Today's trip to the LHBS

[Beer-lord]

I need another 50 pounds of grain and since they had both Great Western and Rahr (for $5 more) I grabbed the Rahr since I've not used it in over 6 months. I'll see if I can tell the difference but really, I doubt I can.
But, I finally got a refractometer. I've bought enough this year that I'm getting an automatic 5% off everything else I buy until the end of the year and so it only cost me $30. It's a middle of the road version and while it isn't needed, I wanted to start reading my gravity when I go from mash to boil without having to wait and chill the wort for a sample. Won't make my beer any better but little by little I'm having the hardware needed to make some improvements to the brew day.

[Brewbirds]

Wait till you start using it and you will be a happy brewer. It really is a great tool to have for adding info to your brew day notes and much better than trying to cool samples.

Brewing BB2's Texas Crispy now and the refractometer told us the pre-boil gravity was low with a couple of drops and a few seconds so I added a few minutes to the boil before throwing the hops in try and concentrate the wort a bit.

Also using it before taking a hydro on finishing beers since I don't put the tube sample back in.

I do hate the crappy little plastic pipette that comes with it though need to find something easier to clean and sanitize.

[Beer-lord]

I read some folks use a spoon for the sample with just a drop in it.

I think I've read where these are pretty useless once fermentation has started so I don't know how or if you can adjust for that.

[FedoraDave]

There was an article in Zymurgy Magazine one or two issues ago that addressed the issue of adjusting the reading during fermentation. Don't know for sure, but I have to think someone somewhere has addressed this issue online.

As an aside, how do you store all that grain? I'm not necessarily contemplating it myself, but if it turns out to be more economical, I might. I dunno; it's only a 20-minute drive to the LHBS, and I'd only be storing bulk 2-Row, and would still have to pick up the specialty grains, hops, and yeast I needed for most recipes.

[haerbob3]

Correction Table It is under the documents tab it is an Exel doc

BB you are using a correction for your sample? If not your reading is wrong.

[Brewbirds]

I think I've read where these are pretty useless once fermentation has started so I don't know how or if you can adjust for that.

BeerSmith makes an adjustment for that so you can get a ball park number instead of taking multiple hydro samples.

We had a Nut Brown Ale stick on us last week it threw some Notty at it and the refractometer showed it going down.

@Haerbob3: Thanks for that heads up, yes when we first got it we did the calibration in BeerSmith and use the drop down button to enter the OG and get an adjustment for reading fermenting wort.

Of course that is BB2's side of brew day, I just tell him what the sample reads and he puts it in BS.

[Beer-lord]

There was an article in Zymurgy Magazine one or two issues ago that addressed the issue of adjusting the reading during fermentation. Don't know for sure, but I have to think someone somewhere has addressed this issue online.

As an aside, how do you store all that grain? I'm not necessarily contemplating it myself, but if it turns out to be more economical, I might. I dunno; it's only a 20-minute drive to the LHBS, and I'd only be storing bulk 2-Row, and would still have to pick up the specialty grains, hops, and yeast I needed for most recipes.

Dave, for me, it really isn't alot of grain because most of my brews use 11ish pounds of grain so I get 4-5 batches with a sack and as I brew every 2-3 weeks, it's gone faster than you think. But, to answer the question, I have 2 'Vittle Vaults' that I store all my grain in. It keeps it air tight and though expensive, keeps the moisture out as well.

If I buy my grains each time I brew vs. buying a sack, I save about $8.00 per batch. For me, that's quite a savings. Add that with using mostly harvested yeast and most of my 5-6 gallon beers cost me close to $20 (depending on the amount of hops I use). I've found bulk buying of grain and hops to save me about $150 a year, give or take a few.

[FedoraDave]

Hmmm....

I still think I'd have a hard time justifying the expense to SWMBO. And, as I said, it's only 20 minutes to the LHBS, and I'd need to go to buy specialty grains and hops anyway. I brew AG recipes every three weeks, and I'd be using close to 10 pounds of 2-Row for each of those, but....

Aw, hell, it's more than my pea brain can handle right now. Sleep deprivation + three homebrews = inability to think rationally.

[Beer-lord]

I'm with ya Dave. I OCD way more than I should and it's just beer. With all the tragedy in today's world, this ain't worth worrying about. What works for you, just works for you and that's good.
My LHBS is about 25 minutes away so it's about the same. But between the money I save each year and a little bit of time, it's just worth it for me, It's not for everyone. Space is tight for me at home but I make it work.
By the way, I stopped at 2 beers tonite just because I promised SWMBO I'd vacuum and mop. Though, mopping could be fun with a slight buzz!