Mikeus

Recipes 

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum. Anyway, 8 days ago I brewed my first batch of an amber ale. I steeped my grains in 2 gallons of water at about 160 degrees for around 15-20 minutes, then brought it to a boil and added two cans of malt extract. Also added 1.5 oz Hallertau hops. I did not add any sugar, just used extract. Boiled for 60 minutes, stirring about every 10. The boil went really smooth (surprisingly). Added 3 gallons cold water to my sanitized 7 gallon bucket fermenter. Poured the wort in and waited until temp was about 70 degrees and pitched the dry yeast. I can't recall the OG offhand but it read 7% ABV so if you want to look at your hydrometer and figure it out you can.

As I said, it's been sitting for 8 days now in a dark room at around 70 degrees. I just now opened the lid to take a hydrometer reading (it's at 1.020 right now) and there is a brown substance floating on the top (yeast?). Is this part of the process? Does this ever sink to the bottom?

Thanks for the help!

zoebisch01

Recipes 

I would imagine it may be the remnants of the Krausen or maybe your yeast hanging out up there. Either way this is perfectly fine and normal. Let it stay another 6 days in your primary before checking it again, unless of course you plan to rack to a secondary. If you wait it should drop out by then. No cause for alarm.

__________________
Event Horizon ~ A tribute to the miracle of fermentation.

Brew what you like. Do this, and you will find your inner brewer.

Mikeus

Recipes 

Hey thanks a lot for the advice, I'll let it sit for another 6 days and let you know the outcome.

Argh the waiting is the hardest part...

Cheers

desmo

Recipes 

waiting on the first batch to finish by be the longest wait known to man. I thank I drank about half of my first batch green.