I've hit the plateau

[Beezy]

I feel like there is still a mountain of shit to learn. No plateau in site. I have had water reports and Pittsburgh water seems pretty good. I treat with campden tabs and use stabilizer in my mash. Works well for me. Not to say that isn't valuable knowledge but it seems like a lot of commercial brewery's do very little to their water.

I'd personally like to get more into cultivating yeast. Huge can of worms there. I have got as far as repitching and that's it. Temp control is a matter of money at this point.

[moontractor]

Maybe trying out brewing some different styles of beer, or fucking with some clone recipes of beers you like, might lend some insight into your process, and maybe spark some ideas to improve the beers you already like to brew. At 18 months into brewing, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to think of ANYTHING that might make a better beer!

[BrewMeister Jeff]

Now that I sit here and think about it some, I think this heat wave has a bit to do with it. I'm just not motivated to brew. Maybe I'll keep my brewing self busy by building some sweet electric set up with exhaust fans so I can brew inside year round. Thatd be the life.

I have been brewing inside since 2007. I love it. I have a 12 x 25 room in the basement that the wife and I decided when we bought the house would be my brew area. I am now at a crossroads of spending $200 to get new fans and another $110 for another march pump or going bigger with an all electric system.

[wildwest450]

stabilizer in my mash.

Throw that crap in the trash, it's been proven to be trash by smarter brewers than me.

I am now at a crossroads of spending $200 to get new fans and another $110 for another march pump or going bigger with an all electric system.

Go BIG! I haven't had one regret with electric.

[BrewMeister Jeff]

Go BIG! I haven't had one regret with electric.

I think I will but it will be over the next 6 months to a year. I need to continue to brew so I'll replace the fans now. Hold off on the 2nd March Pump and save some money for an Electric Setup.

[Beezy]

The thing is the stabilizer isn't magically going to fix all waters. It seems to do the trick on Pittsburgh water. I'll leave it out this brew and see what happens. I don't want to put anything in my beer I don't need. I don't even use fining agents most of the time.

[Malmgren]

Maybe trying out brewing some different styles of beer, or fucking with some clone recipes of beers you like, might lend some insight into your process, and maybe spark some ideas to improve the beers you already like to brew. At 18 months into brewing, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to think of ANYTHING that might make a better beer!

I've been brewing since 2008, been AG since about tax time last year

I get what you're saying about different beers and clones. I've done a couple from BYO and messed around with different hop combos and the like, its just not exciting at the moment. I think maybe a change in beer styles wouldnt be a bad idea. The problem with my small town is that there isnt much besides Macros and IPAs to choose from. I need some inspiration as far as beer styles go.

[wildwest450]

The thing is the stabilizer isn't magically going to fix all waters. It seems to do the trick on Pittsburgh water. I'll leave it out this brew and see what happens. I don't want to put anything in my beer I don't need. I don't even use fining agents most of the time.

Do you have a ph meter? That will tell the tale.

[BrewMeister Jeff]

I've been brewing since 2008, been AG since about tax time last year

Have you sent your water sample to Ward Labs? What do you have for equipment? Could you build a temp control unit?

[Malmgren]

Have you sent your water sample to Ward Labs? What do you have for equipment? Could you build a temp control unit?

I recently got our water report, call it last month. Problem is that right after the water report came out our municipality switched sources. Instead of using the local lake (its turned several times in the last handful of years and caused a stir locally) we are now essentially "contracting" our water from another source. Sending it off may not be a bad idea.

Equipment is as follows: a 5 gallon strike water pot, 16 gallon SS boiling bot, 10 gallon mash tun, 5 gallon wort cooler, 1 6 gallon fermentor, 1 7.9 gallon fermentor, and various smaller things i.e. hydrometer, a few thermometers, and the usual stuff. Forgot to mention my propane burner and 2 tanks. Various cleaning/santizing supplies and the like.

A ferm chamber build may be in my near future, I'm just going to have to figure out the "logistics", if you will, as I'm going to have to move it around quite a bit. I dont have a good spot for it in the house at the time, at least not a permanent spot. The fiancee wouldnt be too happy to have it in our room or the kids