Second Batch Leasons Learned

**Leggoma** · 02-09-2012, 02:04 AM

So I'm excited to report that my second brew is sitting in the carboy, fermenting away (hopefully). For this brew, I didn't use a kit, I used Brewsmith to put together a recipe for a pale ale, so here's hoping I come out with a decent beer. I was much more comfortable brewing the second time around, as I had already gone through the process, and to my delight, it was a lot easier.

This time I brewed in my garage, as opposed to my back yard. Being mostly closed in from the breeze helped my temperature stay more constant on my turkey frier burner. For my first brew, I had to battle at least 5 potential boil-overs. This time, I didn't have a single close call.

For my first batch, there was a lot of boil off, but I increased the water in my pot to 6.5 gallons this time (total after sparging my steeping bag). Of course my glass carboy is not marked, but it looks like I have pretty close to 5 gallons just by eyeballing it.

I had to do some improvising with my steeping bag. I accidentally bought a small one, not a larger one. I fit most of the specialty grain into it but just barely. Tying off a knot at the top took a while, and thankfully I had some string to attach so I could steep this very full bag.

I didn't have any whirfloc. I'm told its just for clarity and not necessary, but for my third brew, I'd at least like to have some handy. The recipe said my OG should be 1.055, but I took a reading at 1.044 while racking to the primary.

It tasted a little more hoppy than I had anticipated. I boiled the Northwest for 60 mins, Crystal for 15, and Liberty for 5. Depending on how it turns out, I may tweak the hops little if I ever re-attack this recipe.

Finally, a bit off topic, but I scored a brand new full sized refrigerator today with the smallest dent on the side for $125 that I plan on using for lagering/storage. Its been a good day!

**Leggoma** · 02-09-2012, 02:07 AM

Rofl @ Leasons. Meant Lessons, i'm tired.

**two_one_seven** · 02-09-2012, 02:36 AM

Sounds like your on the right track. The more times you brew the less chaotic it will seem. Then you switch to All Grain and lose total control.....kidding.

**mux** · 02-09-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leggoma

So I'm excited to report that my second brew is sitting in the carboy, fermenting away (hopefully). For this brew, I didn't use a kit, I used Brewsmith to put together a recipe for a pale ale, so here's hoping I come out with a decent beer. I was much more comfortable brewing the second time around, as I had already gone through the process, and to my delight, it was a lot easier.

This time I brewed in my garage, as opposed to my back yard. Being mostly closed in from the breeze helped my temperature stay more constant on my turkey frier burner. For my first brew, I had to battle at least 5 potential boil-overs. This time, I didn't have a single close call.

For my first batch, there was a lot of boil off, but I increased the water in my pot to 6.5 gallons this time (total after sparging my steeping bag). Of course my glass carboy is not marked, but it looks like I have pretty close to 5 gallons just by eyeballing it.

I had to do some improvising with my steeping bag. I accidentally bought a small one, not a larger one. I fit most of the specialty grain into it but just barely. Tying off a knot at the top took a while, and thankfully I had some string to attach so I could steep this very full bag.

I didn't have any whirfloc. I'm told its just for clarity and not necessary, but for my third brew, I'd at least like to have some handy. The recipe said my OG should be 1.055, but I took a reading at 1.044 while racking to the primary.

It tasted a little more hoppy than I had anticipated. I boiled the Northwest for 60 mins, Crystal for 15, and Liberty for 5. Depending on how it turns out, I may tweak the hops little if I ever re-attack this recipe.

Finally, a bit off topic, but I scored a brand new full sized refrigerator today with the smallest dent on the side for $125 that I plan on using for lagering/storage. Its been a good day!

Did you compensate for temp on that gravity reading?

**Leggoma** · 02-09-2012, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mux

Did you compensate for temp on that gravity reading?

Good call....no I didn't. The corrected OG is 1.045. Not much of a difference, but a little less "off".

**mux** · 02-09-2012, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leggoma

Good call....no I didn't. The corrected OG is 1.045. Not much of a difference, but a little less "off".

Oh well, was hopping it would bring it up more than that.

homebrewdad · 02-09-2012, 02:58 AM

Hey OP - I actually filled my carboy with water with one measured gallon at a time, then used a sharpie to make a small mark at the water level. When it came time to pour my wort (and use top off water), I knew exactly how much liquid was in the carboy.

**Leggoma** · 02-09-2012, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebrewdad

Hey OP - I actually filled my carboy with water with one measured gallon at a time, then used a sharpie to make a small mark at the water level. When it came time to pour my wort (and use top off water), I knew exactly how much liquid was in the carboy.

Yeah, I was thinking about something like that as well! I actually had top off water boiled to sterilize and cooled in the event I needed it. I chose not to use it since it looked like I had pretty close to 5 gallons of wort.

**two_one_seven** · 02-09-2012, 03:04 AM

It's a good idea to put clear packing tape over the sharpie marks.......they can and will run if you don't lock em down.

homebrewdad · 02-09-2012, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two_one_seven

It's a good idea to put clear packing tape over the sharpie marks.......they can and will run if you don't lock em down.

Good idea. That will save me having to redraw them.