greenandgold
Member
Hello all,
Brand new brewer here and I have some questions on my second batch.
First brew was the tin can type of kit that came with my brewing setup. I'll it tin can porter. I just followed the directions using straight tap water, dry yeast, and boiling nothing. Everything seemed to work pretty well and after a week I transferred to a secondary where it currently sits.
In the meantime, I went to the local brew store and picked up some additional goodies along with a couple of secondaries so I could start up another brew. The second batch was a brown ale extract kit with the following ingredients:
3.3# Amber LME
3.3# Dark LME
12 oz Caramel 80
2 oz Special B
2 oz Chocolate Malt
1oz Cascade Hops
1 oz Fuggle Hops
Dry yeast packet
Brew day went pretty well. I used tap water for the boil and gallons of spring water, cooled in the refrigerator, for top off water.
Only a couple of minor problems:
First, I think my weber meat thermometer is off and I probably steeped by grains too hot. I thought I was at 150-155 but was probably 170 (or even higher).
Second, not knowing anything about steeping, I figured I'd get more bang for the brew if I squeezed the bag a lot. I've since read that I should probably leave well enough alone.
Hopefully just minor stuff and I'll end up with beer.
I again just dumped in the dry yeast on Saturday afternoon. No action till Sunday morning and then it was bubbling at a good rate (every 2 seconds) all day. Really slow action on Monday and nothing going on today.
OG reading was 1.046 at 68 degrees.
SG reading today was 1.019 at 66 degrees.
Looks like I am making beer, but here are a couple of questions.
Both brews looked like they were done bubbling (and fermenting?) within 48 hours of the start. Is that all in the range of normal? Would I get longer (and better?) fermentation by using a starter? liquid yeast? (I'm guessing the answer is yes).
I had a nice krausen ring on the first batch, but not on the second when I took the sample?
My only real concern is that the final SG according to the kit instructions should be between 1.010 - 1.012. Any chance of me getting down there from 1.019 when it looks like nothing much is going on?
BTW - The suggested OG per the kit was 1.044 - 1.048, so I was right on at the start. Plus, the sample did taste like beer.
Thanks for any help.
Also, this is a great forum and I've really enjoyed reading through the threads. Much to learn!
Brand new brewer here and I have some questions on my second batch.
First brew was the tin can type of kit that came with my brewing setup. I'll it tin can porter. I just followed the directions using straight tap water, dry yeast, and boiling nothing. Everything seemed to work pretty well and after a week I transferred to a secondary where it currently sits.
In the meantime, I went to the local brew store and picked up some additional goodies along with a couple of secondaries so I could start up another brew. The second batch was a brown ale extract kit with the following ingredients:
3.3# Amber LME
3.3# Dark LME
12 oz Caramel 80
2 oz Special B
2 oz Chocolate Malt
1oz Cascade Hops
1 oz Fuggle Hops
Dry yeast packet
Brew day went pretty well. I used tap water for the boil and gallons of spring water, cooled in the refrigerator, for top off water.
Only a couple of minor problems:
First, I think my weber meat thermometer is off and I probably steeped by grains too hot. I thought I was at 150-155 but was probably 170 (or even higher).
Second, not knowing anything about steeping, I figured I'd get more bang for the brew if I squeezed the bag a lot. I've since read that I should probably leave well enough alone.
Hopefully just minor stuff and I'll end up with beer.
I again just dumped in the dry yeast on Saturday afternoon. No action till Sunday morning and then it was bubbling at a good rate (every 2 seconds) all day. Really slow action on Monday and nothing going on today.
OG reading was 1.046 at 68 degrees.
SG reading today was 1.019 at 66 degrees.
Looks like I am making beer, but here are a couple of questions.
Both brews looked like they were done bubbling (and fermenting?) within 48 hours of the start. Is that all in the range of normal? Would I get longer (and better?) fermentation by using a starter? liquid yeast? (I'm guessing the answer is yes).
I had a nice krausen ring on the first batch, but not on the second when I took the sample?
My only real concern is that the final SG according to the kit instructions should be between 1.010 - 1.012. Any chance of me getting down there from 1.019 when it looks like nothing much is going on?
BTW - The suggested OG per the kit was 1.044 - 1.048, so I was right on at the start. Plus, the sample did taste like beer.
Thanks for any help.
Also, this is a great forum and I've really enjoyed reading through the threads. Much to learn!