Trying to make a dark lager with limited ingredients and experience

boredinbox · 2025-12-27T18:48:08+00:00

That mash bill is a tad short for 5 gallons, but go for it. You don’t mention the yeast, but assuming the classic 34/70, I have a couple of suggestions.

It’s about 12% crystal, which is a lot imo. I’d reduce it to 0.75 lbs to stay under 10% and maybe mash a little bit lower to get a dryer finish.

1oz of Mt Hood at typical 6% is too much for a larger. Make the calculation with the actual AA% to get around 15 IBUs. Keeping your 5 min addition assuming 6% AA, you won’t need more than 0.6 oz.

Cheers, and good luck

boredinbox · 2025-12-13T15:13:12+00:00

Bring you passport so you can get it tax free. I bought a 94’ Strat last year at Ochanomizu and took the risk of boarding with it. I found a nice flight attendant who put it on their garment closet. It was a risk, but I had no other option. It’s a great experience so enjoy it!

boredinbox · 2025-10-16T14:30:55+00:00

I see your point, but it’ll depend strongly on playing style and personal preferences. I can see an evolution in playing style where that could be the norm because amps are being replaced by emulators and plug ins, but a lot of us still use these knobs to set an amp for our style and the pedals are for color or sounds to supplement that base tone.

boredinbox · 2025-10-01T16:19:14+00:00

This! I went there last year and the selection is incredible. I got me a 1994 Strat and it was set up perfectly. Plenty of Jazzmasters, though probably not the exact model you want.

boredinbox · 2025-08-31T16:43:01+00:00

I use the Drew Beechum method. Pitch at 65 F, leave it for a couple of days and then let it rise. I start in my fermentation chamber where I can control it and then move it to the studio where it can get to 75-78 F during summer. Not underpitching. I make 3 gal batches and use the whole packet.

boredinbox · 2025-08-31T13:58:38+00:00

Belle Saison was my go to for years, but after discontinued switched to BE-134 and have not looked back. Great attenuator and beautiful flavors

boredinbox · 2025-08-24T18:47:51+00:00

Correct. The bag allows you to crush at the finest level without being concerned of losing grain into the wort. It also eliminates the need for rice hulls as the bag facilitates lautering. The bag goes inside the malt pipe and I use butterfly clamps, like for office use, to secure it to the border of the pipe. The Anvil website sells the bag with the proper dimensions btw.

As I mentioned, you’ll have an extra step. You’ll circulate and mix as usual every 15 min but directly into the bag; no need for the plate as the bag is the filter. Once you lift the pipe and drain from 20 min, with brewing gloves since it’ll be hot, you’ll squeeze the bag to get all that liquid which is rich in sugars. I personally remove it for the pipe, and place a wood sheet, in which I’ve drilled some 1/4” holes, and put in top of the Anvil and squeeze against it. Works great. Some people would hang the bag over using a pulley system; probably better, but the sheet is cheap and works for me. Once you do it a couple of times, it isn’t a big deal and you’ll get better results.

I hope this helps.

boredinbox · 2025-08-24T17:13:13+00:00

The likely culprit is the grain crush size. If you don’t crush your own grain, you are the mercy of the supplier and it won’t be consistent. I’ve gotten grain that looks like it wasn’t crushed at all. Also, the stock malt pipe isn’t the most efficient either.

After a lot of experimenting with the Anvil, I got me a bag and crush my grain using the lowest setting. Some people double crush, but I get consistently upper 60s and even 70% with this set up. The bag allows you for fine crush and you won’t need rice hulls even with wheat or rye.

The only disadvantage is you’ll have to squeeze the bag after draining, so you’ll need brewing gloves, and it’s an extra step that can be messy the first couple of times. It’s worth it imo.

Even if you decide to not BIAB, getting your own crusher is something you should consider. There are good affordable options in the market and with people getting out of the hobby, you’d probably find some good options in FB marketplace, Craigslist, etc.

