Search results

I did a Brewer's Best Stout kit and its been in bottles for almost a month. Although it tastes good, it has a hint of that young beer bitterness to it. On average, how long should a Stout stay in the bottles before it is at its prime?

I did one one AHS's Gold Seal California Common Ale kits. AHS describes the Gold Seal kits as: "The Gold Seal line has been designed with the beginner in mind: they are economical and easy to make. Each kit includes our special Gold Seal Add Pack that helps to ensure a successful fermentation as...

I did Austin Homebrew Supplies' Belgian White mini mash kit a week ago. I decided to go against the recipe instructions and keep it in the primary instead of moving it to a secondary after a week. My plan, hydrometer permitting, is to move to bottles after it has been in the primary for 2 weeks...

I'm sure it depends on the brew, but I'm trying to get a general rule of thumb for how long I should aerate my wort. I have been taking the "shake the carboy" road. I just finished my 2nd batch. I shook the wort in the carboy for about 2 minutes and then another minute or so after the yeast was...

Another noob stupid question to confirm something that wasn't answered in my previous post . Just made my first starter with a White Labs Wit yeast. This does not get refridgerated like the vial of yeast, correct? The starter is currently sitting in a flask at room temp with a bung and airlock...

I have a vial of White Labs Belgian Wit yeast that has been in my refridgerator for 2 weeks. I am going to use it on Sunday. The instructions say to just bring it to room temperature and pitch. Should I make a starter? If I make it tonight, am I giving it enough time to do its thing? I've never...

I will be brewing a Belgian Wit beer from a mini mash kit from AHB. A couple quick questions. For steeping, it says to get the temperature around 160 degrees. Do I want to keep the stove on during the time the grains are steeping to maintain a constant temperature? Should I leave the pot...

I know I committed a cardinal sin, but curiosity got the best of me. I just tried my Bavarian Wheat that has only been bottled for 8 days. It wasn't bad, but not great. I know it needs more time. It had a pretty noticeable banana flavor with a bit of bitterness. We had some pretty drastic...

I'm going to be doing a Belgian Wit beer from a mini mash kit I got through Austin Home Brew. Would it be ok to use a 6 gallon carboy as my primary? I hear these beers can get pretty active during fermentation. I can easily put a blowoff hose on it. If 6 gallons is too small, I'll go with a 6.5...

I'll be there this weekend. Can anyone suggest a place that is laid back and serves good beer?

So...Its been the day from hell. Its not like my woman left and took the dog or anything, but its been one of those days. My first batch is in bottles for another 2 weeks, so I needed something to lift me up. I stopped at the beer shop on my lunch break and picked up some Chimay Blanc. I figured...

Last night SWMBO and I bottled our first batch, an extract Bavarian Wheat kit. Just a couple observations in no particular order: My FG was around 1.014, right in the middle of what the recipe said I should expect. I had about 4 1/2 - 4 3/4 gallons of wort, so I used just a hair under 3/4...

I followed EdWort's recipe yesterday. The only pure apple juice I could find with no additives or preservatives listed on the label came from concentrate. I tried to avoid anything with preservatives as I've been told that can stall fermentation. Are there any drawbacks to using a juice that...

Getting close to bottling my first batch. I just took a hydrometer reading and it was 1.014, which is the same as a reading I took 2 days ago. The instuctions said I should expect a FG between 1.012 and 1.02. The plan is to take another test on Saturday and bottle on Sunday. Does it sound like...

I am getting ready to start my second batch and I'm looking for an inexpensive Aeration Kit. I've dropped a lot of money on my supplies, so I'm looking for some ideas that can save me a couple bucks. Maybe a stupid question, but I'll throw it out there. Can I use something like a filtered...

I'm looking to get some new brewing supplies. Anyone have any opinions on the Better Bottles vs glass carboys?

I'm looking to place an online order for some new supplies and a new extract kit, most likely a Wit beer. I was planning on buying the White Labs liquid yeast to go along with the beer kit. I expect delivery time to be about 3 days and it will be packed in ice. If I refigerate as soon as I get...

Curiosity got the best of me this morning. I'm working on a Bavarian Wheat extract kit. I haven't been seeing any activity, so I decided to take a hydrometer reading this morning, a messy task in itself for a noob. I figure I've got about 7 days left until bottling. The reading after temperature...

Probably a stupid question... I've got quite a bit of condensation at the top of my secondary fermentor (5 gallon carboy). My main concern is that air got in and is messing with my soon to be tasty beverage. Its been in the secondary for a couple days. Other than that, everything seems ok...

So I'm trying not to panic since this is my first brew. I noticed a small crack in my airlock. It looks like its on the inside, so I don't think anything is leaking out. I am using a triple ripple airlock. All of the water is pushed to the opposite side of the crack. Any advice?