Product Spotlight: The Anvil Brewing Kettle

By Mark Iacopelli

The holiday season is a great time for homebrewers. The seasonal brews are wonderful and Saint Nick is here to bring you those much needed upgrades to your brewing system.

If you have been thinking of making the leap to all-grain brewing and need a bigger pot, want to expand your existing system or would like to transition into electric brewing, the new Anvil Brewing kettle is perfect.

Anvil Brewing Equipment is a sister company to Blichmann Engineering. Their goal is to bring Blichmann quality and durability into a price range that is more accessible. Despite the lower price point almost nothing was taken away, and a couple features added. Stainless steel ball valve, thermometer, laser etched volume markings and dip tube all come standard with this kettle.

This kettle is also clad with induction capable stainless steel allowing you to do electric brewing more safely and inexpensively. The typical route for electric brewing is to drill a number of holes into your pot and install electric heating coils which get in the way of stirring and are difficult to clean. For about $80 on Amazon you can get an 1800w portable induction top and you’re immediately set up for up to 7-gallon boils for 5-gallon batches.

Another unique feature with this kettle is that it doubles as a fermentor. A hole in the lid allows for a grommet and airlock to be used, and the rim can be covered with a silicone seal. This means all you need to do is cool the beer down and pitch your yeast — no transfer necessary.

At Siciliano’s we currently carry the 10-gallon model for $249.99. We can also order in 5.5-gallon through 20-gallon versions by request.

Product Spotlight: 90-Degree Sankey Elbow

By Matt Ross

There is a huge variety of brewing toys available here at Siciliano’s. Whenever something new hits our shelves we like to put it in the spotlight, particularly if it doesn’t stand out on its own.

This new piece is physically small but has huge utility. This stainless steel 90-degree Sankey elbow is able to thread onto the beer out end of your Sankey coupler and provide numerous serving options.

This allows you to do a few things. For starters, if you have a low profile kegerator this can save you some much needed space on running beer lines. The other function of this elbow (my favorite function) is to make any Sankey coupler a mobile taproom. When paired with a MTP tailpiece and a faucet adaptor you can pour beer directly out of your keg from a faucet. This is great for serving commercial beer from a faucet without dismantling your entire kegerator.

Going to deer camp? Having a family reunion? Fall camping trip? Football party? This little guy helps spread the good beer anywhere. Stop in and ask about the 90-degree Sankey elbows.

Ball Lock to American Sankey Conversion Kit

By Matt Ross

As an avid homebrewer I’m always on the lookout for ways to make my brewing and kegging systems more efficient. While perusing through one of our whole catalogs recently I was excited to find that there’s an easy way to convert my homebrew kegging system into a setup that can also be used to dispense commercially produced beer.

Siciliano’s is now carrying the hardware that enables an American Sankey coupler to be used with ball-lock disconnects. That’s right folks. You can now push commercial craft beer through an American Sankey using your Cornelius kegging system. This setup is ideal for homebrewers looking for an easier transition between homebrew and commercial kegs. Stop in and ask any of our staff about these handy conversion kits which retail at Siciliano’s for $36.99. Happy Holidays and brew on!

Please note that the American Sankey couplers ($44.00 at Siciliano’s) are sold separately.

New Beer Friday, Black Friday Edition (Nov. 28)

A wall of kits in need of good homes

Preamble by Doug Dorda

'Tis the season for savings here at Siciliano's, and we have worked to provide the best possible deals to those of you looking to scratch the interested wine- and beer-makers off your list. In the interest of providing you, the shopper, with the quickest means of gathering all equipment necessary for someone to make their first batch of beer or wine, we present to you another year of Doug's Deals. Prices will become effective November 28.

Homebrewing Equipment Kit Deals

Each of these deals will provide you with one version of our beer making equipment kits as well as two cases of clear 12-oz amber bottles, a wine thief and a copy of How to Brew by John palmer. Aside from the ingredients, these deals include all the equipment a beginning brewer will need. Please note the Doug's Deluxe Kit (see below) does not contain a brew pot. This kit in particular should only be considered by those who know that the kit's recipient already has a kettle at least 5 gallons in size.

Doug's Deluxe Equipment Kit Deal, $140
This kit includes the Brewers Best Deluxe Equipment kit along with tow cases of 12-oz amber bottles, a wine thief and a copy of How to Brew by John Palmer. These items sold separately have a combined value of $160. Total savings, $20.

