Homebrewing Hacks

[Celiacbrew]

We should really start a HomeBrew Hacks thread and make it a sticky

At Brian's suggestion I started a homebrew hacks thread. There is a whole section for larger DIY projects, this would be more the little things that make brewing easier.

- Bottle over your dishwasher to catch the drips.
- Use a length of tubing to run from the bucket's spigot to the bottling wand so that you are moving the wand around and not lifting bottles up and holding them and ditch the spigots that Noble Grape sells that you stick the wand into. Get one that you attach with tubing over the wand and over the tip of the spigot.
- Stirbars are usually boilable so if you need your starter at pitching temps quickly, drop in your stir bar during the boil and then put the flask in a bucket/tub of ice water. Put the bucket or tub on your stirplate and the wort will cool off very quickly.
- And just because this wasn't obvious to me, use a magnet to remove your stirbar before you pitch your starter into your fermentor.

[akr71]

To give credit where deserved, Jeff Smith pointed this one out to me...

Mix your StarSan in a spray bottle and spray any equipment that needs sanitizing. You use a whole lot less and get better coverage as a result.

[Keith]

Use a large paint strainer bag to cover your wort during cooling to keep the bugs out, also works for when you are transferring to your keg.

[dexter]

Quick and easy way to wash the crud off the top of a carboy, fill it with PBW and water p, cover a bung with ceran wrap stick it in turn it upside down and wait over night, easier and cheaper than filling. The whole thing.

[jacinthebox]

I use a Auto Siphon when racking...I attach about 3' of hose to the siphon, and attach a racking cane to the other end of the hose.
I find it cuts down on splashing during transfer

[Houblon34]

Quick and easy way to wash the crud off the top of a carboy, fill it with PBW and water p, cover a bung with ceran wrap stick it in turn it upside down and wait over night, easier and cheaper than filling. The whole thing.

Similarly, if you fill a full carboy with PBW and water, don't throw away that mixture after one carboy only. Siphon it all in a second carboy and let it sit for another 24h, then siphon it again to a third carboy, ... Just make sure to rinse well when done.

Also, you don't always need 5 gallons of StarSan. You can use 1/4 oz in 5 litres of water instead, that way your SS bottle will last much longer. Refill your spray bottle with fresh SS before throwing the rest away.

[LiverDance]

I use a wall paper tray to soak my auto siphon and racking canes in for cleaning

[LeafMan66_67]

I use a wall paper tray to soak my auto siphon and racking canes in for cleaning

Yes - this works great.

[Juniper Hill]

Quick and easy way to wash the crud off the top of a carboy, fill it with PBW and water p, cover a bung with ceran wrap stick it in turn it upside down and wait over night, easier and cheaper than filling. The whole thing.

That makes sooo much sense. Can't believe I never thought of it!

Great idea for a thread BTW!

[RobD]

You can also use the cap off of 19L water cooler jug instead of the bung with ceran wrap. They fit perfectly on a regular carboy and Better Bottles.

Quick and easy way to wash the crud off the top of a carboy, fill it with PBW and water p, cover a bung with ceran wrap stick it in turn it upside down and wait over night, easier and cheaper than filling. The whole thing.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

You can also use the cap off of 19L water cooler jug instead of the bung with ceran wrap. They fit perfectly on a regular carboy and Better Bottles.

Quick and easy way to wash the crud off the top of a carboy, fill it with PBW and water p, cover a bung with ceran wrap stick it in turn it upside down and wait over night, easier and cheaper than filling. The whole thing.

You can use the same handy trick to dispense beer from a carboy in your work water dispenser

[LeafMan66_67]

The widemouth fermenters are great, but the airlock assembly that comes with them evaporates way too fast. Try a universal bung, flipped over and threaded on the wide mouth cover. Makes a great seal and allows you to use your favorite airlock.

Learned this one from Mumblecrunch.

[Keith]

Beer guns make bottling simple and not quite as much of a chore. Also allows you to completely purge O2 out of the bottle providing better shelf life.
As I know not everyone has a beer gun.

Hack. Take a Ball lock gas disconnect and remove the pin that stops gas flow, connect to a on\off valve and purge oxygen from your bottles, fill as per normal, then purge the head space and seal your bottle. Bit of extra work, but will increase your beer shelf life.