Indy418
Well-Known Member
First off, thanks for anyone who can help me out.
Long time beer geek, first time brewing. Went out and purchased a starter kit and just got done with the first batch. I have some questions about some of the directions that came with the kit that don't seem quite right, even though I followed them to the "T."
I went simple for the first batch-- a 3 1/2 lbs. can of Coopers Bitter malt extract, pre-hopped, with a 2 lbs. package of dried malt extract.
I sanitzed then boiled three quarts of water in my pot, and four gallons went into the bucket. Water boiled and I added the canned and dry extract. Then that came to a boil, I removed it from the heat and poured it into the fermenter with the cold water.
Next, I added the yeast that came with the Coopers can and covered the top to the fermenter partially. I waited ten minutes, the stirred the yeast in, covered the fermenter up, and put the airlock on (half filled the air-lock with water as well)
I had aggressive fermentation the next day which shot the water right out of the airlock. I was told that's because I didn't let the extract cool down before adding the yeast. Gotcha. Just kept cleaning out the airlock and the fermentation eventually settled down.
To the questions...
-I've read pretty much every where that you're supposed to boil the extract and water for 45 minutes or so. My batch, however, boiled over with foam after only a few seconds of boiling. How do you prevent against boiling over?
-I haven't read anywhere else that you're supposed to stir the yeast in, but my directions told me to--what's up with that?
-When should I start taking my hydrometer readings and what's the best way to do it? Can I just take the top off the fermenter and drop the hydrometer in?
-I've also been told that if I want a fuller tasting beer, I can use more than just one can of malt extract, but should that change the amount of water I boil it with?
Ok. That should be it for now. Again, thanks for anyone who can provide a little bit of help. Not sure how this first batch will go, but I'll wait ten days, bottle, wait a week and see!
Thanks!
Long time beer geek, first time brewing. Went out and purchased a starter kit and just got done with the first batch. I have some questions about some of the directions that came with the kit that don't seem quite right, even though I followed them to the "T."
I went simple for the first batch-- a 3 1/2 lbs. can of Coopers Bitter malt extract, pre-hopped, with a 2 lbs. package of dried malt extract.
I sanitzed then boiled three quarts of water in my pot, and four gallons went into the bucket. Water boiled and I added the canned and dry extract. Then that came to a boil, I removed it from the heat and poured it into the fermenter with the cold water.
Next, I added the yeast that came with the Coopers can and covered the top to the fermenter partially. I waited ten minutes, the stirred the yeast in, covered the fermenter up, and put the airlock on (half filled the air-lock with water as well)
I had aggressive fermentation the next day which shot the water right out of the airlock. I was told that's because I didn't let the extract cool down before adding the yeast. Gotcha. Just kept cleaning out the airlock and the fermentation eventually settled down.
To the questions...
-I've read pretty much every where that you're supposed to boil the extract and water for 45 minutes or so. My batch, however, boiled over with foam after only a few seconds of boiling. How do you prevent against boiling over?
-I haven't read anywhere else that you're supposed to stir the yeast in, but my directions told me to--what's up with that?
-When should I start taking my hydrometer readings and what's the best way to do it? Can I just take the top off the fermenter and drop the hydrometer in?
-I've also been told that if I want a fuller tasting beer, I can use more than just one can of malt extract, but should that change the amount of water I boil it with?
Ok. That should be it for now. Again, thanks for anyone who can provide a little bit of help. Not sure how this first batch will go, but I'll wait ten days, bottle, wait a week and see!
Thanks!