Starting back up , have questions

Yes, your pot will still work. I choose to use a plastic spoon when stirring the hot wort. Since the wort is hot (boiling) wood should be OK as well. You can't infect (contaminate) boiling liquids.

Yes, you can use plastic buckets for fermenting; that is what I have been using for the past 2+ decades.

Are you 'missing' other items? Maybe go online to see what a start up kit includes (tubing, bottling wand, etc.) Maybe buying a start up brewing kit will be cheaper vs. buying piece parts?

You may indeed produce high quality beers using extract. I brew all grain but I also brew extract (and specialty grains) too since it saves me time on the brew day and some styles (e.g., IPAs) turn out just fine via extract.

Brewing all grain permits you to have more control but extract beers can taste great.

You sure can. Just make sure they are not twist-off bottles.

Hmm, I have never sanitized this way. Maybe some other homebrewer can help you here.

Yes I can. Buy the book "How to Brew" by John Palmer and read it cover to cover before brewing your first batch.

You can still brew that way today and produce quality beer.

I have 'tutored' a few novice homebrewers and I would tape up a 'sign' with the three fundamental rules of:

1. Sanitize, sanitize sanitize
2. Pitch plenty of healthy, viable yeast (dry yeast is a plus here)
3. Maintain a proper fermentation temperature

Needless to say there is a lot more than the above (which you will learn while reading "How to Brew").

Welcome back to homebrewing.

Cheers!

 

An example of basic starter homebrewing kit:

https://www.morebeer.com/products/home-brewing-kit.html

Cheers!

 

I inserted some responses in your quoted post.

Do you have a local homebrew supplier that's up and running? If not, there are several online sources for getting the stuff you'll need.

Welcome back to the affliction.....

 

I use hot water and a paper towel - that's it.

I have used the same plastic bucket for over 15 years (and hundreds of batches).

My recommendation is to not put stuff in the bucket during storage since that could produce scratches as well.

I would recommend using More Beer as an online vendor. They have a facilty in Western PA: Ambridge (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvannia. When I order I typically obtain the stuff in less than 2 days. I really appreciate this as regards liquid yeast.

One way to 'manage' hotter temperatures is to place your fermenter in a water bath (which can be augmented with refreezable ice blocks if needed).

Lagering will need cold temperatures - either a lagering chamber or an unheated garage (or shed) in the winter time (Jan. - Feb.).

Cheers!

 

Yes I have. They are 'technically' my LHBS but not exactly local (by my standards). I do travel out there a couple of times a year (e.g., to buy 50 lb. sacks of grain).

It is a great store: big, well stocked, some knowledgeable people, etc. But I suppose I am spoiled in that my previous LHBS (Beer Unlimited) was only a 10-15 minute drive for me.

Most of my homebrewing stuff comes from More Beer. I neglected to mention above they ship free for orders over $59. Fast and free shipping is what is a winner for me.

I would encourage you to shop at Keystone if that is a convenient 'commute' for you.

Cheers!

 

Yes Home Sweet Homebrew closed their store a few months ago but George and Nancy are still in the homebrewing business via delivery. Ironically they did this well before, and unrelated to the COVID-19 situation.

So, you can still purchase supplies from Home Sweet Homebrew if that is your preference:

https://www.homesweethomebrew.com/our-story.htm

Cheers!

 

I have never used a dishwasher to clean/sanitize my bottles, but I have read that the dishwasher does a poor job getting anything clean or sanitized on the inside of the bottles. I suppose that if you are certain that the inside is clean, then the heat from the drying cycle might serve as a sanitizer if the temp is high enough.

I reuse my bottles by making sure they are well rinsed of beer residue and air dry before storage. Then a quick soak and a swish with a bottle brush in hot water and a 3-minute dunk in a sanitizing solution is all I do just before refilling with a new beer.

 

Check Craigslist. There’s always people dumping old Homebrew gear on Craigslist.

I’d go glass carboy over plastic personally.

Start with dry yeast. US05 is probably your best bet as it’s rather forgiving at high temps which if you don’t have temp control you’re gonna have to figure out how to deal with. Fermentation generates some serious heat. Depending on a few variables you’ll be a minimum of 4* higher than your ambient temp at peak fermentation.

 

Do I remember correctly that, when not in use, you store your bucket/s with a weak chlorine solution (or was that someone else)?
I do the same as Jack when cleaning a bucket; hot water, paper towel with light-duty rubbing.

 

Yup, that's me.

Probably not 100% necessary but I figure:

• It certainly does no harm and is likely helpful
• It keeps me from throwing stuff in the bucket

I do 'refresh' the bleach prior to brew day since bleach solutions do lose their efficacy over time.

Cheers!

 

Might as well brew "Phillies" since we can't watch them (unless you count the re-runs on the NBC Sports Philadelphia station).

Cheers!

 

Green apple may just be young beer or low yeast pitch rates. When you say it foams out in open did you mean when you open a bottle it foams out or it foamed out of the fermenter? If it tasted like green apples and you had overcarbbed bottles you may have just bottled too soon.