I am looking to get back in to brewing (after a 13 year hiatus), and I picked up my Brewer's Best brew kit, and it came with an extract kit. I chose the American Pale Ale, because I am a fan of pale ales.
I have looked over the recipe about 100 times since brew day can't come fast enough. I have a few questions about the instructions that came packaged.
First, there is 6.6lb of Light LME, 1lb Crystal 20L, 2oz Cascade pellets (bittering), 1.5oz Willamette pellets (aroma), and 1 packet of Danstar Nottingham Ale yeast.
This kit suggests steeping the 1.0lb of Crystal 20L in only 2.5gal of water for 20 minutes. If I am able to do a full batch boil, how much water do I steep/boil with? Does this affect the timing for the steeping of the grains?
Next, it suggests that I add 3.3lb of the extract before the boil, then the other 3.3lb at the 40min mark. Does this change at all with altered boils?
Third, we add in the bittering hops at the outset of the boil and the aroma hops at the 5 minute mark. Would you suggest any other hop additions anywhere to hop it up a bit, but still remain balanced? What about further dry hopping?
Finally, when adding the yeast, the directions say to sprinkle the yeast on to the top without preparing a starter. Should I make a starter with 100mL of warm water 15 min before pitching or get a different liquid yeast? What would you suggest?
Also, all I have is the two pails, one for fermenting, and a second for bottling. Would a recipe like this necessitate racking to a secondary pail or carboy prior to bottling?
I know, I know. Tons of questions. I am trying to get back and ready to brew again, so please help a fellow brewer (though an acolyte) out!
Thanks!
I have looked over the recipe about 100 times since brew day can't come fast enough. I have a few questions about the instructions that came packaged.
First, there is 6.6lb of Light LME, 1lb Crystal 20L, 2oz Cascade pellets (bittering), 1.5oz Willamette pellets (aroma), and 1 packet of Danstar Nottingham Ale yeast.
This kit suggests steeping the 1.0lb of Crystal 20L in only 2.5gal of water for 20 minutes. If I am able to do a full batch boil, how much water do I steep/boil with? Does this affect the timing for the steeping of the grains?
Next, it suggests that I add 3.3lb of the extract before the boil, then the other 3.3lb at the 40min mark. Does this change at all with altered boils?
Third, we add in the bittering hops at the outset of the boil and the aroma hops at the 5 minute mark. Would you suggest any other hop additions anywhere to hop it up a bit, but still remain balanced? What about further dry hopping?
Finally, when adding the yeast, the directions say to sprinkle the yeast on to the top without preparing a starter. Should I make a starter with 100mL of warm water 15 min before pitching or get a different liquid yeast? What would you suggest?
Also, all I have is the two pails, one for fermenting, and a second for bottling. Would a recipe like this necessitate racking to a secondary pail or carboy prior to bottling?
I know, I know. Tons of questions. I am trying to get back and ready to brew again, so please help a fellow brewer (though an acolyte) out!
Thanks!