Tip: Filling a quick bottle or growler from your kegerator faucet
Part of Our Homebrew Tips and Tricks Series. Check out the complete list – Homebrewing Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts!
Category Archives: Tips
Putting Together a “Brew Day Box” – Save Time & Frustration on Brew Days
Part of Our Homebrew Tips and Tricks Series. Check out the complete list – Homebrewing Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts! This is a Top Post! See: All Top Posts
Why a Brew Day Box?
Over the years I’ve homebrewed, I’ve utilized a number of storage and organization strategies. Some could be defined less as strategies and more as “piles”. These strategies have ranged from, cardboard boxes, to big totes that I threw everything under the sun into to using smaller shoe box size containers and breaking everything out into categories. The shoe box size organization method has worked well and other than a few large totes for bigger items, it’s what I’ve settled on. At some point after going to that, I realized that when brew day rolled around, I had to collect items from a number of these containers. I usually forgot something and had to look around, multiple times per brew day trying to find whatever I needed. That evolved into putting together a container just for brew days. I cleverly 🙂 call that my “Brew Day Box”. This container houses nearly all the small odds and ends that I use when brewing. I’ve also tried to make sure those things don’t really need removed at other times. For example I use a refractometer regularly, not just on brew day, so… I bought another refractometer. Everything that’s in my Brew Day Box generally… stay in my Brew Day Box. This keeps everything in one place and I’m not wasting time trying to find stuff when I should be brewing.
Step by Step: Finding and Fixing Keg CO2 Leaks
Pictured: Brand New 5 Gallon Ball Lock from Adventures in Homebrewing
A leaky keg can be an issue, a big issue. That nice, full CO2 tank can go away in short order. It’s frustrating, costly and inconvenient. This post should help you them and fix them.
Rubbermaid Commercial Bus Tubs for Brew Day and Beyond
Rubbermaid Commercial Products FG335100BRN Standard Bus/Utility Box, 7.125 Gal, Brown
More InfoFrom the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:
- The Rubbermaid 7-1/8 gallon commercial bus utility box has rounded corners allowing for a smooth transition between doors and other equipment without damage
- The 7-1/8 gallon commercial bus utility box has reinforced handle bottom and ribs for added security when carrying
- The Rubbermaid 7-1/8 gallon commercial bus utility box features a 5″ deep capacity along with holding up to 7-1/8 gallon of product
- Dimension: 21.5″ x 17-1/8″ x 7″, All-plastic, professional construction, 7-1/8 gallon capacity
- Bus/Utility Box, undivided, 7-1/8 gallon, 21-1/2″L x 17-1/8″W x 7″H, reinforced handle, bottom & ribs, rounded corners, dishwasher safe, brown, NSF, S.O.S. (Special Order Smallwares) product
- Made of durable, commercial grade plastic, with reinforced handles, bottom and ribs for added strength
- Rounded corners for easy cleaning
I use these bus tubs (7 gallon size) on brew day and beyond for a number of purposes.
- I use these to cart around gear and ingredients – saving trips back and forth.
- As brew day starts, I’ll keep a dry/clean bus tub and a wet/needs to be cleaned bus tub. Having two helps me keep clean things clean. That means less unnecessary cleaning.
- If I’m using my pump, I’ll keep one below that. It catches drips and also offers a place to store wet items such as stirring spoons, mash paddles, my mash stirring whisk and my equally invaluable 1 gallon pitchers.
- The ridges on the bottom make these a great place to drain and dry just cleaned gear.
- When these are unused, they stack together to save space and offer a nice place to store brew day items.
- Another potential use: ice down your favorite beverages for get-togethers.
- See: Bus Tubs for Brew Day & Beyond – Save Time and Effort When You Homebrew
What are others saying? Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “brew” – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
Rubbermaid Commercial Products FG335100BRN Standard Bus/Utility Box, 7.125 Gal, Brown – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
More: Recent Amazon Finds
prod:B0001N4700
Use Goo Gone to Remove Old Adhesive From Kegs
Used Kegs often have old stickers. After removing these we’re often left with sticky, hard to remove adhesive. Goo Gone to the rescue!
Tips and Gear for Growler Filling
Filling a growler or small draft dispenser from your draft setup is an easy and straightforward process. Here are some tips and tools for making this as easy and efficient as possible.
Tips and Gear for Growler Filling!
