" Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
Absolutely no idea.. was just something I am pretty sure I picked up from screwfix. Maybe its the sanitizer you use? I swear by Iodophor and I sanitise before and after using it. Still have loads left I bought sometime ago from belgium. I believe it cant be used on stainless. Perhaps other sanitizers are no good for stainless? And perhaps its kind to paint .. I have no idea.. Food for thought maybe,
Another thought crossed my mind.. There are different types of stainless.. I doubt a stainless mixer is food grade even though it has to deal with acids in plaster. Or am I going off on a tangent here.. The stout is starting to work its magic on me as I try to type this..lol.
I also make wine and have what they call a Whizz Stick which does the same thing but used to degass wine. Basically a stainless rod with two paddles bolted to the end that fold up to enable it to go in the neck of a 25 liter carboy then the paddles drop down. fixed into a drill and voila.. Mind you they cost compared to a cheap plasterers paddle. There is a website called Brouland based in Belgium . Good site to look at for Equipment ideas. They sell anything from crown caps to £20 000 micro breweries, bottling lines and shedloads of other stuff.. If i won the lottery ...............
Another thought crossed my mind.. There are different types of stainless.. I doubt a stainless mixer is food grade even though it has to deal with acids in plaster. Or am I going off on a tangent here.. The stout is starting to work its magic on me as I try to type this..lol.
I also make wine and have what they call a Whizz Stick which does the same thing but used to degass wine. Basically a stainless rod with two paddles bolted to the end that fold up to enable it to go in the neck of a 25 liter carboy then the paddles drop down. fixed into a drill and voila.. Mind you they cost compared to a cheap plasterers paddle. There is a website called Brouland based in Belgium . Good site to look at for Equipment ideas. They sell anything from crown caps to £20 000 micro breweries, bottling lines and shedloads of other stuff.. If i won the lottery ...............
Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
Oops i just read that you use Iodophor too.. So I am clueless. Perhaps need to view the paddle as a disposable and buy a new one after X amount of brews?
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Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
I certainly see no reason to consider getting rid of my paddle, any time soon. And, yeppers; I use Iodophor on both my paddle and the top of the freezer. That's where I put anything I want 'kept safe' for a minute. Can Opener. Rubber gauntlets. Sh!t like that.
Point is; It's never effected the paint on the freezer. Nor the (thinly) 'chrome' plated paddle.
Now; Thin bleach solution? While I suspect that'd do my freezer / work top no end of good; I wouldn't leave my paddle soaking in it. I can't help but suspect that's where the rust came from in the first place.
In amongst it myself right now. I feel we're probing our way towards 'Something', here. Trouble is; Let the Dogs out. Good draught of fresh air. Probably wander back in here with a head full of cotton wool and find that secret of the universe finding turn of mind has turned and ran! Over the top we go .....
Point is; It's never effected the paint on the freezer. Nor the (thinly) 'chrome' plated paddle.
Now; Thin bleach solution? While I suspect that'd do my freezer / work top no end of good; I wouldn't leave my paddle soaking in it. I can't help but suspect that's where the rust came from in the first place.
In amongst it myself right now. I feel we're probing our way towards 'Something', here. Trouble is; Let the Dogs out. Good draught of fresh air. Probably wander back in here with a head full of cotton wool and find that secret of the universe finding turn of mind has turned and ran! Over the top we go .....

Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
I still cant get my head around using bleach as a cleaner or sanitizer on anything other than my toilet. I am a lazy bstard and the less rinsing etc I have to do the better which brings us nicely back to the paddle. thats why I started using it in the first place. It was only later when I discovered this site that I realised I was not alone. I will have a word with my older sister who is a food scientist (apart from being annoying she does have her uses) and see if she can enlighten me. I will keep you posted. I am super pissed off twiddling my thumbs because the bloody HB company failed to deliver my goodies (as promised) for the 5 brews I was going to do this weekend.. I hate being b/sh1tted to. i live in the middle of nowhere and nearest HB shop is a gazillion miles away and my money has naturally been taken from my card instantly so i'm screwed. Anyone playing a violin will be cursed forever..lol
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Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....

