What (are the 10 items) you wish you had when you started brewing and keg dispensing? PART 1
10 Thangs Thats Be Gooder if Use Gots Thems.
Whether I’m working in the retail shop, answering phones in the Sales Team or replying to people online, I answer a lot of equipment questions from our customers.
From new brewers to new kegerator owners I get the asked the same question often, which is:
Product comparisons, is giving your opposition air time a good or a bad thing?
Your company's website and social media is prime real estate to showcase your company and your products, so we really need to ask ourselves if it's right to give your opposition a space on your prime real estate when doing product comparisons.
When trying to educate a customer base who now has access to all media possible, it's not necessarily a bad idea to produce carefully worded marketing material that will help customer understand the difference between your star product and the opposition's.
Let your own company write the story, don't give your opposition a chance to make your star look bad.
I am new to pressure fermenting, what is the recommended pressure for fermenting?
Pressure fermentation allows for the suppression of some yeast ester formations. This means that the esters that would have been produced at higher temperatures can be supressed so temperatures can be raised to speed the fermentation process. We feel that the sweet spot for LAGER (spelled LARGER on most homebrew forums) fermentation is somewhere around 15psi or 1bar of pressure to help the beer remain crisp and help suppress the two no no’s in crisp lager which are banana and clove esters!
Higher pressures can be damaging to the yeast’s cell walls.
Ale fermentation, in general, seeks to nurture ester production so by keeping the pressure low, around 8 to 10psi, you’ll have virtually no detectable difference in flavour unless you’ve got a palate as sensitive as a gas spectrometer.
Is it easy to get into brewing and pressure fermenting?
Apollo is the highest evolution of the PET Pressure Fermenters and unitanks available in the world. Our PET tanks are the strongest in the world thanks to our patented Australian Made manufacturing process that ensures every single tank is individually pressure tested before sale. The handles on all Apollo tanks are strong enough to lift with even when the tanks are full of liquid and the stainless steel frames make it simple to orient your tank wherever you require.
With our unique design and built in ergonomic handles, Apollo is stronger and easy to carry around.
What is the thermowell for?
The Termowell is a hollow, food grade stainless steel tube, that is closed at the bottom and in which you can insert the temperatur probe of your temperatur controller. Controlling your fermentation
A big part of homebrewing comes down to what works best for you and also following producers' recommendations. We would encourage you to read instructions before use.
Do I need to rehydrate the yeast before pitching?
Typically, dry yeasts do not need to be rehydrated before use and can be pitched directly into our fermenters. However, some brewers prefer to rehydrate dry yeasts as they think it speeds up the start of fermentation.
How do I rehydrate dry yeast?
To rehydrate yeast, simply add around 300ml of lukewarm water to a sanitised conatainer, and add the content of the packet then cover with a layer of tin foil. You will notice that after an hour or so, the yeast will start to buble and activate.
You will need to open the tin and warm it up gently in a pot of water to help liquify all the malt goodness. Once the content seems runny enough, it is reday to transfer to your pot or fermenter.
How many tins do I need?
Most recipes call for 1 tin however the world is your oyster and you can experiment with 2 or even 3 tins! we recommend you take a look at our recommend tin or Kit & Kilo recipes.
Storage
How do I store my tin?
Similarly to all other food tins, in a dark and dry place such as a regular food pantry.
How long can I store my tin for before usage?
Every tin will have a best by use date on the bottom or top of the tin.
My tin has passed its best by use date, what do I do now?
Most people will discard the tin however some warriors have used them in the past and lived to tell the tale. There will be loss of flavour
Hops are the female flowers of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus). They are used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, and aroma to beer.
How do I use hops in brewing?
Hops can be used at different stages of the brewing process. They can be added during the boil to impart bitterness, added toward the end of the boil for flavor and aroma, and used for dry hopping during fermentation to enhance aroma.
How much hops should I use in my beer?
The amount of hops to use depends on various factors such as the beer style, desired bitterness, and hop characteristics. Recipes typically specify the amount of hops to use, but you can also experiment and adjust according to your taste preferences.
How do I measure hops?
Hops are typically measured in weight, usually in grams or ounces. A digital scale is a useful tool for accurately