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HOMEBREW Digest #0222
HOMEBREW Digest #222 Tue 08 August 1989
FORUM ON BEER, HOMEBREWING, AND RELATED ISSUES
Rob Gardner, Digest Coordinator
Contents:
Connecticut Brewers (Joseph Palladino)
Taking homebrew into Canada (Jonathan Corbet)
Honey in beer (dw)
Bottle Question (James Kolasa)
Re: Steam Beer (Michael Eldredge)
source for glycerol, aseptic technique henchal@wrair-emh1.army.mil
re: yeast culturing (Darryl Richman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 89 13:51:09 EDT
From: palladin@moore.seas.upenn.edu (Joseph Palladino)
Subject: Connecticut Brewers
Can anyone recommend any homebrew shops, clubs, brewpubs or
liquor stores (I suppose I should now call them "Package Stores")
that have a wide selection of beers in the Hartford Connecticut
area? I would be very happy to get e-mail and can summarize if
there's an interest. I would also be happy to recommend a GREAT
homebrew supply shop in Philadelphia if anyone's interested. They
do mail orders and have a free catalog.
Thanks!
Joe Palladino
palladin@trincc.bitnet (after August 15)
palladin@moore.seas.upenn.edu (before August 15)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 89 12:57:39 MDT
From: corbet@stout.UCAR.EDU (Jonathan Corbet)
Subject: Taking homebrew into Canada
I'm about to go visit some friends on Montreal, and I would really like to
take a few samples of my beer with me. Does anybody out there know what the
rules are regarding this sort of thing? Is it legal it all? What are the
limits on quantity if it is?
Thanks for any help you may have!
Jonathan Corbet
National Center for Atmospheric Research, Field Observing Facility
corbet@stout.ucar.edu
------------------------------
Date: 7 Aug 89 11:03:55 EDT (Monday)
From: dw <Wegeng.Henr@Xerox.COM>
Subject: Honey in beer
>Does anyone out there have experience with using honey as an adjunct...
>I am making a wheat beer and someone suggested adding 2-3 pounds of honey
>for a 5.5 gallon batch... My final specific gravity was 1.089!!!... Will
>this be any good?
Sounds like you're starting to worry, and we all know what homebrewers say
about that...
I've used honey in small quantities (2 pounds) as an adjunct when I want to
produce a lighter style beer. Note that this is in combination with a can
of light malt extract syrup (the honey replaces a portion of the malt
extract in a typical recipe). I've had very good results with this (and by
adding some ginger it's an even better brew!). Note that honey ferments out
almost completely, and adds a light subtle flavor that is easily
overwhelmed by the malt flavor.
A specific gravity of 1.089 is closer to wine than most beers, so you'll
probably end up with a beer that contains a lot of alcohol. Dependsing on
the other ingredients in the brew, it may turn out quite nice. You may have
to let it age for a longer than usual period, however. If it does turn out
good, please post the recipe!
/Don
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 89 11:38:45 EDT
From: James Kolasa <jkolasa@ms.uky.edu>
Subject: Bottle Question
First of all, thanks to all for the stout recipes. I should be bottling early
next week, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Now if I can just convince my
friends that Michelob Dry is not a great beer....
My bottling question is this: I live in a small apartment that is not very
well heated. When I was brewing last January, I had to ferment/age in my
bedroom, the only room I kept warm. I covered the beer to keep it dark,
but made no provisions for explosions. Looking back, I've begun to worry
about keeping this stuff in a living area. What is an explosion like?
Is it violent? Dangerous? I wasn't too troubled because I was using 16 oz.
returnables, but should I be concerned for my safety and that of others?
What's all this talk about flying shards of glass?!?!?!
Also, along the same lines, has anyone used IBC Root Beer bottles? They are
five cent returnables in some states. Will they hold up?
Thanx,
jk
James Kolasa
902 P.O.T., Univ. of Ky.
Lexington, Ky. 40502-0027
jkolasa@ms.uky.edu {rutgers,uunet}!ukma!jkolasa jkolasa@UKMA.BITNET
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 89 11:03:30 PDT
From: dredge@hitchrack.STANFORD.EDU (Michael Eldredge)
Subject: Re: Steam Beer
--------
> Date: Wed, 26 Jul 89 14:35:53 PDT
> From: hplabs!rutgers!fluke.com!inc (Gary Benson)
> Anyway, right now I'm 24 hours into my first try at a "Steam Beer", and
> wanted to check on something I was told...that this type of beer uses lager
> yeast, but at ale temperatures. Is that correct? Are there other things that
Yes. That is (at least one of) the definitions of "steam beer".