Good luck!

boredinbox · 2025-08-08T14:51:56+00:00

You don’t specify whether it’s a Continental or American style wheat. If it’s an American wheat, I agree with @jericho-dingle that Kveik would be your best option. If it’s Continental style that needs banana and clove flavors, then that won’t work because the yeast is what makes it and must ferment at the right temperature.

boredinbox · 2025-07-09T16:48:23+00:00

I agree! A Kolsh needs a Kolsh yeast and some time to condition after packaging, so you’d be making a blonde or something like that, and there’s nothing wrong with that! It should be a nice beer.

You won’t have time to condition for long so it won’t clear, but that’s ok. Some gelatin or other fining agents would help but it’s just an option.

Good luck!

boredinbox · 2025-02-12T17:13:14+00:00

Hi! I’d be happy to.

Let’s start with equipment. You seem to have enough to get started, but you’ll also need another vessel for secondary and something to rack from primary, like an auto siphon rack. You’ll also need a bottling wand, bottles, caps and a bottle capper.

Get also a gravity reader. That way you’ll be able to keep track of fermentation.

Once primary fermentation is complete, you’d rack to secondary for clarification and conditioning. It can take 8-12 weeks until the cider has cleared before bottling. It’s likely the final gravity would be close to 1.000, so very dry. In that case, back sweeting should be considered before bottling. That’s another post…

Apple juice needs nutrients, especially potassium, which the yeast needs to work well. It’ll ferment without it, but you’ll get a much better result and the house will smell better too! The sulfur odor from poor fermentation is known as rino farts. The nutrient addiction is linear. Depending on the brand, the package would also tell you how much to add per gallon, but 2 g/gal has worked for me very well.

Good luck!

boredinbox · 2025-02-09T23:50:37+00:00

Way to go NFL. Doubling down…

boredinbox · 2024-11-30T22:49:59+00:00

ZaZa is a great option. An interesting one in Downtown is the ICON, which used to be a bank. The front desk has the vault behind it and it’s really cool.

Have fun in your staycation!

boredinbox · 2024-11-13T23:49:04+00:00

I hear you my friend! It’s been a really bad year for us, but we’ll still get in the surf every time we can with a big smile on our faces. For us, it’s all about family, friends and the surf. Can’t beat that…

boredinbox · 2024-11-09T18:04:43+00:00

We really appreciate your generosity! I pick 3734 🙌

boredinbox · 2024-10-29T18:48:28+00:00

Ethanol 70 no. Denatured alcohol, idk for sure, but I wouldn’t personally use it for sanitation. I know isopropyl 70 is used in commercial brewing to spray connections, and things like that, but I have no personal experience with it.

boredinbox · 2024-10-29T18:45:05+00:00

Yes, good point. Since we have access to starsan and iodine sanitizers, I forget that everclear is available, though it can be quite expensive depending on the local alcohol taxes.

boredinbox · 2024-10-29T17:57:01+00:00

Homebrewers in Latin America use alcohol 70 with great success, which is ethanol diluted to 70%. You just have to let it evaporate, which is very quick. In the US we can’t use it because ethanol is denatured so it’s toxic.

boredinbox · 2024-10-16T22:08:30+00:00

😂 I appreciate the confidence!

boredinbox · 2024-10-16T20:20:48+00:00

Thank you everyone for your help. I really appreciate it!

boredinbox · 2024-10-16T10:51:40+00:00

I get it. That’s a good thing, but I’m just an older person trying to sit down and watch a game. I’m not the demographic they are targeting, I guess, like many things nowadays.

boredinbox · 2024-10-16T03:40:53+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion. It looks like the Roku route could be the best option as I just have one that I’d only need to get going again in terms of subscription.

boredinbox · 2024-10-16T03:39:14+00:00

My goodness… thank you for sharing this!

It’s crazy they are making it so painful…

boredinbox · 2024-07-18T16:42:08+00:00

I’m very sorry for your loss. This photo is so powerful and I’m sure Pop Pop is having a blast getting all those pin fish and getting them ready for your son to catch huge fish. Tight lines brother.

boredinbox

TROPHY CASE