So, this is my 2nd brew. First one was a Mr. Beer American Light, entirely by the book. Took a sample today (2 weeks after pitching) and it measured at 1.006, gonna end up around like 2.7% ABV but hey, I did it by the book.
Today though, was more adventureous. I had bought another MrB kit from craigslist and the ingredients expire next month. It was $10 and came brand new with the keg, bottles and old Candian Draft Kit. I just bought a St. Patricks Stout kit and I have new yeast coming from MoreBeer so I used the new yeast from that kit and threw out the yeast from this kit (was made in february 2010!). So the following is my QBrew file:
#3 Canuckle Sandwhich
---------------------
Brewer: Barnestormer
Style: American Amber Ale
Batch: 2.13 galExtract
Characteristics
---------------
Recipe Gravity: 1.046 OG
Recipe Bitterness: 44 IBU
Recipe Color: 3° SRM
Estimated FG: 1.012
Alcohol by Volume: 4.5%
Alcohol by Weight: 3.5%
Ingredients
-----------
Mr. Beer BrewMax Smooth - DME 0.47 lb, Extract, Extract
MrB. Booster 1.00 lb, Sugar, Other
MrB. High Country Canadian Draft1.00 lb, Extract, Extract
MrB. High Country Canadian Draft1.00 oz, Pellet, 5 minutes
Northern Brewer (Germany) - Multi-purpose bittering hop with other hops woody/earthy/fruity aroma and flavor0.25 oz, Pellet, 25 minutes
Northern Brewer (Germany) - Multi-purpose bittering hop with other hops woody/earthy/fruity aroma and flavor0.25 oz, Pellet, 50 minutes
Mr. Beer Dry Ale Yeast 1.00 unit, Yeast, Temperature Range: 68°-76° F 2.0 GRAMS
Notes
-----
Recipe Notes:
Old ingredients: HME, Booster
Used yeast from brand new kit.
Batch Notes:
Boil Water, remove from heat, add DME and booster and boil until hot break.
WATCH THE POT *******!
Pour into bowl first or quicker. DME clumps with the moisture from evaping water.
White crystalization on the bottom. DME or Booster?
Add .25oz hops. Boil for 50 minutes.
Add .25oz hops. Boil for 25 minutes.
Add HME. Water bath with ice to bring the wort to transfer temp.
Transfer to LBK and Mix the **** out of it.
1/10/13 Gravity Reading (OG): 1.042 @ ~74 (warm in kitchen from cooking) ~= 1.044
Pitch yeast.
Ingredients lined up. Decided to throw in the booster because why not. I added an HME and hop boil. Why waste it? I only bought some Mr. Beer ingredients because I had to buy the new valve for the front and I hated paying $8 shipping for that one little thing so I threw some on for this batch.
Hop boil. I ended up boiling over after adding the wart and booster because I walked away. EVERYONE said not to. I KNEW not to, SWMBO was complaining about something and I walked away... go figure
.
Question: I was stirring the DME and Booster during the boil and there was crystalized clumping on the bottom. Was that just the booster clumping up and maybe burning?
Ice bath after everything is done. Waited for it to get down to about 90 because I knew I would be pouring cold water to top off the batch.
Question: Would this be better if I boiled the ENTIRE batch and never added water on top? I have heard that IBU calculations get thrown off because hop boils account for full boils and adding the water at the end cuts it in 1/2 assuming you are doing a half boil.
Each new brew gets 1 week in the cooler to prevent a mess if it explodes. This older kit had no vents in the lid, just 2 small ones on the LBK so I loosened it 1/4 turn.
After the cooler, they sit up on the shelf for the last 2 weeks of fermenting. I got that boil kettle for $5 brand new, 24qt stainless on Craigslist. Win.
Hydrometer came ot me with a crack in the top. I emailed Mr. Beer about it today. Here is the reading right after pitch. I figured it at about 74 degrees and 1.042. Not bad when recipe called for 1.046.
Question: I am assuming I am reading QBrew right. Recipe Gravity is the OG correct?
LAST PIC!
Another GREAT Cragislist find. This guy moved to kegging so was giving away all of these bottles cleaned and delabled... seriously did not pay a dime and this is just one run through the dishwasher without any soap. The pop tops are my favorite.
I want to hear all of your feedback and questions. I am addicted to this already and I am only half way through 1 batch. BUT, I did chill the sample I pulled from testing the first one and good news is that it tastes like flat beer!!
