Search found 40 matches

by Rude Boy
Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:42 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Grinding advice
Replies: 29
Views: 5458

Re: Grinding advice

mash rookie wrote:How many do I have to do before I can drop the "Rookie" from my handle?
I like to think of myself as a mash maverick, but I'm probably more of a mash murderer
by Rude Boy
Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:29 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Barley - malted vs. unmalted
Replies: 13
Views: 9414

Re: Barley - malted vs. unmalted

Sounds about right, although I've never tried UJSSM so I can't really advise you there. Mould could be the culprit, I lost a lot of grain to mould. I couldn't say whether or not the stuff I finished had any mould - I assume as I never saw any that there wasn't, but who knows - right towards the end ...
by Rude Boy
Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:59 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Grinding advice
Replies: 29
Views: 5458

Re: Grinding advice

MR, are you planning on lautering/sparging your mash? I do because I use an electric element to run my still which I've read would burn the grains causing off flavours. If you still with an electric element, you'll want plenty of larger grain pieces and grain hulls in your mash so you can lauter/spa...
by Rude Boy
Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:17 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: A YouTube Mash Video
Replies: 6
Views: 2272

Re: A YouTube Mash Video

I didn't know you could use a tin of malt extract in place of cracked malt. I would have thought that the enzymes in the malt would be destroyed as the malt would be boiled to reduce it to a syrup.
by Rude Boy
Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:47 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Barley - malted vs. unmalted
Replies: 13
Views: 9414

Re: Barley - malted vs. unmalted

I've malted a coupla 40kg sacks of raw barley horse feed recently as it works out as twice as cheap as malt from the brew shop. I probably lost half the total barley to the learning process, but anyhow.... I've made few few batches of wash with this stuff so far, and the end result is... well - ther...
by Rude Boy
Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:21 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: Grinding advice
Replies: 29
Views: 5458

Re: Grinding advice

you can find videos on youtube of people showing you how to make a grain-mill out of a counter top pasta maker. I made one and it works so-so (real slow and noisy) when powered by an electric drill. I found an electric stone mill in a junk shop which is just as slow, but easier to use and haven't lo...
by Rude Boy
Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:42 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Plastic rings inside ball valves
Replies: 4
Views: 864

Re: Plastic rings inside ball valves

Awesome, many thanks MM :ebiggrin:
by Rude Boy
Wed Jan 26, 2011 9:25 pm
Forum: Still Related Hardware
Topic: Plastic rings inside ball valves
Replies: 4
Views: 864

Plastic rings inside ball valves

Before I created this post, I searched 'ball valve plastic' and didn't find this question already covered, and I opologise if it has been and I'm just useless at searching this site. I was just admiring the SS ball valve that I have recently acquired and on closer inspection I notice it has plastic ...
by Rude Boy
Tue Dec 21, 2010 5:51 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Ideas for my next upgrade.
Replies: 8
Views: 1620

Re: Ideas for my next upgrade.

I tend to agree with Ayay, I would keep it simple (one valve). Fewer things to worry about and analyze during the run. The two needle valves are intended to be used one at a time, either with the lower one closed with the upper one controlling tak-off for LM, or with the upper one fully open and th...
by Rude Boy
Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:03 am
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Ideas for my next upgrade.
Replies: 8
Views: 1620

Re: Ideas for my next upgrade.

If your going to build the condensor like that, why not put a simple cold finger down the middle instead of a closed piple. Thats what I have on my VM, its called a gloved coldfinger and works really well and no need to wind coils and you will effiectively double your cooling surface area. Yeah, I ...
by Rude Boy
Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:16 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: Ideas for my next upgrade.
Replies: 8
Views: 1620

Ideas for my next upgrade.

Long-time lurker, I'm preparing to build... I want a head where I can experiment and learn about VM, LM and now that I've seen a few pics, why not RLM too? As I don't have the luxury of a workshop I want it as easy and affordable to make as possible (1/4" tubing is pricey for me). This is why i...
by Rude Boy
Sun Dec 12, 2010 6:47 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

Check out my photobucket link in my new and improved signature. just to give you guys an idea of my mickey mouse improvised techniques. Aside from malting more feed, I'm currently about 70% off finishing an electric keg boiler which I plan on using as a tun/wort boiler/still kettle. I'll keep adding...
by Rude Boy
Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:19 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

How about fijoa? Not sure if its native but it would frment great! and tastes amazing. I once had a vodka mixed with fijoa pulp. mmmmm I always make a batch of Feijoa cider every winter, and if the wort goes south, I strip it to make feijoa schnapps. Awful stuff before you add the sugar, great once...
by Rude Boy
Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:12 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Potato starch -> sugar (Amylase or pressure cooker)
Replies: 14
Views: 10383

Re: Potato starch -> sugar (Amylase or pressure cooker)

So can anyone tell me if a pressure cooker will work to convert potato starch to fermentable sugar?
by Rude Boy
Sun Jul 18, 2010 4:20 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Potato starch -> sugar (Amylase or pressure cooker)
Replies: 14
Views: 10383

Re: Potato starch -> sugar (Amylase or pressure cooker)

