Nashbrew
Member
Hello,
I just made my first batch, was excited to do it, but now confused also.
#1. I got the Brewers Best kit, German Oktoberfest, what exactly does steep mean? I was told like a tea bag, so i bobbed it up and down for 20 minutes in the pot. I saw a lot of particles in it, will all that stuff go to the bottom in time in the fermentor? I did not boil it either, but it took some time to get the temp to 160 not having the burner on high.
#2. I followed the instructions completely. Added syrup, waited for it to boil, added the bittering hops, cooked for 55 minutes then added the finishing hops for 5 minutes. I cooled the wort down, then added 3 gallons of cold water, like i was told to do from the HB Supply store. I think my floating thermometer is wrong, i was getting a reading of 50 degrees before i added the other 3 gallons, and a lot of steam was coming from it. After adding the water i put the hydrometer in it and got no reading at all. I do put the hydrometer right in the bucket to get a reading right? Before placing the lid on it? Isn't the silver stuff at the bottom of the hydrometer heat up then goes up the to make a reading? If so, mine did not. Was my wort too cold?
#3. The instructions said to sprinkle the yeast on top of the wort, stir, then place the lid on top with the airlock in place. Half filled with water, whch i did. On the yeast packet it said to heat it up first etc.
Sorry for all the questions guys, i am excited to get started in this but have a lot of questions. Please give me some advice and if everything i did sounded the right way or not. I did sanitize everything before i started too. My main concern is the hydrometer and why i couldn't get it to do anything. Thanks in advance for reading this long post and your help.
I just made my first batch, was excited to do it, but now confused also.
#1. I got the Brewers Best kit, German Oktoberfest, what exactly does steep mean? I was told like a tea bag, so i bobbed it up and down for 20 minutes in the pot. I saw a lot of particles in it, will all that stuff go to the bottom in time in the fermentor? I did not boil it either, but it took some time to get the temp to 160 not having the burner on high.
#2. I followed the instructions completely. Added syrup, waited for it to boil, added the bittering hops, cooked for 55 minutes then added the finishing hops for 5 minutes. I cooled the wort down, then added 3 gallons of cold water, like i was told to do from the HB Supply store. I think my floating thermometer is wrong, i was getting a reading of 50 degrees before i added the other 3 gallons, and a lot of steam was coming from it. After adding the water i put the hydrometer in it and got no reading at all. I do put the hydrometer right in the bucket to get a reading right? Before placing the lid on it? Isn't the silver stuff at the bottom of the hydrometer heat up then goes up the to make a reading? If so, mine did not. Was my wort too cold?
#3. The instructions said to sprinkle the yeast on top of the wort, stir, then place the lid on top with the airlock in place. Half filled with water, whch i did. On the yeast packet it said to heat it up first etc.
Sorry for all the questions guys, i am excited to get started in this but have a lot of questions. Please give me some advice and if everything i did sounded the right way or not. I did sanitize everything before i started too. My main concern is the hydrometer and why i couldn't get it to do anything. Thanks in advance for reading this long post and your help.