COVID-19 Impact on Homebrewing

Our LHBS is closing at the end of the month, anyway. I'm stocked up, so not really sure what's going on with online homebrew shops. But if anything, I'd expect the online guys would be booming due to people working from home.

 

Well, I can report that the COVID-19 situation has not impacted my homebrewery. A couple of days ago I transferred my reconstruction of an 1896 Michelob to a secondary and it is lagering right now. Earlier today I bottled a batch of Classic American Pilsner. I also placed an order today at MoreBeer for my next 5 batches of homebrew; I will be brewing a Kolsch later this week.

When life hands you 'lemons' make homebrew!!

Cheers!

 

Grabbed ingredients today for two beers I'm planning on brewing on my two week hiatus. Luckily just in time because my LHBS is closing tomorrow for the time being.

Stay safe and keep brewing!

 

Just ordered some stuff from MoreBeer today. So far, no indication of any problems.

 

I just ordered a Spudning valve from MoreBeer a couple days ago. Went to my LHBS in Knoxville to purchase stuff to make another batch of brown ale. Going for version#3 this time with Sabro hops and a little toasted coconut when close to done fermenting. It is an elderly couple that owns the shop near me so I would imagine they may close but you never know. I always call them and place my order and they have it ready at the counter when i get there milled and such. I would hate to lose that service. Plus they make the most amazing beef jerky ever. I always grab a couple bags of it too. mmmmmm

 

I have a very large stock pile for myself right now but still picked up enough supplies to knock out another 20 gallons. I need something to do in my self quarantined environment ! Good luck to all!

 

Just rec'd a delivery of an accessory for my fermentor.
While current conventional thought is it's unlikely COVID-19 survives the extremes of shipping, I decided to wipe down the package anyway since I have no clue about the sanitation practices of the last handler (the driver). Will probably do that for all shipments received in the foreseeable future.
Fortunately I had some anti-bacterial wipes on hand, which brought to mind a question:
Anyone have any idea if sanitizers used in brewing (Star San, iodophor, etc.) might be effective for removing or at least minimizing the viability of this virus?


ETA: My pace of online shopping for brew related supplies will pick up.

 

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrripppper,,,
Chlorine is your friend and will kill most if not all bacteria/viruses.

There is a website that gives proper dilution rates for everything from making sanitizer to cleaning to laundry.

For my own use, around cup of shock, that's 15% chlorine to a couple gallons of water works great. I'm sure it's overkill but I'd consult the website jus t to b sure.

And no the virus ain't a stopping me. Brewing up yesterday another whole hop ipa with more maple sap water.

Thursday I'll b brewing my first IRS od the year and yes, more maple sAp. I only have 2 sacks of base malt left, save malt, use 2% sap water, hahahHHahaHHhahahahaBBbHa

 

I definitely have more time to brew. Just did 1 and have 2 more planned for this week. So far, it seems I'll still be able to get everything online, but who knows how things will go.

 

Shipping times seem to be a little longer. My kegco regulator took over a week from Cali. Use to be 3-4 days and certain items like the Anvil foundry have been delayed a month.

 

I've already stocked up from my LHBS going out of business - I have enough for about 4 batches. However, I'm still at work so I can't brew during the day. (I don't see that as a negative, all things considered.)
I do see some good sales at the onlines places I get the emails from, though. Not that I need anything at the moment.
As an aside, how does StarSan work against certain bugs / viruses?

 

I contacted Five Star and asked if they would comment on the efficacy of Star San against viruses in general, and COVID-19 specifically. Reply from Five Star (within 3 hours):

ETA:
I’m considering postponing online orders of grain and other organic expirables, mainly due to logistics.
My brewing activities are in NC (where I also work) and I typically go home to GA on the weekends. If some sort of lockdown is suggested or implemented, I’d head to GA on a moments notice for the duration. It’d be a shame to have poundage of grains sitting on my porch for weeks, where it’d be exposed to fluctuations in temp and humidity, raccoons, the occasional black bear and whatever else is attracted.
Puts me in a minor bind because the closest LHBS is about an hour away....if it's even still open.

 

Too bad, but understandable.

 

I live two houses away from the owners / operators of the LHBS. Like many other small businesses, they're offering to package orders and deliver curbside. I'm planning to make a purchase from them and make my next batch this weekend.

 

Maine is going nuts over having the least number of reported cases... The LHBS is staying open as much as possible, but locations here can only do curbside pickup. I have been thinking about getting more base malt, but am not too concerned about this hysteria.

 

I've been working half days and been keeping busy trying to figure out how to explain to the folks I manage that 4 hours a day is better than zero. In good times being an hourly manager is awesome. In bad times it sucks. I envy y'all.

Anyhow, stocked up for at least 2 batches of saison. A couple more if I feel froggy and decide to forego dry hopping the batch I've got going and wash the yeast (or move the batch to secondary and dry hop there).

 

Well all of the distilled water is out. Everywhere. I cut my water cause I am lazy like that.

Either there is a tremendous amount of closet home brewers lurking or everyone is ironing shirts.

I am pretty pissed to be honest.
WTF people? Distilled water is not for drinking.

 

damn the torpedos im making a bad ass burton ale!!!!

 

There's still a fairly good supply of it at my local grocery store. I'm guessing people think it's not drinkable. Every other type of bottled/jugged water is missing in action. I don't know what people think is going to happen to the water coming out of their faucets, but I will never overestimate the intelligence of the average American again.