Cold crash vacume

Again, significance is subjective. But here's what I think about the examples you listed.

Closed Xfer Systems: They are the tits, particularly for hoppy beers.
Stir Plates: Probably no impact on quality of beer, assuming the non-stirplate starter is appropriately larger to compensate for less efficiency.
Fermcap: I dunno. Never used it or felt the need to try it. I ferment in 6.5 gallon carboys (adequate headspace) and use a blowoff tube if I'm expecting blowoff. I don't think I've seen anyone claiming that fermcap improved homebrew quality though.
Refractometers: I don't think I've seen anyone claiming that refractometers improved homebrew quality. They are very convenient though.

 

Nope, Krusty tried a closed transfer once and couldn't tell the difference. Therefore, they have no benefit.

 

Yes, good racking technique is definitely an important skill...are you closed xfering and/or using a spigot?

 

If you could tell the difference, your initial racking technique probably sucked (no pun intended)

 

Yes, that's what a lot of people say...but I haven't drank the Kool-Aid yet...just many delicious homebrewed IPAs

 

My initial racking technique was the same as your current racking technique.

If you already have the gear, it really makes no sense to avoid doing a closed transfer. Is saving 25 cents on CO2 more important than preventing oxygen pickup?

 

No, however that is a false choice...plenty of fine homebrew (with minimal oxidation) was brewed before BYO wrote the article. I doubt anyone has controlled the myriad of other variables that might make contributed to a "better" beer. Besides I'm lazy and won't blindly chase every time-consuming homebrewing fad

 

Professional brewers have been doing closed co2 transfers for a very long time. Think of all the money they could save on co2 if they realized it was a pointless fad.

 

Thank you graciously accepted!

 

I thought you said CO2 was cheap?

 

I really hope that isn't a serious comment.

 

Thanks for the links, I think it is funny that there is a scientific "Journal of Cave and Karst Studies"

an awesome quote from the above article, I especially love the part I bolded

"If stratification really does occur, according to the meaning adopted by those who state that heavier gases accumulate in depressions, then we would live in a carbon dioxide atmosphere just a few meters above sea level, in oxygen at the top of
mountains, in nitrogen above the mountains, and finally, in water vapor (and rain) in the stratosphere. The Dead Sea
and the Caspian Sea would exist in pure radon atmospheres whereas hydrogen would be concentrated in the
ionosphere (incidentally, where it actually is, but due to reasons other than stratification). This is an unrealistic
scenario."

 

It's similar to those blatant warnings on things like "Don't throw these darts at other people's eyes". Should be obvious to most but someone out there is bound to read that and then go around telling people that the Dead Sea got its name from the layer of radon gas blanketing it.

 

No, the Dead Sea/Death Valley got their names from the brutal heat, harsh saline and alkaline environments. Radon gas will collect with an inversion of cold air underneath relatively warmer air above...and the air must be very still...no wind...kinda like carefully carrying a fermenter to a counter for racking