Ask Sierra Nevada’s Experts - additional questions and answers

[sierranevadapromotion]

@tschmidlin

@hopfenundmalz

@tschmidlin

I think maybe we need to read it with a sense of humor, I’m sure it was intended as a joke.  And also remember when picking out your six pack who gave people a free chance to go to beer camp.  Just sayin’.

It’s kind of funny to me though, that whoever this is makes very good points in some answers about the difference between home and pro brewing, and then in other questions completely ignores that difference.  For example, the autolysis question - the conditions at the bottom of a giant tank are a lot different than in the bottom of a 5 gallon carboy.

Not the same person responding to all questions?

Very possible, I have no idea.

There were about 6 of us all sitting around…enjoying our fine product, and answering questions. We tried to scale our answers down to homebrew size, but depending on who took the lead on the question made a difference on how the answers come across.

Cheers!

-Bill

[sierranevadapromotion]

@denny

There’s a guy on the brewsbros forum who works for SN.  Every time batch sparging is mentioned he posts that batch sparging is for suckers.  I don’t think he’s ever tried it, though.  I’m guessing this comment was written by the same person.

You are exactly correct. The good Dr. Baugh…AKA Basser, I believe. It was meant as a joke.

[maxieboy]

@sierranevadapromotion

@tygo

@maxieboy

@sierranevadapromotion

By the way…batch sparging is for suckers!

:o :o :o

Buncha suckers here on the forum then I guess, myself included.  This is the kind of comment that gets remembered when I’m deciding which six pack to pick up.

Sorry guys, we didn’t mean to offend anyone…A bunch of us read all of the contention here about Batch-sparging vs Fly sparging and just decided to stir some stuff up!

Batch sparging is NOT for suckers…we’re just teasing! If it works for you, then by all means go for it.

Cheers!

-Bill
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

It’s cool. No pedantic homebrewers to see here, move along…  ;D

[tygo]

@sierranevadapromotion

@tygo

@maxieboy

@sierranevadapromotion

By the way…batch sparging is for suckers!

:o :o :o

Buncha suckers here on the forum then I guess, myself included.  This is the kind of comment that gets remembered when I’m deciding which six pack to pick up.

Sorry guys, we didn’t mean to offend anyone…A bunch of us read all of the contention here about Batch-sparging vs Fly sparging and just decided to stir some stuff up!

Batch sparging is NOT for suckers…we’re just teasing! If it works for you, then by all means go for it.

Cheers!

-Bill
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

It’s cool Bill.  It was Friday night after a long week and I was irritable when I posted that.  Thanks for the response and the great promotion.

[bluesman]

@hopfenundmalz

@bluesman

It sounds like SN racks off the primary yeast (Old School :)). I wonder if that means they drop the trub and yeast from their conicals or do they actually transfer the beer.

My bet is that they drop the yeast/trub as it’s the logical method.  :-\

Thoughts?

Ron,

Once the fermentation is done they “stabilize” the beer in the fermenters with PVPP and another clarifying agent.  The yeast is then dumped from the bottom.  It is a real sight to see the yeast from an 800 bbl fermenter go down the drain.  The wife has some pictures somewhere…

Man…I would love to take a tour of the brewery someday. Are you going to NHC?

Post the pics if you can find them. Thanks.

[hopfenundmalz]

@bluesman

@hopfenundmalz

@bluesman

It sounds like SN racks off the primary yeast (Old School :)). I wonder if that means they drop the trub and yeast from their conicals or do they actually transfer the beer.

My bet is that they drop the yeast/trub as it’s the logical method.  :-\

Thoughts?

Ron,

Once the fermentation is done they “stabilize” the beer in the fermenters with PVPP and another clarifying agent.  The yeast is then dumped from the bottom.  It is a real sight to see the yeast from an 800 bbl fermenter go down the drain.  The wife has some pictures somewhere…

Man…I would love to take a tour of the brewery someday. Are you going to NHC?

Post the pics if you can find them. Thanks.

We are both going to the SD NHC.  Will look for the pictures from our Beer Camp Adventure in 2009.  We were there for #13, Old Cantankerous.  Super good time with the outstanding people of Sierra Nevada Brewing.

[bluesman]

@hopfenundmalz

@bluesman

@hopfenundmalz

@bluesman

It sounds like SN racks off the primary yeast (Old School :)). I wonder if that means they drop the trub and yeast from their conicals or do they actually transfer the beer.

My bet is that they drop the yeast/trub as it’s the logical method.  :-\

Thoughts?

