IvanTheTerrible
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2007
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 1
My last attempt at brewing was almost a year ago... and it was a complete failure.
To be honest, I haven't even tried one of by beers since about February because the taste was so horrendous that I am suffering from the post traumatic stress disorder that I endured when I took that first gulp. I put one in the fridge this morning and will try it tonight to see if hell has frozen over and it tastes better.
I've identified (in my own mind) a few places where I may have gone wrong.
1. I bought the kit from a wine/beer making store in Jersey... the only one for miles... and in retrospect, I have no idea how long those boxes have been sitting there. Somethning tells me not too many people brew there own beer in northern jersey... but hey, I could be wrong.
2. The dry yeast packet may have been old or was not properly activated. I say this because I don't think the yeast did their job properly. After about 2 weeks I moved to a secondary glass carboy and had to install a blow off hose because for the next 3 days I had MAJOR foamage coming out.
3. The affirmentioned blow off hose let air and bacteria in? It didnt look like a super tight seal, but I could be wrong.
4. Something went wrong when bottling - although when I tasted the "beer" before I bottled it, the horrendous ass-like taste was already present.
Maybe the yeast wasnt done doing its thing - who knows - but I'll know more tonight when I take a VERY SMALL sip.
-----
That being said, I'm going to try again. I just put an order in for an American Amber Ale from Northern Brewer. I know these kits are fresh so hopefully I won't have any issues.
My goal this time around is to keep it simple. Let it do its thing in primary for 3 weeks then bottle it. I am taking the Secondary out of the equation to minimize the risks (unless you guys/gals think thats a bad idea).
Finally - my main question:
I have a 6+ Gallon plastic bucket and a 5 gallon glass carboy. If I use the bucket with the airlock, I'll let it do it's thing for the 3 weeks, transfer it to a bottling bucket and bottle it. I obviously won't be able to visually monitor it. If I use the 5 gallon glass carboy, I'll have to use a blow-off hose (which I'm a little afraid of) and when the blowing is over, switch to the cap and airlock. Then transfer and bottle after 3 weeks, but I'll be able to see the whole process and at least have the piece of mind that everything is proceeding as planned.
Which should I do?
-I
To be honest, I haven't even tried one of by beers since about February because the taste was so horrendous that I am suffering from the post traumatic stress disorder that I endured when I took that first gulp. I put one in the fridge this morning and will try it tonight to see if hell has frozen over and it tastes better.
I've identified (in my own mind) a few places where I may have gone wrong.
1. I bought the kit from a wine/beer making store in Jersey... the only one for miles... and in retrospect, I have no idea how long those boxes have been sitting there. Somethning tells me not too many people brew there own beer in northern jersey... but hey, I could be wrong.
2. The dry yeast packet may have been old or was not properly activated. I say this because I don't think the yeast did their job properly. After about 2 weeks I moved to a secondary glass carboy and had to install a blow off hose because for the next 3 days I had MAJOR foamage coming out.
3. The affirmentioned blow off hose let air and bacteria in? It didnt look like a super tight seal, but I could be wrong.
4. Something went wrong when bottling - although when I tasted the "beer" before I bottled it, the horrendous ass-like taste was already present.
Maybe the yeast wasnt done doing its thing - who knows - but I'll know more tonight when I take a VERY SMALL sip.
-----
That being said, I'm going to try again. I just put an order in for an American Amber Ale from Northern Brewer. I know these kits are fresh so hopefully I won't have any issues.
My goal this time around is to keep it simple. Let it do its thing in primary for 3 weeks then bottle it. I am taking the Secondary out of the equation to minimize the risks (unless you guys/gals think thats a bad idea).
Finally - my main question:
I have a 6+ Gallon plastic bucket and a 5 gallon glass carboy. If I use the bucket with the airlock, I'll let it do it's thing for the 3 weeks, transfer it to a bottling bucket and bottle it. I obviously won't be able to visually monitor it. If I use the 5 gallon glass carboy, I'll have to use a blow-off hose (which I'm a little afraid of) and when the blowing is over, switch to the cap and airlock. Then transfer and bottle after 3 weeks, but I'll be able to see the whole process and at least have the piece of mind that everything is proceeding as planned.
Which should I do?
-I