There's an asian food market down the road from me that sells potato starch in bulk at around $6 a kilo. Anyone heard of or tried using this stuff? I'm also interested to know if a pressure cooker can be used to hydrolyze starches, as amalayse has been impossible for me to track down here in NZ (I b...
by Rude Boy
Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:13 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

If there's a Binn Inn anywhere near, the sell some pretty cheap malt extract - $5.50 per kilo. Just put 18kg Binn Inn malt in a wheelie bin with about 120L water and 500g bakers yeast. Looking forward to a big run real soon. Thanks for the horopito pic KS, I got a mate who does revegation landscapin...
by Rude Boy
Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:05 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Ginger Brandy
Replies: 12
Views: 4497

Re: Ginger Brandy

Update on the EC1118 ginger beer: After watching the thing bubble slowly for a coupla months without showing any signs of stopping, I decided it would be a good candidate to put into a BeerSphere (plastic pressurized keg) so it's slow but steady production of CO2 would keep it always fizzy and well ...
by Rude Boy
Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:40 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: You know you are a Shiner when…
Replies: 365
Views: 48106

Re: You know you are a Shiner when…

I'm the candyman.
I can't wait to use that one, KS.
by Rude Boy
Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:39 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

Haven't seen any dimmers that rate higher than 300W here, on eBay I've seen 1KW light dimmers - still not enough. Lemme know how much your outlay is if you get something made.
by Rude Boy
Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:55 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

I'm chronically broke at the moment, so sourcing all the ingredients for my bitters will have to go on the back burner. I did find a good link on one of the threads here to a place that has reasonable looking prices and international shipping: http://botanical.com/ . They have pretty much everything...
by Rude Boy
Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:38 am
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: Cheapest wort - new guy question
Replies: 20
Views: 2242

Re: Cheapest wort - new guy question

An old recipe for ginger beer has you add sultanas or raisins, which I think is the source of yeast, but I notice that the ginger beer never produces much alcohol. Not sure if the yeast in the sultanas is the same every time tho. I was under the impression that most wild yeasts don't give you optima...
by Rude Boy
Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:22 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Ginger Brandy
Replies: 12
Views: 4497

Re: Ginger Brandy

I had relative success with stilling a batch of ginger beer that turned out less than delicious. I don't like sugary drinks much, but I found myself adding about 2 or 3 tablespoons of sugar to this stuff to get it tasting nice. The ginger in my ginger beer recipe is the dried ground stuff from the s...
by Rude Boy
Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:07 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: vinegar?
Replies: 22
Views: 8553

Re: vinegar?

The vinegar itself has a higher boiling point than water, so it's never going to carry over. As for other chemicals caused by this ethanol oxidation, I wouldn't know, but I do know I've made great vodka from vinegary washes and have since become very blasé about preventing it in my washes (and in ot...
by Rude Boy
Sun May 24, 2009 1:21 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

I can still get Maltexo at the super market. It's in the fitness foods/energy bar section. I used to love eating that stuff when I was a kid. It's about $10.50 for a 1.5 Kg tin, so it works out about $5 cheaper than the malt in the brew store. Just make sure you don't get the Matexo Plus stuff, whic...
by Rude Boy
Mon May 18, 2009 6:43 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

ok then, an update then on the feijoa buisness: Of the two feijoa wine/washes that I mentioned earlier, the first one went vinegar on me, and so nominated itself to become feijoa schnapps instead of wine. I threw it in the kettle and ran it as a pot still. First run to strip - and man was the smell ...
by Rude Boy
Wed May 06, 2009 7:24 pm
Forum: Materials Safety
Topic: Ethyl Carbamate and copper reaction
Replies: 31
Views: 13754

Re: Ethyl Carbamate and copper reaction

you dont want to fully bleach the copper like this after every run. the golden color is called a patina and is beneficial. having shiny copper will give off metallic tastes. after each run just pour some of the hot backset left in the still through the copper then rinse with water. it is hot and ac...
by Rude Boy
Tue May 05, 2009 2:32 am
Forum: Materials Safety
Topic: Ethyl Carbamate and copper reaction
Replies: 31
Views: 13754

Re: Ethyl Carbamate and copper reaction

It now can not be removed by simple water flush. Should I treat it by an acid (eg. citron + H2O2) and clean the surface to raw copper? I am affraid about mesh, because several such a cleaning could destroy it. I note that some guys on this site clean their copper with salt dissolved in vinegar. Aft...
by Rude Boy
Tue May 05, 2009 1:09 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

I think the sodium meta' wasn't necessary anyhow, as boiling it should kill any bugs in the pulp.
by Rude Boy
Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:30 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

Someone I know knows a friend that needs to get them off their lawn out in the country somewhere. Stroke of luck. It seems every autumn there's always someone giving away bags of them to their crafty friends for jams and such. You wanna put the word out with your friends/neighbours.
by Rude Boy
Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:31 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: NZ Made
Replies: 75
Views: 20248

Re: NZ Made

hmmm feijoa rum... that might not be half bad. one of my fav drinks is a feijoa mojito. I have 25kg of molasses sitting around, I might try 2kg of that, 1kg of brown sugar, then blended feijoas and pectin. I bet that is going to smell absolutely awful while fermenting... what part of NZ are you in ...