The worst noob mistake to make...

As the title says, this thread is dedicated to the worst possible thing to happen to a newer brewer (IMO). Lets face it, you probably will not screw up your 1st beers nearly as bad as you think you will. So, what is this horrible mistake? I can sum this up with 1 word PIPELINE.

What is a pipeline? I did not really understand this concept until it was way, way to late. I brewed my 1st batch on St. Pats day weekend, about 5 weeks after that I brewed my second batch. Since, I was going to get 1/2 or less of the original batch (brewed w/ my dad).

Life happened and I continued to drink my Smithwick's as I normally have. Waited and waited to see how the 1st beers tasted before I made more. Nearly 2 months! Well, they turned out FANTASTIC IMO. They were so good, I started drinking more and more home brews and less and less store bought brews. Dang, those Home Brews are good!

5 weeks ago reality shows up and decides to slap me awake rudely.(Reality being my 2nd arch-nemesis, only to gravity) I have gotten "hooked" on home brew and to make things even worse I was down to my last 12. Basic math kicked in and said that I needed around 6 weeks before any would be ready or close to it. So I planned and brewed my next batch 1 month ago.

Well, I will be bottling that batch tonight so in 1 weeks time I can drink me a green beer, which is not anywhere nearly as good as a properly conditioned beer. I will also be brewing 3 batches of different beers on Monday.

I have been hording, like some Hollywood crack head, my last 3 home brews. I actually went the last 8 days without any. I have tried other micro brews I even had a round of DFH 90 min IPA's and nothing seems to satisfy that evil; little homebrew demon inside. I can satisfy him by feeding him this weekend the last few homebrews I have but let me tell you, this is not fun or pretty.

In order to aid other newer brewers from making the same mistake as me, Plan to do a batch every 30 days at a minimum after your 1st batch, 3 weeks is better. This is a pipeline, where you brew more than you can drink, so you never run out!

I promise you it is not as bad to brew a few batches up before tasting the 1st ones as it is to run dry...and never get caught up in the fact you have some around so "I can wait to brew some more."

Live and learn.

I brewed my first 3 batches in a span of 8 days.

I have brewed at least 5 gallons every week since. Doubled up 3 weeks ago and last weekend was the first weekend I did not brew this year. Not sure about you, but this barley keeps beer on tap in my house.

Amen! There is no such thing as too much beer, but a beer shortage is just short of criminal.

Dang BendBrewer...what do you do with all that beer? Thats impressive.

Find a house brew that you like that can be ready quicker? A session bitter or mild or something. Drink that while your regular brew is prettying itself up for a night out with you.

The worst noob mistake? That's easy: dumping out a batch because you "think" it's infected...

Yes, I'm guilty of this, many years back...

I have 5 in various stages of fermentation. I need to go KEG because of how often I will have to bottle if I don't. That is now my biggest issue.

I was warned though early on to make another batch about two weeks out of the first one, and plan batches and fermentation times so that there is always something.

This is a good point... nothing is better at improving patience with letting your home brew age properly than having plenty of home brew available to drink already.

worst noob mistake I ever made was forgetting to attach my MLT manifold before doughing in. 160 degrees is HOT on bare hands pushing through the grist.

knelson said:

Dang BendBrewer...what do you do with all that beer? Thats impressive.

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Prolly lots of housemates

In my house I couldn't go through that much beer even if I bathed in it... I'm getting an idea...

Worst noob mistake is to keep getting smashed on brew day. Over excitement is NOT an excuse! You should never do it. I found that out the hard way.......Several times.

knelson said:

Dang BendBrewer...what do you do with all that beer? Thats impressive.

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Me and the SWMBO go through the majority of it. Add a couple of visits from friends and 5 Gallons doesn't last all that long.

128 oz x 5 = 640 oz.

640/20 oz = 32 glasses

32/7 = 4.6 beers per day.

Like I said, 5 gallons every week barley keeps beer on tap at my house. Maybe I am doing something wrong...........

BendBrewer said:

Maybe I am doing something wrong...........

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sounds like to me you're doing something right:rockin:

Worst mistake is to think you can't make great beer and settle for mediocrity.

I got a clog in my pipeline earlier this year as larger financial obligations coupled with two consecutive lager batches. I have since been brewing like crazy, although the last three brews are *supposed* to be for a BBQ next month, meaning I can't drink them freely.

MBasile said:

I got a clog in my pipeline earlier this year as larger financial obligations coupled with two consecutive lager batches. I have since been brewing like crazy, although the last three brews are *supposed* to be for a BBQ next month, meaning I can't drink them freely.

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I hear you. Getting married next weekend and have a lot of out of town guests starting to show up on Thursday. I have 2 5-gallon batches ready to Keg and force carb and only about 2-3 gallons of beer left on tap atm.

It's going to be close and I see a 12 pack or two of SNPA on the near horizon.

Laughing_Gnome_Invisible said:

Worst noob mistake is to keep getting smashed on brew day. Over excitement is NOT an excuse! You should never do it. I found that out the hard way.......Several times.

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If you don't get smashed on brew day then the magic yeast fairies never pitch the yeast for you. They've helped me out several times

AZ_IPA said:

If you don't get smashed on brew day then the magic yeast fairies never pitch the yeast for you. They've helped me out several times

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Tell me 'bout it!

Laughing_Gnome_Invisible said:

Tell me 'bout it!

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I woke up one time and couldn't find the fermenter. Everything was cleaned up and put away, and the fermenter was in the closest bubbling away. I think I won a gold for that batch; and I forgot to give due credit to the yeast fairies.

Thanks to all the great replies so far. I really wanted to try and let other neophyte brewers know how much it sucks to have your pipeline dry up. I think I read the word "pipeline" 1 time and really never got the idea behind it until it was too late!

Remember kids, only YOU can prevent dry pipelines! :rockin:

Also, Grats on the nups BB!