need replacing unless their inside surface is scratched or their inner poppet perished. They can be taken apart for cleaning though (at least the plastic ones can, I've not had the more recent metal ones yet). Your questions about force carbonating ...

Thats encouraging

I'm sure I heard about them from you originally, too. Thanks