Just-a-Guy
Well-Known Member
Hi Folks,
I've lurked on here for some time. Registered last month but this is my first post. Great site, thanks to all involved.
There is so much info out there on home brewing. I've watched many youtube vids, read hundreds of posts here and am reading the Palmer book. ... And I still end up with what are probably very dumb questions.
I did my first batch about three weeks ago, a True Brew IPA kit. It's now bottled and I'm watching the clock. A couple of days ago, I did my second batch, a True Brew Double IPA. It's in the fermenting bucket, bubbling like crazy.
Here's my questions:
This involved two cans of liquid extract, one hopped, one unhopped; plus two packages of "light" dried extract. Hop pellets were added along the way -- first Centennial, then after boiling, Willamette, Amarillo and another Centennial; then a Cascade in the last few minutes. (I have no idea what those terms mean.)
The kit includes an additional pack of Amarillo and Cascade. The instructions suggest opening the fermenter "3 days after fermentation has begun", and adding those pellets, then replacing lid and airlock. Bottling is suggested for 7 days after that dry hopping.
I've read a lot about "secondary fermentation" (well, I've read some). I have a 5 gallon carboy. I was thinking, first, I would leave it alone in the primary with the yeast, as mixed, longer than the "3 days after fermentation starts." Maybe a week? Two? Then, I was thinking of racking it into the carboy as a "secondary", and adding the additional hop pellets then. Then leave it in the secondary for another couple of weeks, before racking out into the bottling bucket for bottling.
1. Do you think there is anything to be gained by the above "variation' from the kit instructions?
2. Do you think there are additional risks involved in this variation?
Thanks so much for any guidance. I'm new at this. FWIW, I have a tap system in my basement Man Cave and have local craft beers on tap there, but hope to move to having my own homebrew on tap (using corny's etc).
Thanks!
Mark
I've lurked on here for some time. Registered last month but this is my first post. Great site, thanks to all involved.
There is so much info out there on home brewing. I've watched many youtube vids, read hundreds of posts here and am reading the Palmer book. ... And I still end up with what are probably very dumb questions.
I did my first batch about three weeks ago, a True Brew IPA kit. It's now bottled and I'm watching the clock. A couple of days ago, I did my second batch, a True Brew Double IPA. It's in the fermenting bucket, bubbling like crazy.
Here's my questions:
This involved two cans of liquid extract, one hopped, one unhopped; plus two packages of "light" dried extract. Hop pellets were added along the way -- first Centennial, then after boiling, Willamette, Amarillo and another Centennial; then a Cascade in the last few minutes. (I have no idea what those terms mean.)
The kit includes an additional pack of Amarillo and Cascade. The instructions suggest opening the fermenter "3 days after fermentation has begun", and adding those pellets, then replacing lid and airlock. Bottling is suggested for 7 days after that dry hopping.
I've read a lot about "secondary fermentation" (well, I've read some). I have a 5 gallon carboy. I was thinking, first, I would leave it alone in the primary with the yeast, as mixed, longer than the "3 days after fermentation starts." Maybe a week? Two? Then, I was thinking of racking it into the carboy as a "secondary", and adding the additional hop pellets then. Then leave it in the secondary for another couple of weeks, before racking out into the bottling bucket for bottling.
1. Do you think there is anything to be gained by the above "variation' from the kit instructions?
2. Do you think there are additional risks involved in this variation?
Thanks so much for any guidance. I'm new at this. FWIW, I have a tap system in my basement Man Cave and have local craft beers on tap there, but hope to move to having my own homebrew on tap (using corny's etc).
Thanks!
Mark