7/27/2008 -- Love your store! Just finished my first all grain 5gal batch. My setup is all homemade. Picnic coolers and a copper manifold with slots cut in it. Long story short my sparge(4gal) took almost 4hrs! Did I mill my grain too much? Maybe it always takes that long, I mashed with 3gal, sparged with 4gal and wound up with 4gal of wort. My s.g. was really high so i added 1gal till I reached my desired s.g. Thanks for the help!

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, that sounds like it could be the problem. Either that, or poor flow thru your slotted manifold/valve. You should crush your grains so that the husks are just barely cracked. Don't turn it into flour!

A normal sparge should take perhaps an hour, maybe 1.5.

5/16/2008 -- Hi folks,
I'm thinking about trying my first all grain brew after a couple of extract batches which were delicious! I want to make sure that I have all the proper equipment. Currently I have a 7.5 gal brewpot with the spigot. I have all the necessary fermenting equipment, but what else do I need? False bottom, bazooka screen, tubing? Can you set me up with the necessary items and advise on a simple first time recipe? Thanks!

Response From Homebrew Heaven: For all-grain brewing you will need a large brewpot, a false bottom/spigot arrangement for mashing the grains, and another brewpot to collect the sweet wort at the end of the mash for boiling. You will also need a means of sparging, i.e. applying hot water to the top of the grains in order to "rinse thru" the grains. In a nutshell that is it.

There are LOTS of ways to do do this, however, like using a picnic cooler to mash in (instead of a pot), or bazooka screens in place of false bottoms. For sparging, some people just ladle hot water onto the grain bed, some set up a rotating sparge arm. As I say, there are lots of ways to "get 'er done". What suits you best is a choice for you.

I would recommend reading this link (chapter 18) on all grain brewing. It will help you visualize what is required:

http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter18.html

This chapter shows the process using a picnic cooler, but the principles are the same. Using a brewpot in place of a cooler allows you more flexibility (it allows you to heat the mash if needed). It has a nice recipe as well, but there are TONS of all grain recipes out there on the 'net. If you have a specific beer style in mind, we can help find an appropriate recipe.

As far as equipment goes, we can certainly set you up most any way you like. TYPICALLY, that would be with another 7.5 gallon pot, a false bottom and perhaps a screw-in thermometer. Easily done. It would probably be best to call us with specific questions with regards to equipment.

4/19/2008 -- I am looking for a good book to help answer some of the questions I have related to getting into all grain brewing. I have not yet acquired any equipment and was hoping I would find a book that would guide me into getting the "best" equipment necessary. There are a few titles I found on Chapters and Amazon, but wanted to check with you guys first to see what the best book out there is. Any thoughts? Keep in mind that I am going to be a total beginner and would likely progress to intermediate by summers end. Thanks.

Response From Homebrew Heaven: We like "How to Brew" by Palmer, or The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing" by Papazian

1/26/2008 -- I live about an hour (if traffic is good) from the address on your website. Do you have an actual store or is everything here based solely online?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we have an actual brick-and-mortar store in Everett, WA. People actually walk in and buy stuff!

Our address is:

Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204

Here is a video of our shop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI

Heck, you can actually call us on the phone, too! It's 425-355-8865. A person will actually answer as long as it's business hours!

1/28/2007 -- Can I use this jumbo straining bag to put in my brew pot during the steeping process to hold all of the grains for an all-grain brew and then to sparge just pull it up above the water and pour the sparging water through the grains so that the water just runs in with the rest of the water in the pot to continue from there? or is there a different method I should use?

Just trying to find a simple way to do my first all-grain brew.

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, this simple method can be used, but there are drawbacks you should be aware of.

First, your mash water/grains will be VERY hot, say 150 deg F, which is much hotter than you can pick up with your bare hands. It will also be very heavy, so you need plan accordingly.

Second, once the grain is in the straining bag, stirring is not easy, so it's difficult to even out the temperature throughout the grains.

Third, the sparging operation will be less than optimal, since the sparge water will only be going thru part of the grain bed at a time.

Overall, it's a decent way to try all-grain brewing, but with some better equipment, you can make the process much easier.

I like using a Bazooka Screen in my brewpot for the mash process. Then, all you need is a way to ladle water in over the top, and another pot to collect the runnings from the bottom.

11/5/2006 -- I live in Seattle, can I come and pick up the bottles in Everett? Do you have a "brick and mortar" store?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: You sure can. It is literally made of bricks and mortar, in South Everett. Our address is:

Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204
425-355-8865

Hours are 10-6:30 M-F
and 9:30-5 on Saturdays

Here is a video of the place:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI

Take a look around!

8/20/2006 -- I am looking at getting into all grain brewing and want to start with a stainless steel mash/lauter tun. I currently brew 5 gallon batches, but may want to increase to 10 gallon batches. If I purchase your 15 gallon brewpot with a brewmometer and spigot would this work for both 5 and 10 gallon batches?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Certainly; but most brewers find that for the same amount of time, you might as well brew 10 (or more) gallons. Temperature control is also easier, due to the larger thermal mass (less temperature swing). Beside...who can't use MORE beer?

10/30/2005 -- I am entirely new to brewing beer and would like to get started with all of the right equipment that I would need. I am positive that I would like to do all grain brewing eventually and everything that I read recommends that you make a larger batch when doing all grain. Basically, I am wondering if you could price out a good, complete starter kit with an appropriate brewpot included.

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Here is a good way to do it. It gets you a 12 gallon pot, false bottom, and thermometer mounted in the pot. You will probably also need an outdoor cooker too, they run $49.95-$69.95:

1 Deluxe Brewing Equipment Kit
No. Equipment Only; Outdoor; DVD Format $152.95
1 12 Gallon Stainless Steel Brewpot with Lid $87.95
1 BrewMometer Stainless Steel Thermometer $37.95
1 Thru-Wall (Bulkhead) Fitting - Brass (1/2" Npt)
Yes, please install (for thermometer) $8.95
Subtotal $287.80
Order Discount - $28.78
Total $259.02

6/2/2003 -- I'm just getting into home brewing. What is the purpose of the False bottom?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: It is normally used in all-grain brewing, where no malt extract is used, just grain. It's purpose is to hold back the grain husks, and to allow the sweet liquid (wort) to drain off for later boiling. All-grain brewing is fun and not that hard to do, but does take additional time and temperature control to be successful.

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