cenla
Well-Known Member
I brewed my second batch ever last night and it did not go according to plan.
I...
1. Managed to spill a portion of my specialty grains all over the counter prior to steeping.
2. Had my first boil over. They are a mess to clean up, esp. if your wife insists on a clean kitchen. They don't take long to happen. I was nearby and got it under control quick.
3. After the boil was done, I had tremendous difficulty getting the temp down to pitch range. I brew at night for a variety of reasons. After two hours of ice/ cold water baths the wort temp was just over 100 degrees. Brewing in central louisiana sucks sometimes. Oh, and it was past one in the morning. My kids get up at 6 am.
4. At the end of it all, as I was putting my gear away, I broke my thermometer.
I went to bed and couldn't sleep. I had decided to wait until morning to pitch the yeast, but at 2am I figured what the heck, got up and pitched. I don't know the exact temperature but it was somewhere under 99 (the last temp reading before I broke the thermometer).
It is now bubbling away. I've got my swamp cooler set up and I'm going to add ice later. According to the stick on thermometer, the current temp's at 76.
Moral of the story- even when you screw up you end up with beer at the end of the evening.
I...
1. Managed to spill a portion of my specialty grains all over the counter prior to steeping.
2. Had my first boil over. They are a mess to clean up, esp. if your wife insists on a clean kitchen. They don't take long to happen. I was nearby and got it under control quick.
3. After the boil was done, I had tremendous difficulty getting the temp down to pitch range. I brew at night for a variety of reasons. After two hours of ice/ cold water baths the wort temp was just over 100 degrees. Brewing in central louisiana sucks sometimes. Oh, and it was past one in the morning. My kids get up at 6 am.
4. At the end of it all, as I was putting my gear away, I broke my thermometer.
I went to bed and couldn't sleep. I had decided to wait until morning to pitch the yeast, but at 2am I figured what the heck, got up and pitched. I don't know the exact temperature but it was somewhere under 99 (the last temp reading before I broke the thermometer).
It is now bubbling away. I've got my swamp cooler set up and I'm going to add ice later. According to the stick on thermometer, the current temp's at 76.
Moral of the story- even when you screw up you end up with beer at the end of the evening.