Jim's Beer Kit

I've decided to try brewing smaller batches more often, although maybe thats an excuse to convert my igloo cooler to a new mash tun. I've had one of these floating about for a bit and thought I'd use it http://i.imgur.com/YUDXCjx.jpg First I took off the plastic tap. I thought about keeping it but i...

Well Ikea aren't the most honest people in the world then, the colander advertised as stainless steel is actually tinplated mild steel, As soon as I got it I knew it was wrong, too bright a silver colour for stainless. I checked the mesh, handle and base with a magnet, it stuck to every part. I left...

Thank's fil, must admit I was concerned about the weight of the mash squashing the colander but having seen that this one seems to be made from pierced sheet rather than woven mesh I was hopeful that would give the strength needed, also the curve inwards at the bottom should clear the backnut on the...

Hi I've had one of these drinks coolers hanging around for a while waiting for me to do something with it. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Igloo-5g-Gallon-400-Series-Yellow-Red-beverage-Drinks-Ice-cooler-New-16450-/222315499969?hash=item33c30951c1:g:P04AAOxyl5lSJn1p Now I've decided to brew on a smaller s...

I strongly recommend benb's heating cable mentioned above, from Bulgaria. I've been using this for about a year+. I cable tied it to the underside of the wire shelf in the fridge, when on its about 80c max but the wire shelf helps dissipate the heat. No problems with it, it gives a nice even heat sp...

You did have the door or a window open while you brewed didn't you? If you're sucking 210m3 per hour out of the shed then you have to let the same amount back in from somewhere else. My mini extractor fans work brilliantly when the door is open a bit but not at all when the door is shut. I have 4x 1...

I use an immersion chiller, and I've never used a plate chiller so I can only comment on the first. For me it works very well but it does really need me to stay with it to keep stirring the wort so I avoid hot and cold spots. When the wort is cool cleaning it is easy, a quick blast from the garden h...

Toolstation is where I got mine
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p39197
Or
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p66154
Depending on whether you want make or female fittings
Hth

Just been ferreting around, interestingly this plug ( http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1914952.pdf ) is rated at;
10A/250v 50Hz IEC but also at
15A/250V 60Hz UL/CSA.
It has different order codes for differing conductor sizes so presumably slightly meatier?

The C15's in the link are rated for 10A but have a 13A fuse, the 1mm wire is penny pinching really, they could just as easily fit 1.5mm wire to allow the full 13a. Any element above 2400w will draw more than 10A, the fuse won't blow but 1.00mm wiring will start to get warm, that's likely the reason...

The C15's in the link are rated for 10A but have a 13A fuse, the 1mm wire is penny pinching really, they could just as easily fit 1.5mm wire to allow the full 13a. Any element above 2400w will draw more than 10A, the fuse won't blow but 1.00mm wiring will start to get warm, that's likely the reason ...

Progress: I decanted a hydrometer jar full of wort and added wine yeast- not a hint of further fermentation so I guess the sugars have gone, a quick taste showed it was fully fermented. The taste was very rich and smooth initially, like a double cream, really thick, then the hops and high roast barl...

Haven't tasted it yet padalac, only my second ris and the last one finished in the high 20,s so I guess it's OK. Next question - has it finished high because there's only unfermentable sugars left, or because the yeast gave up? I'm thinking about the conditioning now, I'd like to get some fizz into ...

How long do you leave the beer in the bottle?. When I began brewing I too found it almost impossible to get a good head, after advice here I began adding oats to my mash and then letting the beer condition for at least 6 weeks. Whichever it was I now get a decent creamy long lasting head on the beer...

Interesting ! Thanks for the suggestions I've upped the fermentation temp to 22.5c to see if that'll do anything. Ive got a couple of other yeasts I might try, some SO4 and SO5 as i have them to hand but I'll need to check what they can cope with first. Still, no rush, my last (and first) RIS has no...