God Emporer BillyBrew
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone. I just found this forum today and already consider myself better for the experience.
I'm about to start on my first beer from a recipe. I've always used the kits before, but this time I (or the dude at the brew shop) put together the ingredients for Anchor's Special Ale.
I'm trying to figure out a few things.
Yeast starter: I've always just pitched my dry yeast in on top of my wort once it's in the bucket. this time I'm using a liquid vile from White Labs. I'm been seeing stuff about using some DME in the mix to get it started. 1. What is DME? 2. Can I just use some of my extract? 3. What's the best low cost container for my starter? 4. Any other tips?
Sparging: The kits have you just put this in a cheese cloth bag and let it float around in your wort. The guy at the brew shop said this didn't get all of the flavors. I'd sure hate to have to drill 150 holes in a plastic bucket to sparge. 5. Is there an easier way that doesn't require a lot of work or a lot of money?
Priming: The recipe says to use some of my extract for priming, I've always used sugar. I'm worried that between the starter and priming I won't have enough extract for my wort. 6. What do you think?
Malto Dextrin: The recipe calls for Malto Dextrin, but the brew shop dude didn't give me any. 7. Do you think he just forgot or I'm not supposed to use any. I could call him, but he's closed today and tomorrow plus it's a long distance call. Should I just buy some locally?
Thanks in advance. Sorry to hit you all with all of these questions right off. I hope to contribute in a positive way to the forum some time.
I'm about to start on my first beer from a recipe. I've always used the kits before, but this time I (or the dude at the brew shop) put together the ingredients for Anchor's Special Ale.
I'm trying to figure out a few things.
Yeast starter: I've always just pitched my dry yeast in on top of my wort once it's in the bucket. this time I'm using a liquid vile from White Labs. I'm been seeing stuff about using some DME in the mix to get it started. 1. What is DME? 2. Can I just use some of my extract? 3. What's the best low cost container for my starter? 4. Any other tips?
Sparging: The kits have you just put this in a cheese cloth bag and let it float around in your wort. The guy at the brew shop said this didn't get all of the flavors. I'd sure hate to have to drill 150 holes in a plastic bucket to sparge. 5. Is there an easier way that doesn't require a lot of work or a lot of money?
Priming: The recipe says to use some of my extract for priming, I've always used sugar. I'm worried that between the starter and priming I won't have enough extract for my wort. 6. What do you think?
Malto Dextrin: The recipe calls for Malto Dextrin, but the brew shop dude didn't give me any. 7. Do you think he just forgot or I'm not supposed to use any. I could call him, but he's closed today and tomorrow plus it's a long distance call. Should I just buy some locally?
Thanks in advance. Sorry to hit you all with all of these questions right off. I hope to contribute in a positive way to the forum some time.