Hello everyone, I have browsed your forum for a month or so, and decided it was time to join! I have been very impressed with not only the knowledge here, but the friendly nature as well, which is something you dont always see in interst/hobby forums like this.
A little about myself......I am in my 30's and was married aproximately 2 years ago and currently live in NY. My screename is derived from my love of Elvis Presley music and Muhammid Ali and is a screen name I created for some other forum sites after looking up at a picture of Elvis and Ali that hangs in my computer room and thinking...."yea, that works".
I had always been interested in trying to homebrew my own beer, and luckily, Santa brought me a full kit for Christmas. I did my first batch of American Ale today.............and lets just say it was definitly a "learning process" But I figured the first batch is just that,a real learning process, and I learned a lot. If it doesnt come out well, I will just chalk it up to the learning curve!
I had some questions and if anyone has the time, would appreciate any answers people could provide( I apologize in advance if they are less than intelligent, naive or silly!!!!!)
My questions are:
1- If I am using a wort chiller hooked up to a kitchen sink, how long, on average should it take to cool a boiled wart to the proper yeast pitching tempature(which everything I have read says is between 74 F and 90F). I didnt have the attachment to hook the chiller up to the sink, so I improvised, and I think it took longer than it normally would have, but was wondering how long on average it should take
2- I have tried to go through a lot of the posts here and see several discussing the merits of an air lock vs a blow off tube. As a first time brewer, should I just use the airlock and wait to use the blowoff tube next time? If I have put an airlock on the fermenter for this batch...if I wanted to switch to a blowoff tube, could i do that without damaging the batch? Also, my airlock has a loose fitting red cap on the top end, should this stay on, or be taken off?
3- Does anyone have a preferred method for cleaning the wort chiller after use, and sanitizing it before the next use. Are there any maintence concerns I should be on the look out for?
4- Anyone have any general recommendations for the soon to be second time brewer?
5- What signs indicate it is time to move my brewing beer to a secondary fermenter?
Thank you,
EA
A little about myself......I am in my 30's and was married aproximately 2 years ago and currently live in NY. My screename is derived from my love of Elvis Presley music and Muhammid Ali and is a screen name I created for some other forum sites after looking up at a picture of Elvis and Ali that hangs in my computer room and thinking...."yea, that works".
I had always been interested in trying to homebrew my own beer, and luckily, Santa brought me a full kit for Christmas. I did my first batch of American Ale today.............and lets just say it was definitly a "learning process" But I figured the first batch is just that,a real learning process, and I learned a lot. If it doesnt come out well, I will just chalk it up to the learning curve!
I had some questions and if anyone has the time, would appreciate any answers people could provide( I apologize in advance if they are less than intelligent, naive or silly!!!!!)
My questions are:
1- If I am using a wort chiller hooked up to a kitchen sink, how long, on average should it take to cool a boiled wart to the proper yeast pitching tempature(which everything I have read says is between 74 F and 90F). I didnt have the attachment to hook the chiller up to the sink, so I improvised, and I think it took longer than it normally would have, but was wondering how long on average it should take
2- I have tried to go through a lot of the posts here and see several discussing the merits of an air lock vs a blow off tube. As a first time brewer, should I just use the airlock and wait to use the blowoff tube next time? If I have put an airlock on the fermenter for this batch...if I wanted to switch to a blowoff tube, could i do that without damaging the batch? Also, my airlock has a loose fitting red cap on the top end, should this stay on, or be taken off?
3- Does anyone have a preferred method for cleaning the wort chiller after use, and sanitizing it before the next use. Are there any maintence concerns I should be on the look out for?
4- Anyone have any general recommendations for the soon to be second time brewer?
5- What signs indicate it is time to move my brewing beer to a secondary fermenter?
Thank you,
EA