Clay

Recipes 

My wife bought me a starter kit that only uses one stage fermentation. I am thinking of switching to, two stage fermentation. (My second batch came out tasting pretty bad)

What do I need to do two stage fermentation?
What steps do I do different in making the beer in two stage fermentation?

Thanks

El Pistolero

Recipes 

You need another fermenter for the secondary fermentation...go with a 5 gal glass carboy...and a stopper and airlock for it. Also a racking cane if you don't already have one.

The only thing you do different is, after the main part of the fermentation is complete (3 to 7 days), you siphon out of the primary into the secondary, pop the airlock/stopper on there, and let it sit until it clears (couple weeks).

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[/I] Up Next - Hobgoblin
After That - Czech Pilsner
Primary - Humboldt Hop Rod (4/24)
Primary - NOT Wheat AG SNCA (5/5)
Secondary -
Conditioning - SNCA Clone (3/3),

Shmohel

Recipes 

I suggest several stoppers

Read this:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/racking-mistake-1737/

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Rhoobarb

Recipes 

Sasquatch

Recipes 

Clay, what's "pretty bad"? and what type of kits are you working from? Buying the pre-boiled wort in say, a Brewhouse, Festa, or Barons kit, and just handling the fermentation yourself, will tell you if the problems you are having are related to the fermentation stage (which is to say, are either temperature or contamination oriented problems).

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Primary: Lager

Secondary: Sangiovese, Honey Nut Brown, some Pilsner/ale kinda thing that just won't quit...

Bottled:
Tar Sands Porter, Special Dark Bitter,Oaky Red ale, Hammer & Tongs Black Ale, Black Draught, Cooper's Bitter, Baron's Pilsner
Super Saazy Saaz Pilsner Saaz (It's a little green, yet)

Clay

Recipes 

I've got the Brewers Best starter kits. I had made Scotch Ale.
I'm not good at explaining tastes. Its got a real strong aftertaste that you can feel in your month and your throat after you drink it.

Oahu

Recipes 

Great name.
(His name is my name too...)

Glad to see you're looking into two stage. Although I am new and newbish, I do have a strange piece of advice: when you get your glass carboy, cover it. Many of us forget that beer is vulnerably to light even while fermenting.I just did and am kicking myself.

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Primary: Awaiting Wine
Seconday: Empty
Bottle Conditioning: Hank's Hefeweizen