Well, I did it...this afternoon I brewed my first batch: St. Arnold Christmas Ale clone from Austin Homebrew Supply. Below are some observations, lessons learned, and some questions.
Don't go cheap on your boil pot; I bought and used a 12-quart pot (3-gallons)...sooooo not big enough.
I had a boil over immediately after I added my bittering hops.
The mess from the boil over wasn't as nasty to clean up as I had expected, and was even able to get it cleaned up before my wife busted me.
The liquid malt extract dissolved quicker and easier than I anticipated.
I have a wort cooler, but didn't use it. Instead I went the ice bath route. It took me probably close to 30-minutes to get my wort cooled to 80-degrees.
Planning and having everything sanitized beforehand is essential.
My OG measured at 1.075; according to the directions from Austin Homebrew Supply, it should have been about 1.066.
After I pitched the yeast (liquid White Labs English Ale), I moved my fermentation bucket to its final location. For the next 10-minutes, I noticed action in the air lock.
With my OG higher than it should have been, what are the ramifications? Is this going to be a problem?
The action I saw in my airlock: was that probably just due to me relocating my fermentation bucket? The action seems to have stopped, or at least slowed way down.
All in all, it was a fun process, though longer than I expected.
If I could make one single recommendation to a fellow beginner, it is to get a large boil pot..follow the directions of the experienced brewers or the directions that come with your brew kit...don't go cheap on the brew pot!
I think the hard part is done...I just hope the fermentation goes well (I did not use a starter). Looking forward to drinking some good, fresh beer.
Thanks in advance for any helpful comments!
Don't go cheap on your boil pot; I bought and used a 12-quart pot (3-gallons)...sooooo not big enough.
I had a boil over immediately after I added my bittering hops.
The mess from the boil over wasn't as nasty to clean up as I had expected, and was even able to get it cleaned up before my wife busted me.
The liquid malt extract dissolved quicker and easier than I anticipated.
I have a wort cooler, but didn't use it. Instead I went the ice bath route. It took me probably close to 30-minutes to get my wort cooled to 80-degrees.
Planning and having everything sanitized beforehand is essential.
My OG measured at 1.075; according to the directions from Austin Homebrew Supply, it should have been about 1.066.
After I pitched the yeast (liquid White Labs English Ale), I moved my fermentation bucket to its final location. For the next 10-minutes, I noticed action in the air lock.
With my OG higher than it should have been, what are the ramifications? Is this going to be a problem?
The action I saw in my airlock: was that probably just due to me relocating my fermentation bucket? The action seems to have stopped, or at least slowed way down.
All in all, it was a fun process, though longer than I expected.
If I could make one single recommendation to a fellow beginner, it is to get a large boil pot..follow the directions of the experienced brewers or the directions that come with your brew kit...don't go cheap on the brew pot!
I think the hard part is done...I just hope the fermentation goes well (I did not use a starter). Looking forward to drinking some good, fresh beer.
Thanks in advance for any helpful comments!