Alrighty. So I just have a few questions about my maiden voyage on the brewship. I made a Two Hearted Ale Clone and I'm pretty sure I did everything according to plan. (Don't know if you needed the recipe for my question at all, but decided I'd share)
Steeped 1lb Crystal in 2.5 gal at 160 for 10 mins
Added an extra half gallon of hot water to allow for reduction and added LME.
Boiled and added:
Centennial 9.97 AAU(60)
Centennial 9.97 AAU(20)
Centennial 9.97 AAU(5)
Cold break in about 15 mins down to 92 degrees. Added to 72 degree water. Hung out at 82. Rocked vigorously for 5 mins.
Pitched liquid California Ale Yeast that I swished slightly just before pitching (I was told not to shake it vigorously or I would baptize myself with it)
OG is 1.060...recipe said aim for 1.068...sounds good to me.
But now, as I'm reading it sounds like I should have made a starter first since this has such a high starting gravity? It would kinda suck if I should have, because the guys at Adventures in Homebrewing (Taylor, MI) told me that it was not necessary to make a starter (and they knew what recipe i was going for before discussing this). But they were making a pretty sweeping statement.
Should I have made a starter? Granted, I'm asking this question after only 20 hours. Don't see any bubbling yet.
Also a question about the airlock: I'm using the cylindrical airlock with the little thingy that goes over the exhaust tube and then cover the cylinder with cover. #1 I did not put the cover on the airlock last night, but probably not a problem. #2 I get home from work today and it appeared that the water on the outer part of the airlock was lower than the water on the inside and appeared to be DRIPPING into my fermentor! So I opened up the fermentor lid a tad to create equilibrium, adjusted things, and now it about even. Is this teeny tiny bit of water going to mess anything?
Also, I just realized THIS SECOND that NOTHING WAS SANITIZED!!!!! I was sold some stuff at Titgemeiers in Toledo and didn't realize that it was a cleanser until just now. So i freakin used light detergent to cleanse everything and then used what i THOUGHT was a no rinse sanitizer. It's LD Carlson Easy Clean No Rinse.
Damn it.....
So that means every time i dipped my stir spoon or thermometer into my wort, i was addign bits of no rinse cleanser. Thoughts?
Steeped 1lb Crystal in 2.5 gal at 160 for 10 mins
Added an extra half gallon of hot water to allow for reduction and added LME.
Boiled and added:
Centennial 9.97 AAU(60)
Centennial 9.97 AAU(20)
Centennial 9.97 AAU(5)
Cold break in about 15 mins down to 92 degrees. Added to 72 degree water. Hung out at 82. Rocked vigorously for 5 mins.
Pitched liquid California Ale Yeast that I swished slightly just before pitching (I was told not to shake it vigorously or I would baptize myself with it)
OG is 1.060...recipe said aim for 1.068...sounds good to me.
But now, as I'm reading it sounds like I should have made a starter first since this has such a high starting gravity? It would kinda suck if I should have, because the guys at Adventures in Homebrewing (Taylor, MI) told me that it was not necessary to make a starter (and they knew what recipe i was going for before discussing this). But they were making a pretty sweeping statement.
Should I have made a starter? Granted, I'm asking this question after only 20 hours. Don't see any bubbling yet.
Also a question about the airlock: I'm using the cylindrical airlock with the little thingy that goes over the exhaust tube and then cover the cylinder with cover. #1 I did not put the cover on the airlock last night, but probably not a problem. #2 I get home from work today and it appeared that the water on the outer part of the airlock was lower than the water on the inside and appeared to be DRIPPING into my fermentor! So I opened up the fermentor lid a tad to create equilibrium, adjusted things, and now it about even. Is this teeny tiny bit of water going to mess anything?
Also, I just realized THIS SECOND that NOTHING WAS SANITIZED!!!!! I was sold some stuff at Titgemeiers in Toledo and didn't realize that it was a cleanser until just now. So i freakin used light detergent to cleanse everything and then used what i THOUGHT was a no rinse sanitizer. It's LD Carlson Easy Clean No Rinse.
Damn it.....
So that means every time i dipped my stir spoon or thermometer into my wort, i was addign bits of no rinse cleanser. Thoughts?