Bar5F Heavy Duty Chemical Resistant Spray Bottle + Star San Tips & Tricks
BAR5F Empty Plastic Spray Bottle 32 oz, Chemical Resistant, Professional, Heavy Duty, Green
From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:
- Trigger Spray Bottle – Fully Adjustable Nozzle – from a fine mist to a jet stream.
- Chemical resistant bottle and sprayer.
- All purpose; cleaning, house, kitchen, auto, etc
Related: Star San Tips, Tricks and Guidelines – Using Star San In a Spray Bottle – that details the “spray bottle technique” of easily and effectively sanitizing for pennies a batch.
BAR5F Empty Plastic Spray Bottle 32 oz, Chemical Resistant, Professional, Heavy Duty – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
Also: Search “Star San” on Amazon
More: Recent Amazon Finds
Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application. Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application. Always read and follow manufacturer directions.
Use a Wallpaper Prep Tray for Cleaning, Sanitizing and Storage of Longer Brewing Items
Pictured: Zinsser 98030 30-Inch Wallpaper Prep Tray – via Amazon
Part of Our Homebrew Tips and Tricks Series. Check out the complete list – Homebrewing Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts! This is a Top Post! See: All Top Posts
- I use a wallpaper try to clean and sanitize longer items like racking canes, auto-siphons, spoons, tubing and beverage out dip tubes. It works great.
- These also work well for storing longer items. If you’re going to store things in these, I would recommend stacking a couple together to give them some extra strength.
- Another similar option are planter boxes. They are generally sturdier than wallpaper prep trays and they’re about the same length. Since you can get away with one your total cost may end up being less.
- Zinsser 98030 30-Inch Wallpaper Prep Tray – via Amazon
- Search Amazon for “wallpaper prep tray”
- Bloem 20-52430 Fiskars TerraBox Planter, Thyme Green, 30″ – via Amazon
- Search Amazon for “planter box” – consider total length when deciding
- Related Top Post: Star San Tips, Tricks and Guidelines – Using Star San In a Spray Bottle
- Related Top Post: Bus Tubs for Brew Day – Save Time and Effort
- Related Categories: Cleaning, Sanitation, Storage
More Homebrew Finds!
- Last 50 Finds!
- Top Deals – a curated list of the best deals
- Homebrew Reviews – one of the largest libraries of homebrew reviews in existence!
- Our Top Posts – tips, how-tos, resources posts and more
- Let’s be Friends!
More: Our Last Fifty Finds!
Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application. Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application. Always read and follow manufacturer directions. toppost:wptray rp:tips#32 tag:tpru
Fix It! Repairing Loose Cornelius Keg Handles and Bases
Pictured: Loose Handle/Bottom Ball Lock Keg via Adventures in Homebrewing
Part of Our Homebrew Tips and Tricks Series. Check out the complete list – Homebrewing Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts! This is a Top Post! See: All Top Posts
A loose corny keg handle or base can be an annoyance. If your keg is in otherwise good shape, it may make sense to repair a loose handle or base.
Finding Loose Handle Kegs, How-To Continues Below:
Why would you want to find a loose handle or base keg. The answer is… they can be a great deal!
Adventures in Homebrewing is the one shop I know of that periodically sells loose handle or base kegs.
- Availability of these is touch and go.
- When they’re available available, these are generally one of the best Ball Lock keg deals around.
- If you’re interested, based on past experience, I’d suggest picking these up sooner rather than later.
Loose Handle/Bottom Ball Lock keg w/PRV Lid
This technique comes via Facebook friend Jason Connect with HBF on Facebook]. Thank you Jason!
Bar5F Heavy Duty Chemical Resistant Spray Bottle + Star San Tips & Tricks
BAR5F Empty Plastic Spray Bottle 32 oz, Chemical Resistant, Professional, Heavy Duty, Green
From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:
- Trigger Spray Bottle – Fully Adjustable Nozzle – from a fine mist to a jet stream.
- Chemical resistant bottle and sprayer.
- All purpose; cleaning, house, kitchen, auto, etc
Related: Star San Tips, Tricks and Guidelines – Using Star San In a Spray Bottle – that details the “spray bottle technique” of easily and effectively sanitizing for pennies a batch.
BAR5F Empty Plastic Spray Bottle 32 oz, Chemical Resistant, Professional, Heavy Duty – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
Also: Search “Star San” on Amazon
More: Recent Amazon Finds
Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application. Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application. Always read and follow manufacturer directions.