Ron,

Once the fermentation is done they “stabilize” the beer in the fermenters with PVPP and another clarifying agent.  The yeast is then dumped from the bottom.  It is a real sight to see the yeast from an 800 bbl fermenter go down the drain.  The wife has some pictures somewhere…

Man…I would love to take a tour of the brewery someday. Are you going to NHC?

Post the pics if you can find them. Thanks.

We are both going to the SD NHC.  Will look for the pictures from our Beer Camp Adventure in 2009.  We were there for #13, Old Cantankerous.  Super good time with the outstanding people of Sierra Nevada Brewing.

I hope to tour SN someday soon. I’ll look for you at NHC Jeff.

[tschmidlin]

@sierranevadapromotion

@tschmidlin

@hopfenundmalz

@tschmidlin

I think maybe we need to read it with a sense of humor, I’m sure it was intended as a joke.  And also remember when picking out your six pack who gave people a free chance to go to beer camp.  Just sayin’.

It’s kind of funny to me though, that whoever this is makes very good points in some answers about the difference between home and pro brewing, and then in other questions completely ignores that difference.  For example, the autolysis question - the conditions at the bottom of a giant tank are a lot different than in the bottom of a 5 gallon carboy.

Not the same person responding to all questions?

Very possible, I have no idea.

There were about 6 of us all sitting around…enjoying our fine product, and answering questions. We tried to scale our answers down to homebrew size, but depending on who took the lead on the question made a difference on how the answers come across.

Cheers!

-Bill

Sounds like a good time!  Thanks for the responses, I enjoyed reading them, even the ones where you’re wrong. ;D

[molbasser]

All good fun people…Just a little inside joke from another forum I belong too.

MolBasser

[denny]

Good to see ya here, basser.  BTW, fly sparging sucks! 

[denny]

@sierranevadapromotion

Sorry guys, we didn’t mean to offend anyone…A bunch of us read all of the contention here about Batch-sparging vs Fly sparging and just decided to stir some stuff up!

Batch sparging is NOT for suckers…we’re just teasing! If it works for you, then by all means go for it.

Cheers!

-Bill
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

FWIW, Bill, I think the days of “Sparge Wars” are long past.  There are enough batch spargers these days that its efficacy is no longer in doubt.  Personally, I don’t care what method people use.  I just want people to realize that both methods are equally viable and it’s a matter of personal preference.

[punatic]

@denny

@sierranevadapromotion

Sorry guys, we didn’t mean to offend anyone…A bunch of us read all of the contention here about Batch-sparging vs Fly sparging and just decided to stir some stuff up!

Batch sparging is NOT for suckers…we’re just teasing! If it works for you, then by all means go for it.

Cheers!

-Bill
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

FWIW, Bill, I think the days of “Sparge Wars” are long past.  There are enough batch spargers these days that its efficacy is no longer in doubt.  Personally, I don’t care what method people use.  I just want people to realize that both methods are equally viable and it’s a matter of personal preference.

If that is the case, perhaps now is the time for me to reveal my design for my converted washing machine “spinning lauter tun”. I sparge with centripetal force only. I call it my HEFRS system (high efficiency first runnings sparging) system.  I got the idea one late evening when I was in the lab working on my third bottle of Big Foot while waiting for the centrifuge to finish spinning some samples. 

[denny]

Like this?

Automated Beer Brewing With a Washing Machine

Beer Brewing in a Washing Machine Part 1 Setup

[bluesman]

@denny

Like this?

Automated Beer Brewing With a Washing Machine | TechSpot

http://youtu.be/d9ezq3XYGIg

I have to say that I don’t think I would have ever thought of mashing in a washing machine.  :-\

Very inventive minds at work there. 

[mattt (SpanishCastleAle)]

There are a decent number of homebrewers that think that sparging at all is for suckers.

[punatic]

@denny

Like this?

Automated Beer Brewing With a Washing Machine | TechSpot

http://youtu.be/d9ezq3XYGIg

Looks like I’m not the only one who drinks three bottles of Big Foot in one session…

[denny]

@punatic

@denny

Like this?

Automated Beer Brewing With a Washing Machine | TechSpot

http://youtu.be/d9ezq3XYGIg

Looks like I’m not the only one who drinks three bottles of Big Foot in one session…

There is nothing new under the sun, son…

[denny]

And just for basser…

Grateful Dead is for suckers!  ;D

[bluesman]

@denny

And just for basser…

Grateful Dead is for suckers!   ;D

Jerry is rolling over in his grave as you have typed. 

[punatic]

@bluesman

@denny

And just for basser…

Grateful Dead is for suckers!   ;D

Jerry is rolling over in his grave as you have typed. 

Hopefully Jerry is rolling someplace a whole lot cooler than that.  I’m guessing that he and Ken Kesey are going even Further…