Tomorrow will be the first time I make my homebrew! I bought ingredients to make a Belgian Wheat Beer. Anything specific to look out for on the first day?
Use your hydrometer.
WRITE STUFF DOWN.
Stay sober for the first brew, you'll learn to brew drunk later...
It'll be impossible to answer your next question (which will be: "is my beer ruined") without knowing what you did.
Oh, and leave it in the primary 7-10 days. I don't care if your airlock stops bubbling or the recipe says 3-5 days. 7-10, then start taking readings with your hydrometer.
If you don't have a hydrometer, go get one.
Try not to sneeze in your beer after it's cool, but it's all right if it's still boiling.
Don't think about trying late extract method without knowing what late extract method is.
Don't post asking about late extract unless you've searched and already know what late extract is.
Belgian beer is good. Use spices in moderation.
Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew (or in your case, a good quality micro)!
Remember to always sanitize anything that touches the cooled wort/beer
When the wort comes to a boil it WILL boil over unless you watch it and lower the heat or remove the pot from the burner. Once it has been boiling for awhile it threat of a boil over is reduced.
Be sure to throughly stir your wort after you add the top off water, Many folks get inaccurate hydrometer readings because the denser wort isn't mixed well and settles to the bottom.
+1 on boil overs. Don't leave the pot until it starts boiling. Stabalize the boil and when you add the hops, get ready! It sometimes wants to boil over again.
...Anything specific to look out for on the first day?
Congratulations on your plunge....
1) Your wife will bitch about the smell
2) Your pot will boil over...can't avoid it...just be prepared.
3) You will develop a slight woody during the brewing process. Don't be embarrased
4) Adding hops to the wort will result in a brief, but violent boilover episode.
5) Sipping a craft brew during the process is extremely pleasurable.
6) Never forget that you are in the process of BREWING YOUR OWN BEER.
3) You will develop a light woody during the brewing process. Don't be embarrased
+1 on keeping a journal. You can find a few outlines online for what you want to keep in it. You'll be glad you did when you have to troubleshoot a bad beer, or recreate a kickass one.
Edit: Oh and BierMuncher, I LOL'ed, cause it's true.
Yes, Belgian Wheats smell like that while fermenting.
+2 on the journal. My former brewing buddy only wrote down the grain bill, never the hops or yeasts! I've been trying to do a few of batches in his memory, but it ain't easy.
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Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"
3) You will develop a slight woody during the brewing process. Don't be embarrassed
Unless you're a female, in which case a touch of embarrassment is quite appropriate.
__________________ FERMENTING: Members Only Maibock, Apfelwein KEGGED / BOTTLED: Düsseldorf Altbier, Honeydripper Hefe, High Yellow Strong Belgian Ale, Irish Red Ale, Canned Heat Wee Heavy ON TAP: Ó Flannagáin Extra Stout, Squeeze My Lemon Summer Blonde, Apfelwein ON DECK: Munich Helles, Ó Flannagáin Extra Stout, Cold Shot ESB
Unless you're a female, in which case a touch of embarrassment is quite appropriate.
I was thinking the same thing.........................
__________________ Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006
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But when it's my time to throw The next stone I'll call you beautiful if I call at all
Making my first batch tomorrow!
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