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11/9/2012 -- I have seen several questions and answers saying that there are options such as a hole and stopper and airlock on the 6 gallon plastic primary fermenter, but I cannot find these options. I would like to get the fermenter and lid with the airlock, stopper and spigot already installed. I know I have to get the spigot, and it is also in my cart, but I was wondering if I can get the lid with the stopper and airlock already installed. Thanks!
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Certainly. The Bucket lid comes with airlock grommet installed. No stopper necessary.
See links below for airlock and spigot (with installation)
7/27/2010 -- I want to buy a kit that would enable me to do both beer and wine. A friend argues I should go with the wine kit and add the beer brewing stuff. Please let me know exactly what I need to purchase.
Also, I intend to use ceramic top beer bottles for my beer. What's the best way to clean them? Do you sell the rubber piece (gaskets) they use?
Your website is darn good!Thanks.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: In general, I would say your friend is on the right track, assuming you have a lot of flip-top bottles around. Those bottles are pretty handy.
If you are thinking of making wine from your own juice, fresh fruit etc, then the 5 gallon wine making kit is a good choice. If you want to make wine from our varietal wine kits (an excellent way to get started!) then I would recommend the 6 gallon wine equipment kit. Links to those and other related products are shown below.
As far as what you would need to add for brewing beer, there are choices there as well. Beer needs to be boiled, so a big brewpot is nice to have, like the 7.5 gallon one shown below. A wort chiller is also very handy but not essential. Cooking 5 or more gallons can be challenging on a stove, so some people like to use a propane (outdoor) cooker. Again, a nice thing to have, but not essential.
Bottle cleaning/sanitizing is easy. We provide the cleaner and sanitizer in the wine making kit. Also a bottle brush and carboy brush.
If you plan on making both beer and wine at the SAME TIME, I would recommend and additional glass carboy, airlock and stopper as well. You'd hate to run out of either!
5/17/2010 -- what is your phone number?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can be reached at (425) 355-8865
Our toll free order is (800) 850-2739
9/12/2009 -- If I was to order this Deluxe Kit (bottling version), how long from the time I start, until I am drinking my first home brew (scottish ale)? What do you recommend getting in addition to this kit, to brew maybe 3 different beers at once, or is that an option with 1 kit?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: A reasonable estimate for that is 3 to 4 weeks from cooking to drinking.
In order to brew 3 beers simultaneously, you would need more equipment, primarily fermenters and airlocks/stoppers. A good way to this at a reasonable cost is to start a new batch about every 10 days. As the first batch comes out of the primary fermenter (it gets transferred to the glass carboy) that frees up the primary for the next batch...and so on. This is all using the same equipment that is in the kit. No additional stuff required.
If you really want to have 3 batches going at once, you would need 2 additional primary fermenters, 2 additional carboys, 2 additional airlocks and stoppers.
8/7/2009 -- I was interested in the 10 or 20 gallon fermenters but was wondering if you might be able to install spigot and lid hole with bubbler and stopper?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can install the plastic primary spigot without a problem.
Due to the loose fitting lid on both of these ferementers however, there is no need to use an airlock. It allows enough CO2 to escape on it's own. If you prefer, we can install an airlock and stopper, but as I say, you may not get much bubbling through it.
7/21/2009 -- I've gotta say, i love your site, whoever is the webmaster/designer deserves a pat on the back.
(1) If i was to just buy a 3 gallon bottle (the kind you buy at a grocery store to dispense water at home) would i have to worry about flavors from one batch carrying over to another batch?
(2) What size stopper do the one gallon jugs take? i'm sure that i could just buy jugs of cider and keep the bottles. that would also help save money on shipping
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Thank you. We work hard on our website, and it's nice to hear that it shows!
1) Probably not. As long as it's food grade, it should be good unless you decide to make pickles in it or something silly like that. We can't speak for all plastic water jugs, of course. 3 gallons isn't very big, either. With the foaming that occurs during fermentation, don't plan on making more than about 2 to 2.5 gallons in one of those...
2) OUR 1 gallon jugs take a #6.5 stopper. That is not to say that ALL 1 gallon jugs do... There are different sizes out there!
If you want to use local jugs, it would be best to buy the jugs, and then measure the opening. Using that measurement, go the the Brewing Accessories catagory of our website, and choose the appropriate stopper for that style of jug.
6/24/2009 -- how do you know how much water to add to this air lock?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It isn't critical how much is used. About 1/2 full is just fine.
7/22/2008 -- i know the reason why you use a blow off tube but is there any particular reason why i should use a regular air lock instead?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: They both do the same job...keep air and bacteria OUT, while releasing the CO2 created by the fermentation process.
No particular reason to use an airlock instead of a blow-off hose, really. It is just more compact, and fun to watch as it bubbles!
7/11/2008 -- I"m trying to find some large-mouth balloons,I use for making wine; They fit over gallon containers;
Would appreciate any help;
Thanks You;
R L Thrush
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The "balloon wine" recipe has been around for at least 40 years (I did this in high-school), but I should tell you it's a BAD idea. You WANT the CO2 to escape!
It is much better to use an airlock and stopper. The CO2 will be released, and it does not allow air or bacteria to get in. For a couple of bucks, it improves your wine and is reusable!
By the way, that old recipe called for using bread yeast, another bad idea! Try using a qualit.y wine yeast instead
See below for links to these products:
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!
10/7/2005 -- I've heard that during the first few days of wine fermentation, you shouldn't attatch an airlock. You should cover the opening with a cloth or something similar. They say this is because it needs to get air during this time. Then you should transfer the wine to a secondary vessel and attatch an airlock. Is this true, or should an airlock be used from the start?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we hear that one all the time too.
