First non Mr. Beer kit tomorrow - Page 3

flushdrew42 · 02-07-2012, 08:28 PM

Hey Happy, looks great!

i've read in places here, seen on youtube, etc, that you don't need to make so much sanitizer. you could make one batch, and simply siphon it from one container to another, allowing for the appropriate time for contact sanitizing etc... but here's how i do it.

i make a batch of star san big enough for my largest container. (my brew bucket) I sanitize everything in it that will fit. (lid, spoons, airlock, tubing, exterior of autosiphon and anything else)
then i use the autosiphon to move the solution into my secondary, or bottling bucket. then i move it into a third container just to hold it so i can sanitize anything that needs to be for each step along the way. plus it's a handy place to put spoons, or your autosiphon/bottle wand etc.... i then siphon some into each bottle. leave it for a while, then pour it back into the main bucket.

one batch of sanitizer for the whole brewday. (my brews usually take 2-3 hours tops)

However, your brew looks awesome!

HappyDrunk · 02-07-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flushdrew42

Hey Happy, looks great!

i've read in places here, seen on youtube, etc, that you don't need to make so much sanitizer. you could make one batch, and simply siphon it from one container to another, allowing for the appropriate time for contact sanitizing etc... but here's how i do it.

i make a batch of star san big enough for my largest container. (my brew bucket) I sanitize everything in it that will fit. (lid, spoons, airlock, tubing, exterior of autosiphon and anything else)
then i use the autosiphon to move the solution into my secondary, or bottling bucket. then i move it into a third container just to hold it so i can sanitize anything that needs to be for each step along the way. plus it's a handy place to put spoons, or your autosiphon/bottle wand etc.... i then siphon some into each bottle. leave it for a while, then pour it back into the main bucket.

one batch of sanitizer for the whole brewday. (my brews usually take 2-3 hours tops)

However, your brew looks awesome!

I thought about doing the same, but for 6 bucks I got a container of one-step that looks like it should last at least one more brew if not two. So I figured screw it, better over than under. I took 3.5 hours, lol! Although I did have to condition the pot which added at least 30 minutes maybe more like an hour to the total time. Regardless, thanks for saying it looks awesome, and I hope it tastes better. I'm ready to see some serious fermenting going on (hopefully by the 24 hour mark).

HappyDrunk · 02-08-2012, 02:41 AM

7 hours in, and I have some activity in the blow off tube! I can't wait 'til tomorrow morning.

**troubled_dog** · 02-08-2012, 03:30 AM

Good looking brew! I just got done drinking my first Mr Beer batch and I soon will be in your shoes. Now I need kegging equipment and some buckets/carboys!

thetragichero · 02-08-2012, 03:57 AM

just started drinking the oktoberfest i got with my kit for christmas. good flavour, decent head and lacing
already purchased a 5 gallon cooler and will start a partial mash rye ipa in the next couple of weeks
glad we're all starting this journey together!

HappyDrunk · 02-08-2012, 07:08 PM

Well, 21 hours past pitching and it blew the entire cap and tube off the carboy. The end of the tube was filled with krauzen. So I cleaned everything up, and am getting a bigger container for the blow off tube to go into. Is there anything I should do in the mean time? For my next batch, I think I'll use some of that fermcap stuff or get a full sized blow off tube, but I need to know if there is anything I can do right now for this batch.

HappyDrunk · 02-08-2012, 10:23 PM

As you can see, krauzen is all the way up to the top and was coming out before I soaked some up and cleaned a little. The top of the closet was painted brown, lol. I added some ice to the water to chill out the fermentation process, and got a gallon size milk jug for the blow off set up. 26 hours in, and still bubbling away.

**RM-MN** · 02-08-2012, 10:42 PM

Now that you have a brew day behind you and you can see that it isn't as hard as you thought it might be here's a few thoughts. You aren't making rocket fuel or explosives, your making beer. You don't have to be quite so particular about the measurements or the processes. You removed the grain bag an let it drain without squeezing it just like the directions say. Do you know what happens if you squeeze that grain bag? You get wet hot hands and you get a little more flavorful liquid and it makes your beer just a little darker. Guess what? It still makes beer.

Your kit instructions say to measure carefully so you get exactly 5 gallons into the fermenter. Guess what happens if you get a little more or a little less. Yep, you still make beer. I like to put in just a little more in my fermenter. When I bottle I have to leave the trub behind and I always lose a little beer there too and a little is always left in the bottling bucket. That's OK, I had a little extra and I still get 2 cases of beer in bottles, sometimes even an extra. RDWHAHB

HappyDrunk · 02-08-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM-MN

Now that you have a brew day behind you and you can see that it isn't as hard as you thought it might be here's a few thoughts. You aren't making rocket fuel or explosives, your making beer. You don't have to be quite so particular about the measurements or the processes. You removed the grain bag an let it drain without squeezing it just like the directions say. Do you know what happens if you squeeze that grain bag? You get wet hot hands and you get a little more flavorful liquid and it makes your beer just a little darker. Guess what? It still makes beer.

Your kit instructions say to measure carefully so you get exactly 5 gallons into the fermenter. Guess what happens if you get a little more or a little less. Yep, you still make beer. I like to put in just a little more in my fermenter. When I bottle I have to leave the trub behind and I always lose a little beer there too and a little is always left in the bottling bucket. That's OK, I had a little extra and I still get 2 cases of beer in bottles, sometimes even an extra. RDWHAHB

Point well taken. I just can't help it, I'm an engineer. The attention to detail is just part of who I am. Although, I think I will squeeze that grain bag next time. I have gloves, why the hell not? I thought it might expand the mesh and let little pieces of grain come out. It's always good to hear from guys like you who don't worry so much though! I'm sure after I have a few batches under my belt, I'll relax too.

HappyDrunk · 02-18-2012, 12:21 AM

Well, it's now on day 10, and the SG has been steady at 1.02 since day 7 after a VERY vigorous first few days. I am slightly worried because I was on the low end of the OG (instructions say 1.071 to 1.075 and I was at 1.071), and am slightly above the FG (instructions say 1.016 to 1.019, and I am at 1.02). I don't really think that's a big cause for concern, but let me know if it should be.

Also, I was planning on waiting 3 weeks in the primary. However, seeing how fast the fermentation took place, I am now planning on bottling on Tuesday (day 14) or Thursday (day 16). I'm really not concerned with the beer being crystal clear or anything. It's not going to a contest, it's just for me. But it is my first batch, and I want it to come out good. Do you all think I should wait? I'm really anxious to get going on the second one in case you couldn't tell, lol.