I'm not sure which is greater: my excitement to begin my first homebrew, or my disappointment at this middle stage of the process.
I brewed a brown ale (extract kit) 11 days ago. The brewday seemed to go okay. I rehydrated the Munton's yeast that came with the kit (wasn't sure if it needed to be mixed with the water, or just sprinkled on top of some water when rehydrating -- I mixed it in). I proofed it with a small amount of sugar-water. After 25 minutes, there were a few bubbles, but overall pretty weak activity. Since I saw activity, however, I assumed it would be serviceable. When I pitched the yeast, I first poured the rehydrated yeast into the primary bucket, then poured in the cooled wort (2 gal.), then added 3 gallons of tap water. I did not aerate much at all; I though that by pouring the wort onto the yeast directly, it would be oxygenated enough. I took the hydrometer reading after the yeast was already pitched.
The OG was 1.044. I left it in the primary for 10 days. I took a FG reading of 1.019, which was higher (heavier?) than I would have expected. Foolishly, I did not leave it in primary, but racked to secondary. During this process, I accidentally but significantly sloshed the primary bucket, probably stirring up all kinds of trub. I tasted the hydro sample, and....
oh no. That's not very good.
It definitely seemed to be missing something. I understand that the beer is far from "finished", but it was definitely flat (tasting). I'm absolutely going to see it through, and I know I shouldn't be too upset that a rookie made some rookie mistakes...but it's disheartening nonetheless. Overall grade for initial attempt: D+
Next time, I'm going to:
1) Use different and better yeast. I still don't understand all the differences between all the strains or what's appropriate for different styles, but I can ask at my LHBS.
2) On brewday, mix the wort with the water, aerate vigorously, take hydro reading, then pitch the yeast.
3) take more than one hydro reading before racking to secondary, being careful not to slosh it all around like a bucket of water with my house on fire.
4) Give it 2 weeks (minimum) in primary, then rack according to hydro reading.
<sigh>
Sorry for the long post; if anybody read it all and has further suggestions, I'm open. After getting this all off my chest, I'm happy to report that the answer to my initial question is...my excitement is still greater than my disappointment.
On to Round 2!
EDIT: FG was 1.019
I brewed a brown ale (extract kit) 11 days ago. The brewday seemed to go okay. I rehydrated the Munton's yeast that came with the kit (wasn't sure if it needed to be mixed with the water, or just sprinkled on top of some water when rehydrating -- I mixed it in). I proofed it with a small amount of sugar-water. After 25 minutes, there were a few bubbles, but overall pretty weak activity. Since I saw activity, however, I assumed it would be serviceable. When I pitched the yeast, I first poured the rehydrated yeast into the primary bucket, then poured in the cooled wort (2 gal.), then added 3 gallons of tap water. I did not aerate much at all; I though that by pouring the wort onto the yeast directly, it would be oxygenated enough. I took the hydrometer reading after the yeast was already pitched.
The OG was 1.044. I left it in the primary for 10 days. I took a FG reading of 1.019, which was higher (heavier?) than I would have expected. Foolishly, I did not leave it in primary, but racked to secondary. During this process, I accidentally but significantly sloshed the primary bucket, probably stirring up all kinds of trub. I tasted the hydro sample, and....
oh no. That's not very good.
It definitely seemed to be missing something. I understand that the beer is far from "finished", but it was definitely flat (tasting). I'm absolutely going to see it through, and I know I shouldn't be too upset that a rookie made some rookie mistakes...but it's disheartening nonetheless. Overall grade for initial attempt: D+
Next time, I'm going to:
1) Use different and better yeast. I still don't understand all the differences between all the strains or what's appropriate for different styles, but I can ask at my LHBS.
2) On brewday, mix the wort with the water, aerate vigorously, take hydro reading, then pitch the yeast.
3) take more than one hydro reading before racking to secondary, being careful not to slosh it all around like a bucket of water with my house on fire.
4) Give it 2 weeks (minimum) in primary, then rack according to hydro reading.
<sigh>
Sorry for the long post; if anybody read it all and has further suggestions, I'm open. After getting this all off my chest, I'm happy to report that the answer to my initial question is...my excitement is still greater than my disappointment.
On to Round 2!
EDIT: FG was 1.019