I have one more Mr. Beer Kit I am doing with a grain steep and a couple of other things but by then, my 5 gallon kit will come in and I will be running a cycle of 2 Mr. Beer batches and the 5 gallon batches.
Today though, was more adventureous. I had bought another MrB kit from craigslist and the ingredients expire next month. It was $10 and came brand new with the keg, bottles and old Candian Draft Kit. I just bought a St. Patricks Stout kit and I have new yeast coming from MoreBeer so I used the new yeast from that kit and threw out the yeast from this kit (was made in february 2010!). So the following is my QBrew file:
#3 Canuckle Sandwhich
---------------------
Brewer: Barnestormer
Style: American Amber Ale
Batch: 2.13 galExtract
Characteristics
---------------
Recipe Gravity: 1.046 OG
Recipe Bitterness: 44 IBU
Recipe Color: 3° SRM
Estimated FG: 1.012
Alcohol by Volume: 4.5%
Alcohol by Weight: 3.5%
Ingredients
-----------
Mr. Beer BrewMax Smooth - DME 0.47 lb, Extract, Extract
MrB. Booster 1.00 lb, Sugar, Other
MrB. High Country Canadian Draft1.00 lb, Extract, Extract
MrB. High Country Canadian Draft1.00 oz, Pellet, 5 minutes
Northern Brewer (Germany) - Multi-purpose bittering hop with other hops woody/earthy/fruity aroma and flavor0.25 oz, Pellet, 25 minutes
Northern Brewer (Germany) - Multi-purpose bittering hop with other hops woody/earthy/fruity aroma and flavor0.25 oz, Pellet, 50 minutes
Mr. Beer Dry Ale Yeast 1.00 unit, Yeast, Temperature Range: 68°-76° F 2.0 GRAMS
Notes
-----
Recipe Notes:
Old ingredients: HME, Booster
Used yeast from brand new kit.
Batch Notes:
Boil Water, remove from heat, add DME and booster and boil until hot break.
WATCH THE POT *******!
Pour into bowl first or quicker. DME clumps with the moisture from evaping water.
White crystalization on the bottom. DME or Booster?
Add .25oz hops. Boil for 50 minutes.
Add .25oz hops. Boil for 25 minutes.
Add HME. Water bath with ice to bring the wort to transfer temp.
Transfer to LBK and Mix the **** out of it.
1/10/13 Gravity Reading (OG): 1.042 @ ~74 (warm in kitchen from cooking) ~= 1.044
Pitch yeast.
Ingredients lined up. Decided to throw in the booster because why not. I added an HME and hop boil. Why waste it? I only bought some Mr. Beer ingredients because I had to buy the new valve for the front and I hated paying $8 shipping for that one little thing so I threw some on for this batch.
Hop boil. I ended up boiling over after adding the wart and booster because I walked away. EVERYONE said not to. I KNEW not to, SWMBO was complaining about something and I walked away... go figure
. Question: I was stirring the DME and Booster during the boil and there was crystalized clumping on the bottom. Was that just the booster clumping up and maybe burning?
Ice bath after everything is done. Waited for it to get down to about 90 because I knew I would be pouring cold water to top off the batch.
Question: Would this be better if I boiled the ENTIRE batch and never added water on top? I have heard that IBU calculations get thrown off because hop boils account for full boils and adding the water at the end cuts it in 1/2 assuming you are doing a half boil.
Each new brew gets 1 week in the cooler to prevent a mess if it explodes. This older kit had no vents in the lid, just 2 small ones on the LBK so I loosened it 1/4 turn.
After the cooler, they sit up on the shelf for the last 2 weeks of fermenting. I got that boil kettle for $5 brand new, 24qt stainless on Craigslist. Win.
Hydrometer came ot me with a crack in the top
. I emailed Mr. Beer about it today. Here is the reading right after pitch. I figured it at about 74 degrees and 1.042. Not bad when recipe called for 1.046.Question: I am assuming I am reading QBrew right. Recipe Gravity is the OG correct?
LAST PIC!
Another GREAT Cragislist find. This guy moved to kegging so was giving away all of these bottles cleaned and delabled... seriously did not pay a dime and this is just one run through the dishwasher without any soap. The pop tops are my favorite.
I want to hear all of your feedback and questions. I am addicted to this already and I am only half way through 1 batch. BUT, I did chill the sample I pulled from testing the first one and good news is that it tastes like flat beer!!
I have one more Mr. Beer Kit I am doing with a grain steep and a couple of other things but by then, my 5 gallon kit will come in and I will be running a cycle of 2 Mr. Beer batches and the 5 gallon batches.
