Jdub

it will not hurt anything. it is pretty foamy stuff. when i bottle, i just pour the solution out the best i can. ignore the bubbles and let them overflow when bottling to the proper level ( i use a bottling wand). you don't need to rinse it. after i cap a bottle i run it under the sink and rinse off the outside of the bottle, but that's it.

that's too complex for me. instructions say 1 oz per gallon. i just eyeball a little less than a 1/4 oz on the onboard measuring thing and pour in a gallon pitcher of warm water. never had any problems. always keep some handy in a spray bottle as well.

do you have an amazon prime account? i would order some star san and you would probably have it in hand in 2 days.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CRKWD8M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this and a decent volume kettle and you're all set!

i wouldn't overthink it. get some brewing software and try it multiple times using different base malts if you want. you can also e-mail Briess. they will probably help you with the conversion. or, ask your LHBS. mine would tell me to just use 2 row as a base malt.

i'll attempt to answer. according to your "lazy" conversion chart, 5 lbs grains=3 lbs DME. 1st know that that is very general. I would buy/download brewing software like Beersmith 3. Plug in 5 lbs of base malt (2 row) and .25 lb each of crystal 60L and carapils. Then add in the hop schedule and yeast...etc. Beersmith will tell you what the expected ABV etc...should be. This makes a lot of assumptions though. You need to know the efficiency of your equipment and process. I would probably look at BIAB set up. I'm still learning what my efficiency is and it varies from batch to batch b/c i'm a newbie. With the software, you can bump up the ABV etc...and it will increase/decrease your grain bill for you. I watched a ton of BIAB videos on youtube. still do. I've probably watched this video about 10 times and even built a cooler mash tun that i think is pretty awesome. he has some other good vids as well. IMHO.

I am so glad that you like it. I just dry hopped my 3rd LBK batch of it today. excellent brew and simple to make. one note, the hops do fade over time. my plan is to always have a batch fermenting or conditioning along side MRB and other batches.

good question D. while i'm cooling the wort, i just lift it out and hold it over the kettle. the mesh is pretty fine, so i just kind of roll it around horizontally until most of the liquid drains out. after that, i just turn it upside down in the sink and rinse it out. super easy to clean. used it 4 or 5 batches and it's worked great.

i use a hop spider during the boil. this retains a ton of the hop sludge. other batches, i don't worry about it. just pour it all into the fermenter and it goes to the bottom during the cold crash i think.

Nick, that is a lot of brewing my friend. congrats. with the time invested in brewing and waiting and waiting, i'm into risk reduction in areas i can control. i bought a case of 22 oz glass bombers recently and will use 1/2 of them on my next batch shortly and the other 1/2 12 oz. just to shake things up.

nothing against PET bottles, but they have failed me several times....leaks, flat beer....etc. Glass bottles have always been great. i feel like they provide the best seal. bottle washing is a little work, but i really don't mind doing it. i wash around 50 at a time and hang them on my bottle tree. i have a bench capper which will cap just about any size bottle. i've bought a few cases of glass bottles before, but now i buy commercial beer like sam adams...etc. and reuse the bottles if i need more.

you'll like the THIPA. it's a good one. you don't need anything fancy to brew with Mr. Beer. The only upgrade that is commonly recommended here is a cooler to put the LBK in with some frozen water bottles for temp control. i would also recommend a thermometer with a probe. i got one on amazon for $10. good luck and let us know how it turns out!

thanks. i don't have a vacuum sealer, but i'm thinking i need to get one soon. thanks for the tips.

Anyone have an opinion on how to store hops? i buy 1 oz packs from my LHBS or from Mr. Beer. I have lots of leftovers. My LHBS keeps them in a freezer. Should I be freezing them or fridging them? next use date unknown. Whenever I need some hops, i guess.