But, anyway, yeah; That effectively means a four day black hole for the post. I can appreciate this, because I finished reading my latest Andrew Vachss book last night. More are in the post / limbo.
At least I can get amongst my stuff my Tuesday.
Bleach? Dunno. It's funny; I trust Iodofor for my spinner and work tops, look. Just can't bring myself to 'risk it' with my plastic. I guess I'm just ingrained with that good, powerful smell of bleach assuring me that the job's a good'n. And, as for rinsing? In the shower with the power nozzled hoze on them. No great chore.
Admittedly; A swift pish with a spray bottle and getting on with it would be a god send ~ I too being a famously, inveterately lazy bastard. But, 1/3 of a tea spoon? Or all that jiggery pokery with Star San? Naah. I don't like Chemistry Classes. I just sling some more cheap bleach in till it stinks. Know where I stand then

Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
Yup pretty miffed at losing these four days especially with the weather turning colder. I dont brew in the summer because its easier to heat a room than keep it cool at a constant temperature. i still think we need a name and shame and a name and praise board for the HB shops. Provided any negative comment is legit I cant see there being a legal problem.
Never thought of using the shower.. aah the simplest ideas are the best as they say. I think you might just have helped me piss off the missus even more when I am having a brew day..lol
Never thought of using the shower.. aah the simplest ideas are the best as they say. I think you might just have helped me piss off the missus even more when I am having a brew day..lol
Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
not been on here for a while as i have been off the sauce so to speak. anyway i was down my lockup the other day tiding up and come across a fair few bottles of this magical brew that are dated 10-05-10 so i thought what the hell i'll have a cppl of those. well well well, all i can say is it matures lovely.
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Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
bevvy_merchant wrote:10-05-10

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Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
ohhh can you imagine the taste of that ditch?
i bet thats lush
i bet thats lush
lifes what you make it!
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Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
Don't know if I can imagine it, to be honest with ye. Two years? My stuff's never lasted two Months!
Saying that; I gave a keg to a mate of mine, before xmass. He's not a great beer drinker. Couple of pints a night do him (Though he'd happily do a couple of pints of spirits!). Mentioned to me, the other day; It's down to about the last four pints and it still tastes fine! And that's in an unprimed, ungassed BK!
Saying that; I gave a keg to a mate of mine, before xmass. He's not a great beer drinker. Couple of pints a night do him (Though he'd happily do a couple of pints of spirits!). Mentioned to me, the other day; It's down to about the last four pints and it still tastes fine! And that's in an unprimed, ungassed BK!

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Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
Never lasts more than a month round here jedi master/ senseiDitch wrote:Don't know if I can imagine it, to be honest with ye. Two years? My stuff's never lasted two Months"
Just practising!! You know the score

Just like trying new ideas!
Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
i'm no good at describing the subtle tones of beer like those poncy wine tasters but here goes. pouring it into a glass gives a nice tight dark creamy head. first mouthfull you get a nice barley sugar taste this is followed by a full 'old peculier' brew taste until you swallow which then leaves you with a nice just off bitter tasting hop flavour which lingers for a considerable time the next gulp of brew starts off with the sweet barley mixed with the hop after taste so and so on till the bottle is finished at which point i crack another open and repeat. if i were to say what comercial brew it tastes like i would say a mix of McEwan's No1 and Old Peculier but without that nasty too bitter aftertaste of the No1.
i have had one duff bottle so far.
i also discovered that i have a lot of bottles left from the last brew i made which was a very disappointing Geordie Export (bottled on 17-05-10) but yet have not sampled it but the last time i did (about 4mts after it was brewed) it was horrid so i'm looking forward to trying that.
i have had one duff bottle so far.
i also discovered that i have a lot of bottles left from the last brew i made which was a very disappointing Geordie Export (bottled on 17-05-10) but yet have not sampled it but the last time i did (about 4mts after it was brewed) it was horrid so i'm looking forward to trying that.
Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
Although I may not ever make this exact stout (I will put mine in a corny and c02 it), last night I read all of the 38 pages of posts, finishing around 3am this morning. I just couldn't stop myself reading; going to the next humorous anecdote of Ditch's. He uses the English language. Control at a whim.
Not just a masterclass of brewing Ditch's stout but of pulling people in, to read with rapture and encouraging many to add to the subject.
I salute you Sir.
Not just a masterclass of brewing Ditch's stout but of pulling people in, to read with rapture and encouraging many to add to the subject.
I salute you Sir.
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Re: " Ditch's Stout " Master Class .....
