>I haven't started a brew with the new equipment yet, but I've been absolutely consumed by the book and I can't stop thinking about brewing. As soon as I have a few free hours (tentatively Tuesday afternoon and evening), I'm going to get it started. I absolutely cannot wait to see it ferment.
I still feel the same way. Once I get a brew in my head I can't get rid of it until after brew day.
> Let me make sure I have this right: primary fermentation in the carboy, secondary fermentation in the bucket, and then the concoction goes into the bottling bucket (then, of course, bottles). Right? I ask because I had it in my head that the bucket was used first. I'm not sure why I thought that. In any case, I'm pretty sure I've got the procedure down in my head, and I'll be reviewing the process as the book has it, so it's just a matter of getting started. My plan is to just sanitize everything I need to get the the soup made and into the carboy. I can get the details on the next steps once that's done.
NONONONONO. Here's the progressing (at least in my opinion). You go through brew day (boiling, adding hops, cooling), then you pour into the plastic bucket (with the lid, no spigot). Aerate well using your drill and that white drill stir thingy you bought, basically just stirring like crazy, but getting air into the wort (usually go between 5-10 minutes just mixing). Attach the lid (you should have to push it on, a little like a paint lid. You want this to be tight with the only release going through the airlock you put into the little hole in the lid). This is what you let sit in your basement (cool, ~66F) with no light (blanket) for 7-14 days. When it's fermenting, the airlock will bubble, like it's boiling, and this should last for a week or so. You'll know when it's done when the bubbles pass through 1-2 per minute. When it hit's this stage, let it sit for another day or so (and remember, patience is a virtue) . Then you'll use the auto siphon to transfer (in brewing terms it's 'rack') to the glass carboy. Top off with water (I like to use filtered water from the Brita and have had no infection problems using water straight from the Brita), put the cap on, and let it sit for 2-4-6-8 weeks (however long you want to wait). You then use the auto-siphon to rack into the bottling bucket, add a sugar solution (~.75 cup/pint water) and then bottle, all right away. There's debate about secondary, about equipment, etc, but with what you bought, do it this way and modify if you want (and we can discuss specifics later)