BarkerBrewing
Member
Hey everyone,
I'm new to the board and brewed my first batch last Wednesday, a Brewer's Best IPA.
I followed the directions and used some of the advice from homebrewingvideo.com. Part of the advice I used from the homebrewinvideo.com site was to use the "satellite method" to get your gravity readings. The satellite method they describe involves filling an empty bottle with the wort after adding the yeast--use this to get your gravity readings.
Today (day 5) my gravity reading using the "satellite" was 1.012, exactly what it should be (1.012 - 1.015). I sanitized my bottles and got everything ready to go. I cracked the lid of my primary fermenter (an ale pail), took a sample reading -- 1.015. I quickly put the lid & airlock back on the bucket and put it back where it has been fermenting (a steady 68-70 degrees).
When I had the lid off, I noticed that there wasn't much foam or "head" that I have seen with other home brew pale ales posted on this and other sites. Aside from some hop gunk around the edges, there wasn't much foam at all. Is this something to be concerned about? My plan is to give it another day or so and take another reading before bottling. If I bottled tomorrow, and the reading was still around 1.015, do you guys think it is safe to go ahead and bottle?
I know I am playing it overly cautious...but I just want to be sure I'm taking the right approach. BTW, I already boiled the sugar with 2 cups of clean water in preparation of bottling tonight. I put the water/sugar solution in the fridge in sealed coffee cups; will this still be ok to re-boil and use when I bottle?
I'm new to the board and brewed my first batch last Wednesday, a Brewer's Best IPA.
I followed the directions and used some of the advice from homebrewingvideo.com. Part of the advice I used from the homebrewinvideo.com site was to use the "satellite method" to get your gravity readings. The satellite method they describe involves filling an empty bottle with the wort after adding the yeast--use this to get your gravity readings.
Today (day 5) my gravity reading using the "satellite" was 1.012, exactly what it should be (1.012 - 1.015). I sanitized my bottles and got everything ready to go. I cracked the lid of my primary fermenter (an ale pail), took a sample reading -- 1.015. I quickly put the lid & airlock back on the bucket and put it back where it has been fermenting (a steady 68-70 degrees).
When I had the lid off, I noticed that there wasn't much foam or "head" that I have seen with other home brew pale ales posted on this and other sites. Aside from some hop gunk around the edges, there wasn't much foam at all. Is this something to be concerned about? My plan is to give it another day or so and take another reading before bottling. If I bottled tomorrow, and the reading was still around 1.015, do you guys think it is safe to go ahead and bottle?
I know I am playing it overly cautious...but I just want to be sure I'm taking the right approach. BTW, I already boiled the sugar with 2 cups of clean water in preparation of bottling tonight. I put the water/sugar solution in the fridge in sealed coffee cups; will this still be ok to re-boil and use when I bottle?