We believe it is better to aerate your must (wine) before adding the yeast if you can, and THEN to add an airlock. It's true that yeast "need" a little oxygen at the beginning, but that is easy to do when you add water, or by shaking stirring etc. Using a lid and a airlock makes sense, in that it keeps offending bacteria (and even your cat!) from entering the fermenter and ruining the entire batch.
8/10/2005 -- What is the preferred airlock the 3 piece or red top. What are the ups and downs to both?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Just personal preference is all. Some people like the 3-pc airlock because they can disassemble it for cleaning. The downside is that there are more parts to lose/break. The both do exactly the same job performance-wise.
3/20/2005 -- I just bought a wine making kit. This is my second day. Do I put the cylindar air lock on the bucket or the carboy? I did not get any good directions with the kit. When I do put it on, am I supposed to put water in it? Help. I need some advise on this matter.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Hello Charlotte.
An airlock is used on whetever you are using to ferment the wine. We encourage people to start their wine in a plastic bucket (primary fermenter), but it can be done either way.
The airlock should be filled about half way up with water, and the cap replaced. This allows CO2 to secape, but does not allow air back into the fermenter.
3/8/2005 -- I have read elsewhere that you should fill the airlock with sanitizer or vodka. What is your recommendation and are either of these liquids a good option?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I've read this too, and it seems ridiculous to me. Water works just FINE. When actively fermenting, CO2 is going OUT, and bacteria cannot work their way in. I have NEVER heard of a batch being contaminated thru the airlock, regardless of what was used.
Problems with using alcohol or sanitizer:
1) Sometimes due to temperature and minor barometric changes at the beginning of the process, you can get some of the solution sucked back into your brew. Yuck. Who needs that?
2) Some people think that "more is better" and use 100% alcohol. This, of course, melts the plastic, seals up the opening, and you get a huge mess (at the very least).
3) Expense of buying this unnecessary stuff. Save your $$ for more brew!
4) You have less vodka to DRINK!
12/27/2004 -- With the airlock comes a little top with two tiny holes. Does that top need to be on so long as the water is high enough that bubbles come out from under the water? The pressure in my ferm. built up and popped off the top because the bubbles werent' escaping fast enough through the two little holes.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, the top should be on, and water filled up about half way. Sometimes, with a very active fermenation this can happen. Just clean out the airlock, put more water in it and replace it. If you like, you can put a couple more little holes in the top. No harm in that.
8/4/2004 -- Can you use this on a 5 gallon water jug?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, along with a stopper of the right size to fit the opening. The opening size varies on these, so it is best to measure it.
3/28/2004 -- How can you take a sample in "order to test with the hydrometer" without being susceptible to airborne bacteria during or at the end of fermenting?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The likelihood of airborne bacteria contaminating your beer or wine is really quite low. Most infections are due to equipment, not airborne bacteria.
Also, the most critical time is just BEFORE adding the yeast, not during or at the end of fermentation. During fermentation, the CO2 being produced helps to protect it, and afterwards the alcohol helps.
A useful piece of equipment for taking your samples is the Self-Filling Wine Thief. You sanitize it, and the hydrometer before lowering it into your brew. It fills up, you take your reading, and it drops the sample back into your main batch. This minimizes contamination from handling, air exposure etc. Here is a link to that tool:
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/Target=products.asp&ProductID=786
1/28/2004 -- I had planned on buying a carboy to frement mead and was wondering about the bubbler setup I should use. I was wondering if this airlock would work with the carboy or is there another type of setup I need to use when using a carboy to ferment mead?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: If you going to start the primary fermentation in a carboy you should use some sort of blow off tube. That can be either a 3/8" tube and drilled stopper or the 1 1/4" blow tube, both placed into the neck of the carboy and the other end into a small bucket or pan of water to help catch what ever comes thru.
If you don't you might have a mess to clean up.
Then when the fermentation slows down you can put the airlock and stopper in place of the blow off tube.
1/11/2004 -- We are putting our apple wine in the fermenting bin and we do not know how to work the three piece airlock. Do we need a cork to attach it to the bin or does it just sit on top of the opening?
Also do we have to put water in the airlock? Will our wine be ok if we attach it incorrectly?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, you need a stopper to put the airlock into. The stopper and airlock then go into the opening.
Fill the airlock 1/2 way with water. This allows CO2 to "bubble thru" under pressure. Without an airlock, your wine is susceptible to airborne bacteria. It may be fine, but maybe not.
12/25/2003 -- I am into my 3rd day of fermentation.The bubbles in the airlock occur about every second. How long should this go on?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Hard to say, indeed.
Would need to know what you are making. (?)
In general, ales will take about 4-14 days to finish (depending on temperature) and lagers will take about a week longer.
If you are making wine, it could take 3-4 weeks, again, depending on temperature.
We find that time is not really a good indicator of when to transfer or bottle. A hydrometer reading is what you need.
9/12/2003 -- What size stopper or plug do you buy to fit this part? Being the smallest or the next size up from that.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You buy the size that fits the opening of carboy or fermenter.
There is a chart showing stopper sizes available by clicking on the details button for that item.
6/2/2003 -- Are you supposed to leave the plastic cap on the airlock while fermenting?
If so, how does the CO2 escape?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, this is often referred to as a "dust cap". If you look very closely at the plastic cap, you will see a very small hole that is large enough to allow CO2 to escape.
On the Red Top airlock, there is a gap between the airlock body, and the red cap that allows CO2 to escape.
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