Hello group,
Just want to check in and say hello. I've been reading posts for a couple weeks now. Been researching and considering taking my first steps into the craft for some time, finally took the plunge this past week. I opted to go with the Brewer's Best Deluxe kit, I have a 5 gal. stainless brew pot (already had it). Went with Oxi Clean Free for cleaning and One Step for secondary cleaning and sanitizing. (Feel like Star San may be better from what i've read)
Read many tips, watched several videos, paid close attention to the instructions and I seem to be ok at this point. I went with the BB American Light kit for my first brew, wanted something easy that I had a good idea how it should turn out. Brewed on Saturday, fermentation started in < 24hrs and air lock activity has subsided on day 3. Took a hydrometer reading and i'm sitting at 1.012 right now, instructions says target is 1.008-1.011 so I'm almost there. Didn't get a good initial reading because I wasn't real sure that I read it correctly but looked to be in the 1.041 range. My sample is a nice golden/straw color and smells like beer, tasted the sample and it seems to be doing well, no odd or sour tastes. I plan to use a secondary after a couple more days in the primary. I have to go out of town for a week so I plan to transfer to the secondary on day 6 where it will sit for another 2 weeks before bottling.
So, first and foremost, thank you to all the posters with the tips, trials, and errors. This place has been a wealth of knowledge.
If anyone has any recommendations or suggestions for my process/timeline I would love the critique. I have another BB American Amber Ale kit on deck, if that one turns out I want to move to something a bit more advance.
Cheers..
Just want to check in and say hello. I've been reading posts for a couple weeks now. Been researching and considering taking my first steps into the craft for some time, finally took the plunge this past week. I opted to go with the Brewer's Best Deluxe kit, I have a 5 gal. stainless brew pot (already had it). Went with Oxi Clean Free for cleaning and One Step for secondary cleaning and sanitizing. (Feel like Star San may be better from what i've read)
Read many tips, watched several videos, paid close attention to the instructions and I seem to be ok at this point. I went with the BB American Light kit for my first brew, wanted something easy that I had a good idea how it should turn out. Brewed on Saturday, fermentation started in < 24hrs and air lock activity has subsided on day 3. Took a hydrometer reading and i'm sitting at 1.012 right now, instructions says target is 1.008-1.011 so I'm almost there. Didn't get a good initial reading because I wasn't real sure that I read it correctly but looked to be in the 1.041 range. My sample is a nice golden/straw color and smells like beer, tasted the sample and it seems to be doing well, no odd or sour tastes. I plan to use a secondary after a couple more days in the primary. I have to go out of town for a week so I plan to transfer to the secondary on day 6 where it will sit for another 2 weeks before bottling.
So, first and foremost, thank you to all the posters with the tips, trials, and errors. This place has been a wealth of knowledge.
If anyone has any recommendations or suggestions for my process/timeline I would love the critique. I have another BB American Amber Ale kit on deck, if that one turns out I want to move to something a bit more advance.
Cheers..