Story being that lagers had become popular in the East, but that the
only way to get ice out here was to bring it around the horn. The
expense lead some brewers to try lagers without the "refrigeration".
A couple of friends and I have been brewing a steam beer for some time
now and think we have a very good recipe. It is based on a recipe
from another contributor (and liquid yeast proponent) Dave Baer.
We've used Red Star Lager Yeast quite successfully. One thing that we
do is use a lot of hops -- about 2.5oz Cascade bittering (in three 30
min. additions) and about 0.5 oz Cascade aromatic. We also prime it
a little more that usual. Both "changes" have been very well received
by those that drink our beers.
> differentiate Steam Beer? What kind of fermentation time am I likely to
> experience -- like ale or like lager? The primary took off like a shot (Red
> Star lager yeast started in 1 cup of wort plus a tablespoon of corn sugar).
> better to just forget the carboy and use a single-stage fermentation?
The one thing that we've noticed about steam fermentation is that
it is very relaxed. The lager yeast working outside its normal
temp range, seem to ferment smoothly. Usually, the second day has
a fair amount of activity and it has fermented out enough for
the 2ndary by the 4th or 5th day. (I FIRMLY believe in 2 stage
fermentation, so I would not switch over). Our steams never get a
big krausen -- nothing like doing a ale in the summer! It can get
up to a couple of inches, but that's it. It exhibits this
behavior no matter how we start the yeast (warm water per the
packet instructions or sterile wort w/ or w/o hops).
Maybe things are a little warm. Steam does like 60-65 degF the best.
We did one this spring during a warm week, fermenting at about
70-72 degF and it was mostly finished by the 3rd day! Zoom.
Michael Eldredge
------------------------------
Date: 7 Aug 89 16:32:00 EST
From: henchal@wrair-emh1.army.mil
Subject: source for glycerol, aseptic technique
1. For those you wanted specific sources for glycerol (glycerine):
Carolina Biological Supply Co.
2700 York Road
Burlington, NC 27215
(919) 584-0381
This company carries a complete line of common scientific equipment
and chemicals. They accept phone orders using Master Charge or
Visa. They also have a California branch, but I don't have that
address.
Thomas Scientific
1-800-345-2103 (Eastern Region)
1-800-345-2102 (Far West Region)
This company accepts phone orders using Master Charge or Visa.
>From Thomas: glycerol, ACS reagent
500 ml bottle
cat# C367-C73
$32.00
2. I don't think that there are any substitutes for good aseptic
technique. One can use an alcohol lamp or propane burner to flame
the lids of jars, but if you are putting your fingers on the
instruments or in the solutions, all bets are off. I consider
germacidal lamps to be generally useless and dangerous. They do
not penetrate surfaces very well, are a burn hazard because of the
UV rays emitted, and are not necessary if some simple rules are
followed.
To prevent contamination, these simple rules apply:
1. Surfaces and equipment should be clean and free of
contamination.
2. Work in an area that is free of drafts and airborne dust or
aerosols.
3. Keep your fingers away from the surfaces or solutions you do
not want contaminated.
4. When transferring liquids, work quickly. Do not leave jars
open to the air for long periods.
Please do not let these rules intimidate you. They are easy to
apply. I am confident that yeast cultivation can be performed by
anyone who wants to learn.
Erik A. Henchal
<Henchal@WRAIR.ARPA>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 89 11:58:53 PDT
From: Darryl Richman <darryl@ism780c.isc.com>
Subject: re: yeast culturing
From: <BROWN%MSUKBS.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
"How do you ensure sterile transfer of cultures? Does flaming the
"lips of the container work well? I have a sort of damp house, which seems to
"harbor lots of lactobacilli. Has anyone used those germicidal lamps with any
"success?
I don't transfer my yeast in the kitchen. I use a bedroom instead. I
spray the area pretty heavily with Lysol. I'm not sure if this useful
or superstition, but I haven't had any problems. I clean bottle tops and
lips with vodka. And I try to make my transfers as quickly as I can.
--Darryl Richman
------------------------------
End of HOMEBREW Digest #222, 08/08/89
