Homebrewing is a hobby filled with tricks and shortcuts to make things a little bit easier. Here is a list of brewing tips that we hope you'll enjoy reading, some of which you may have heard before, others maybe not.
If you have tips of your own and would like to share them with us and everyone else, please send them over using the contact us link at the left or bottom of the page.
Happy Brewing!
If you have tips of your own and would like to share them with us and everyone else, please send them over using the contact us link at the left or bottom of the page.
Happy Brewing!
- Temp Probes - Place wired temp probes, like the kind used in refrigerators and keezers into a mason jar filled with vodka to prevent temp swings and more closely match the temperature of the beer. When using water, add a little Star San and it will need to be replaced less frequently.
- Dental Floss - Non-wax nylon dental floss is easily sanitized and is great for tying dry hop bags closed and suspending them in the fermenter or keg.
- Storing Hops - Store hops in an airtight bag in the freezer to keep them as fresh as possible.
- Prepare Hops - Buy hops in bulk and separate the hop additions the day before for an easier brewday. Use a large-sized pill box from the pharmacy with temporary labels for addition times.
- Clean Stainless Steel - Bar Keepers Friend will clean almost anything stainless steel that won't otherwise come clean.
- Easy Racking - Rack to a keg through the liquid side ball lock to avoid air contact.
- Organize - A fishing tackle box makes a great place to organize keg supplies.
- Prevent Scorching - When brewing BIAB, use a cooling rack in the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
- Save The Stir Bar - Place a magnet on the starter container bottom to keep the stir bar out of the fermenter.
- Mason Jars - Quart mason jars are made of tempered glass and can withstand being heated and cooled repeatedly. They are also very easily sanitized. With screw on, sealeable lids, they are perfect for everything from soaking oak chips in bourbon to rehydrating dry yeast and making premade starters.
- Remove Painted Logos - Remove painted and silkscreened writing on bottles by soaking them in Star San.
- Add A Label - To put your own paper label on a bottle, brush some milk on it and attach. When it's time for removal, water will take it off easily.
- Lose The Old Tubing - Replace tubing every six months. I was terribly guilty of this one. There is no reason to have old, discolored, grody (yes i said grody) tubing to connect the auto siphon or bottling bucket. Don't risk infection...replacing them is not that expensive.
