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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
3/23/2010 -- Does the fermometer go vertically or horizontally on the bucket? What is the significance of the temp.?, What range do we need?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It goes horizontally on the bucket.
The idea is to strive for a fermentation temperature that is close to what is best for the yeast you are using...an ale, a lager, a wine or ???
11/17/2009 -- I have been looking at a lot of different home brewery kits on the internet. What is the difference in the performance between plastic and glass (carboy) fermenters?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The selection of fermenters is entirely a personal choice. Some like to make larger batches, some smaller. Usually a home brewer or winemaker ends up owning several carboys, fermenters etc in order to properly age his brew.
Plastic has the advantage of being rugged and light weight. It CAN become scratched, however, and doesn't seem to accumulate as much sediment as glass does.
Glass is great for watching the action (it's FUN!) and the surface cleans easily.
Cost and shipping weight of glass fermenters (carboys) is typically higher as well.
Of all the materials, I'd have rate stainless steel the highest. Rugged, easy to clean, etc etc. The price however, is high.
7/17/2009 -- Is a 5 gallon carboy big enough to secondary ferment a 5 gallon batch of beer?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: As a secondary fermenter, yes. This assume that the bubbling has slowed down considerably by the time you transfer into the carboy.
I would not use it as a PRIMARY fermenter, however if you hope to yield 5 gallons.
6/14/2009 -- My question is regarding the "fermometer". The product description says that it measures the temperature range for Ales and Lagers. I don't know what that range is...I'm new to this, so I dont know if it makes a difference that I'm not going to be fermenting for beer puroses. I need to be able to monitor a range of 75-82 degrees-will this product work for me?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The Fermometer measures from 36 to 78 deg F. It looks like your range is just a little higher than that.
2/7/2009 -- 1: I have a digital lazer thermometer that I use for checking the surface temperature of grills and pans. If I point it at the surface of the wort or side of the pot will I get an accurate reading??? Or should add a different one to my order??
P.S. I'd rather not buy anything more that I don't have to.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, it should work pretty well, but could get confused by shiney surfaces, like the side of your brewpot.
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!
12/5/2006 -- Hello, I am about to try my hand at mead making. I plan to buy your 5 gal wine kit and just had a few questions. On many sites I have heard about racking multiple times to get the mead to clear, does this mean I should buy a second carboy? In addition to the 5gal kit and the nectar of the gods mead kit, I was looking at getting the wine theif, and either a super siphon or auto-siphon do you recommend one more than the other and does it sound like I am missing anything??
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You can certainly do that (get another carboy), but an option is to siphon back into the primary fermenter (bucket) and then transfer back again into the clean, sanitized carboy. Either way works just fine.
A wine thief IS a nice item to use. I would add that, especially for meads, which take some time to finish out. As far as a siphon aid, I would go with the auto-siphon for 5 gallons or less.
No, I think you have it all with that.
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!
5/16/2005 -- i am new to this, and i have seen and heard of people using plastic buckets for final fermentation, their purpose for doing this is so they can attach a spigot to the bucket for bottling, is this ok to do or is glass the better choice? thanx again and i find that you question and answer part of the site to be very helpful
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, that can be done, but we prefer to use the plastic "bucket" type fermenter for the primary fermenter, and using glass for the secondary. We like the bucket for ease of cleaning, and besides, your beer is only in there for a few days to a week or so. We find glass to be better for clarifing your beer, however. This is not to say you CAN'T do it (plastic bucket secondary), just that in our experience glass is better.
Having a spigot on your bucket is overrated in my opinion. We can certainly add one to your kit if you wish, but you will find that there is a fair amount of crud (called trub) that accumulates on the bottom of your fermenters during clarification, and opening a spigot down there just causes it to transfer over. We like siphoning from the top, and throwing away that crud. That's why we supply siphoning hose, racking cane, bottle filler etc in the kits.
If you would like to add a spigot to your kit, just tell us in the "Comments" section at checkout, and we'll make it happen.
3/13/2005 -- I'm just getting started brewing and I had a question. As a primary fermenter which is better, plastic bucket, plastic carboy or glass carboy. Then for secondary fermentation, plastic carboy or glass carboy?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You will find that brewers have different preferences. Personally, I like the plastic bucket for a primary. It's inexpensive, and easy to clean. For the secondary, I like glass carboys. Glass seems to cause the beer/wine to clear better. If I had a lot of money, I'd probably get a stainless steel Fermenator.
9/2/2004 -- We have used acid testing titration kits for some time but find it difficult. Can you recommend an accurate, simple method or kit to use. Price is not a consideration.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The new Vinoferm Acid Test kit is quite easy to use, and very accurate. Here is a like to it:
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/?Target=products.asp&ProductID=762
12/19/2003 -- I am having trouble keeping the temp in the room I am making wine between 70 and 75 degrees as specified in the wine kit I have. I live in Colorado and often the temp at night dips way down, and in the day it can get quite warm. I am not around at all times to adjust the thermastat. Could I solve this problem by wrapping the carboy with an electric blanket or something of the sort? Any suggestions?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Sure. We have a Brew Heat Pad that works very nicely. It's basically a hard plastic heating pad for carboys. If it's too warm during the day, just get a cheap lamp timer, and have it turn on only at night.
Here is a link:
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/?Target=products.asp&ProductID=1129
10/23/2003 -- I noticed most of the malt extract brew kits are 5 gallon batches. Will a 5 gallon carboy be sufficient for fermentation, or will I need a 6 gallon carboy to allow for foaming? Thanks, I'm new to this.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We recommend going larger for the primary. That's why we put 6.5 gallon plastic fermenters in our equipment kits. You can use a larger carboy of course, but the 6.5 gallon "bucket" type fermenter allows for the foaming, doesn't break, cleans up easier, and is less weight for shipping. Hey...we were all new to this at one time. No shame in that!
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