Newest Threads

sacks13 · 05-24-2007, 02:20 AM

Hello all,

Brewing my first beer this weekend and hoping for something resembling a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Posting here because I'm looking for all types of suggestions, like...

1. Any good tutorials on brewing?
2. Any tips with this recipe?
3. Any general Pale Ale specific tips?

Here are my ingredients:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

6.6 oz. Coopers Light Malt Extract
2 oz. Cascade hops
2 oz. Perl hops
1 lb. Crystal Malt
1 packet of Danstar Windsor Yeast

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thoughts guys?

Thanks!

Mr. Mojo Rising · 05-24-2007, 02:35 AM

Welcome to the obession!

1) Go to www.howtobrew.com and read it, live it, and breath it. It has helped me get on my feet in the past few months. Also this forum is a wealth of knowledge.

2) I just did a similar beer 2 months ago and it turned out great. I highly suggest dry-hopping with some Perle Hops in a secondary clarifying tank, if you have one.

3)Follow the 1-2-3 method. At least a week in the primary, 2 weeks in the secondary, and 3 weeks bottle/keg conditioning. IT WORKS.

4) My own little advice ---- Since this is your first brew, you will be VERY excited to drink your beer so you might want to stock up on some microbrew to help calm the nerves for 6 weeks. Also start another beer as soon as you finish the first! You will get better.

sacks13 · 05-24-2007, 04:05 AM

I have read in several places, including howtobrew. com, that as a first timer I should not use a secondary fermenter. Being that my recipe calls for it and I hear good things though, I'd like to try it.

Any thoughts? If I do it, what do I need to be wary of?

**BierMuncher** · 05-24-2007, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Mojo Rising

4) My own little advice ---- Since this is your first brew, you will be VERY excited to drink your beer so you might want to stock up on some microbrew to help calm the nerves for 6 weeks. Also start another beer as soon as you finish the first! You will get better.

Best advice you'll ever get.

I always use a secondary. Get in the habit of doing so and you'll be a better brewere for it.

Follow the recipe you were given. IF you like the citrusy flavor of the SNPA, I'd suggest taking 1/3rd of the hops and adding it at flame out and letting it steep for 5 minutes.

This will lower the bitterness a little and add that grapefruit tone.

**DeathBrewer** · 05-24-2007, 06:57 AM

no one way to do it...use a hydrometer and keep good records of your process. wait until your beer has stopped fermenting before transferring to secondary. be patient, keep brewing, and you'll enjoy many a fine brew! best hobby ever!

saul · 05-24-2007, 10:12 AM

My first suggestion would be to fallow the recipe as exactly stated, just for the experience, but I SECOND doing a secondary. It can only improve your beer. I suggest transferring to secondary after 4-5 days.

After that, I would suggest going to a home brew supplies shop and getting 8 pounds of liquid pale malt extract, or doubling the DME. Also try cutting the crystal by at least half a pound.

piperkeith · 05-24-2007, 07:20 PM

Does it say WHY, as a first time brewer, you shouldn't use a secondary?
Just wondering.

**ajf** · 05-24-2007, 11:50 PM

I've got a suggestion.

Change the 6.6 oz LME to 6.6 lbs.

-a.

Buford · 05-24-2007, 11:58 PM

Using a seconday is another point that you could potentially aerate or infect your brew, so that's probably why it's not recommended for newbies. That said, I've always done a secondary excepting hefeweizens since they really don't need it. It's not hard, just an extra step.

**DeathBrewer** · 05-25-2007, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajf

I've got a suggestion.

Change the 6.6 oz LME to 6.6 lbs.

-a.

that's some good advice right there