Doug's Beast of a Deal, $170
This kit includes the Brewers Best equipment kit as well as two cases of bottles, wine thief and book. The kit contains everything that can be found in the deluxe kit, but also boasts a 5-gallon stainless steel brew pot by Polar Ware, a test tube and a vial of IO-San sanitizer. For those who need to purchase the complete package, look no further than this deal. Again, the total savings add up to $20, as the separate cost amounts to $190.

Winemaking Equipment Kit Deal

It is important to note that the winemaking deal varies significantly from the beer making deal. The least of the reasons behind that being there is no boil necessary for wine making so a pot is of no concern.

Doug's Winemaking Deal, $130
You get the Vitners Best winemaking equipment kit, two cases of 750-ml green Bordeaux wine bottles and an auxiliary 6-gallon glass carboy. The total cost for the items purchased separately would be $150. That's a savings of $20!

For those of you who simply cannot decide on a gift for that beer or wine lover in your life, we also offer Siciliano's gift cards, which are available in any increment. The cards are good for any of the items that we offer in the store.

If you have any questions with regard to pricing, or any questions about equipment, please give us a call at 615-453-9674.

We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season.

Disclaimer: These deals are designed to be comprehensive packages for equipment only; ingredients will be sold separately. All of the above listed equipment, and kits will also be available for sale on their own. You do not have to purchase a full deal if you do not wish to.

New and Returning Beer

• Founders Big Lushious, $14.79/22oz (limit 1 per) - "This deep, rich stout is packed with flavor: roasted malts, all-natural dark chocolate, a subtle suggestion of burnt coffee grounds and a kiss of tart raspberries. It’s big but balanced. At 7.8% ABV, Big Lushious is a sumptuous, extravagant dessert beer fit for enjoying with friends and family around the holidays or to celebrate a special occasion. But really, this beer can make any occasion special. Don’t worry; we won’t call you a lush" (source).
• Jolly Pumpkin Persimmon Ship, $14.39/750ml - "Combining Indiana persimmons and dragonfruit from Thailand? Who would concoct such a divinely subtle concoction of joy and delight? Only the spookily twisted folks at Jolly Pumpkin and Upland Brewing, that’s who. From the rolling hills of Indiana, to the twisted wrought iron gates and graveyards of Dexter, comes this wonderful blending of oak aged sour ale" (source).
• Saugatuck Reverent Monk, $2.59/12oz - "A traditional Belgian Tripel with complex flavors of clove, banana, and spicy esters. Deep yellow in color and medium bodied with a sweet finish" (source).
• Stone Enjoy By 12.26.14 IPA, $7.69/750ml - "You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers – especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs – we’ve taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We’ve not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you’re getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn’t randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we’ve sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA" (source).
• Vivant Pepper in the Rye, $3.39/16oz - "Great friends. Great food. Great beer. Relaxing at a meal together is the best part of our day. This beer is made for enhancing that experience. The flaked rye lends an earthy spiciness and the addition of green peppercorns into the boil kettle give a ping of peppery notes that will turn up the flavor of whatever dish you sit down to at your table. Add a friend or two and you’ve got yourself a memorable evening" (source).
• Sagarnoa Txopinondo Cider, $11.79/750ml - "Basque cider from the French side of the border! This is a fascinating and wonderful cider. Made in the traditional Basque technique, but because they are in France, they are able to use a broader variety of apple types. In France, the apples used in cider making tend to be less sharp than in Spain. This cider shows the bright, softly sour notes of green apple, with a gentle creamy texture and a dry, refreshing finish" (source).
• Domaine du Verger Rose Cidre Bouche, $8.59/750ml - Apple hard cider. Product of France.
• Clos de lal Fontaine Hugo, $12.89/750ml - 100% pure apple cider with no sugar added. Product of France.

Video of the Week | Carhartt & NHBC

Cheers!

Cleaning, Sanitizing Homebrew Equipment: A Primer

By Josh Swift

The time has come. You have taken your first steps into the world of homebrewing and are ready to boil up your first batch. But hold on just a second. Many off flavors and problems during and after fermentation are the result of improper sanitation. With many commercially available cleansers and sanitizers on the market, it can often be hard to know which is most effective or ideally suited to your brewing conditions. In this primer, we will explore the various compounds available, when and where to use them, and their advantages and disadvantages.

