Recent content by newbrewguy11

Thanks FastAndy These are the two kits: Pumpkin ale - this is the one where the package is extremely swelled. I don't think I could break the thing on the inside http://www.midwestsupplies.com/homebrewing-ingredients/recipe-kits/specialty-beers/pumpkin-ale.html Winter ale - this one the...

Just a bit more info. I ordered two kits. Each with the wyeast. One of them is super swelled up (never refrigerated it and never popped the thing in the middle). The other one is pretty flat. Just put both in the fridge.

PS was hoping to brew tonight if anyone has any insight :(

Is this yeast going to be any good? Do I have to refrigerate it before use? I realize brewers who know waht they are doing know what this stuff is but Midwest supplies packs the recipe kits into another box...and nothing was mentioned in the ordering process.

Thanks for all the responses! That's good news. I guess it's back to the waiting game then :) Will let you guys know how it turns out!

Maybe this is dumb question but I just racked my first batch of beer over the weekend. As had been mentioned in a couple of places, I decided to take a quick sip of it to see how it tasted. It really smelled awesome but the taste was off to me. It tasted quite bitter another taste-tester in the...

Thanks guys for all the reassurance. I've learned a lot here and I can't think everyone enough for all the help. Best wishes for 2012 to all!

Haha, I figured there were a lot of threads but you know how it is....you brew your first batch and figure you blew it :)

Brewed first ever batch last Tuesday. Everything went according to plan, nothing too surprising. After about 24 hours, it started to bubble through airlock, I figured this was a good thing. After a few days though the bubbles essentially stopped, now they are completely stopped. My two...

Thanks guys for the additions. - I will consider boiling the distilled, not sure if this is overkill though I am planning to overkill this one :) - Will definitely boil the water for the yeast rehydration - WIll spray down bottle tree with starsan - I will be patient with the fermentation. I am...

Ah what a perfectly succinct, answer, thanks! It sounds like an oft-debated topic...with no clear answer. How long is long enough for a primary and a secondary separately as compared to just doing one long fermentation? Is it equal, like 1 week in a bucket,and then 1 week in the carboy =...

Ah, very interesting! Thanks for all the responses. So the question is...what IS secondary fermentation? Is it: a) just more time? thus the bucket will be just fine b) change of vessel? the carboy is somehow different than the bucket (the shape or something?) c) is is the actual process of...

Thanks guys for the responses! You guys are too fast, I must have still been creating the poll options when you replied. The poll is there now. The foundation of the question is that a bunch of very knowledgeable folks have recommended that I just skip going from the fermenting bucket to the...

Just wondering :) Answer the poll above! :mug:

Thanks again to you guys for your responses. I am certainly intrigued by the discussion on carboys. I almost bought a kit with 2 carboys but am glad I went with only one at this point since I may not end up using it as much as I had originally thought/planned. One of my big goals is to minimize...