Cleansers

Proper sanitation in brewing requires the use of both a cleanser and a sanitizer. Each compound has a specific role in insuring that your beer is free from infections and contaminations. Cleansers are used to clean dirty brewing equipment by removing soil and organic compounds. Most of the cleansers carried in homebrew stores (specifically here at Siciliano's) are oxidizing agents. This list includes PBW, B-Brite, and Straight A.  These compounds contain hydrochloride and perborate, which release active oxygen while cleaning. Simply put, these cleansers are extremely effective in attacking proteins and organic soils on your equipment. Compounds such as B-Brite and PBW must be rinsed off thoroughly after use. By using cleansers, we can insure that our sanitizers, which we will discuss next, are able to do their jobs effectively.

Sanitizers

Sanitizers are the second step in your sanitation process. Any piece of equipment that will come into contact with cool beer should be exposed to a sanitizer first. This will help prevent the introduction of foreign micro-organisms that can potentially ruin your homebrew. Here at Siciliano's, we usually recommend two types of sanitizers, but also carry a few more advanced formulas as well.

Acid Anionics

Acid anionics work by utilizing acid in a polymer to coat a surface. The solution will remain active as long as the surface is damp. Surfaces should be wet for at least 10 seconds to insure they have been sanitized. One notable benefit of this class of sanitizers is that many are a no-rinse solution. This means that there is no need to rinse equipment prior to it coming in contact with your beer and risking an infection. This is a result of the acid being diluted to such a point that it no longer acts as a sanitizer, and instead becomes a yeast nutrient. Nifty right? Our selection of acid anionics includes Star San and Saniclean. Both of these compounds also have a long period of effectiveness if they are not exposed excessive soil or contamination, remaining active for weeks after they are initially mixed.

These compounds do have some drawbacks, however. They are only effective in a narrow PH range (2-3 per manufacturers specifications). They are also relatively expensive compared to other sanitizers. One possible point of danger is that they can not be mixed with chloride solutions, as they will release toxic chlorine gas. Chlorine sanitizers are not ideal anyways as they require a thorough rinsing before equipment comes into contact with beer.

Iodophor

Iodine solutions have along history of use as sanitizing agents. Iodophor refers to a solution of iodine mixed with a surfactant to stabilize it in a solution of water. Iodophor works by way of haleogenization, disrupting the membranes of microbes and disrupting cellular processes. This means it is extremely effective against many different kinds of microbes, especially wild yeast and mold. In the correct concentration, Iodophor can also be used as a no-rinse sanitizer. Some brewers have also been kind enough to do their own research on Iodophor as well, and we have included their results at the end of this article.

However, like acid anionics, Iodophor does have limitations. If it is over-concentrated, it can stain equipment. It is also is fairly volatile at temperatures over 120F, resulting in reduced performance. Higher temperatures can also put brewers at risk of iodine gas inhalation if they are brewing in a small and poorly ventilated area. Unlike Star San, Iodophor loses effectiveness within a few days of being mixed with water.

Caustics

Caustics are an extremely effective cleanser and sanitizer. However, they are also the most dangerous compound to use. Thus, new brewers would be best suited to using the chemicals we have discussed previously. Nevertheless, caustics are extremely effective in dissolving soil and destroying microbes.

As the name suggests, caustics are extremely corrosive and will cause chemical burns. They are also extremely toxic and should not be breathed in or swallowed. Caustics must also be extensively rinsed.

Chlorine (Bleach)

There was once a time when the only viable sanitizer for homebrewers was bleach. This was a result of the very niche nature of the hobby in the 1980s and 90s. Even some books for beginning brewers still list bleach as an option. However, with all the other available sanitizers on the market at this time there are quite a few reasons to finally retire bleach from service in brewing.

Bleach needs to be thoroughly rinsed from all equipment, as it is toxic, and will adversely affect yeast, and leave noticeable flavors in finished beverages. Bleach is also quite corrosive and will discolor and damage stainless steel and other metals. Brewers should also keep in mind that using bleach in conjunction with any acids will cause the liberation of chlorine gas, a potentially deadly toxin. As a staff, we would never condone the use of bleach or any chlorides as a sanitizer.

Conclusion

Hopefully this article has helped make the process of cleaning and sanitation less intimidating. The links at the bottom of the page lead to various resources on the specifics of some of the products and processes discussed earlier. Feel free to ask questions of the Siciliano's staff as well.

• BYO Magazine interview with brewers on sanitation
• Overview of Sanitizers, Cleansers, and Best Cleaning Practices
• Manufacturer's fact sheet for Star-San