Hello wise beer gurus of the world. I have browsed through many of the stickys and I have quite a number of questions.
I purchased a brewing kit from my local beer supply store. I told my girlfriend I wanted to get into home brewing and previous to buying my equipment I bought Charlies Guide to Homebrewing book. I read a lot of it and then made my purchase. Naturally, the owner of the store gave me his "New Brewers Speech" he gives out to everyone, and suggested I buy a beer kit that contains all the ingredients and the recipe to make a certain style of beer.
My first attempt is an "Imperial Pale Ale" by Brewers Best.
I do not want to be purchasing beer kits for the rest of my beer brewing career as the cost of them is ranging anywhere from $32 - $55 USD depending on which one you get.
So , first and foremost.... where would I buy different kinds of malts, extracts and hops? I assume that my local store (named What Ale's Ya) carries it, but at a retail level I am again assuming it is more expensive than ordering and shipping it online? (in the United States).
Let me also back up by saying that I would like to spend a little less on a 5 gallon batch. I would like to be spending around $25 - $35 a batch ... and of course it all depends on the flavor and rarity of the beer desired.
Second, about sanitation. I had received packets of sanitation solution (powder you mix with 2.5 gallons of water) that is pretty much bleach (judging by how it smells). It instructs to sanitize and air dry, however I have some residue left over on some of my equipment afterwards that somewhat resembles water spots on a beer / wine glass. Is this going to hurt anything? I tasted my wort before pitching the yeast, and just tasted it now that the fermentation is complete, and it tastes fine... tastes of no infection or problem. Although my floating thermometer broke (the bobbing glass part, not the mercury filled thermometer) and there is some of the weight and glass in the bottom of my fermenter.
As for bottles... I have been rinsing all my bottles immediately after drinking them and was told by my local establishment to wash them in the dishwasher once with soap, and then once with no soap at all with a heated dry cycle, as this will sanitize them. However my book tells me to dunk each bottle in sanitation solution .... any input on this?And if I sanitize my racking bucket and leave it uncovered for a day or two is that going to hurt?
Third , prior to pitching my yeast my gravity reading was 1.075 and the instructions said that it should be around 1.080 or so. Why is my gravity reading lower than what it should be? Did I boil too long? I am ready to bottle and the gravity is stuck at 1.015 for 2 days now. So I have my bottles drying in the dishwasher now and will tackle it tomorrow or the following day. Is it ok to leave your beer in the fermenting bucket for a day or 2 after the yeast is finished fermenting the sugars? I don't know why it would but just figured I would ask.
Of course because I am new to it I have commonly asked questions, but I couldn't easily find the answer to any of them really other than what a secondary fermenter is used for.
I appreciate all your help and input on the matter!!
PS- Has anyone ever used Brewers Best kits on a regular basis? Is there other kits that are less expensive / better bang for the buck?
I purchased a brewing kit from my local beer supply store. I told my girlfriend I wanted to get into home brewing and previous to buying my equipment I bought Charlies Guide to Homebrewing book. I read a lot of it and then made my purchase. Naturally, the owner of the store gave me his "New Brewers Speech" he gives out to everyone, and suggested I buy a beer kit that contains all the ingredients and the recipe to make a certain style of beer.
My first attempt is an "Imperial Pale Ale" by Brewers Best.
I do not want to be purchasing beer kits for the rest of my beer brewing career as the cost of them is ranging anywhere from $32 - $55 USD depending on which one you get.
So , first and foremost.... where would I buy different kinds of malts, extracts and hops? I assume that my local store (named What Ale's Ya) carries it, but at a retail level I am again assuming it is more expensive than ordering and shipping it online? (in the United States).
Let me also back up by saying that I would like to spend a little less on a 5 gallon batch. I would like to be spending around $25 - $35 a batch ... and of course it all depends on the flavor and rarity of the beer desired.
Second, about sanitation. I had received packets of sanitation solution (powder you mix with 2.5 gallons of water) that is pretty much bleach (judging by how it smells). It instructs to sanitize and air dry, however I have some residue left over on some of my equipment afterwards that somewhat resembles water spots on a beer / wine glass. Is this going to hurt anything? I tasted my wort before pitching the yeast, and just tasted it now that the fermentation is complete, and it tastes fine... tastes of no infection or problem. Although my floating thermometer broke (the bobbing glass part, not the mercury filled thermometer) and there is some of the weight and glass in the bottom of my fermenter.
As for bottles... I have been rinsing all my bottles immediately after drinking them and was told by my local establishment to wash them in the dishwasher once with soap, and then once with no soap at all with a heated dry cycle, as this will sanitize them. However my book tells me to dunk each bottle in sanitation solution .... any input on this?And if I sanitize my racking bucket and leave it uncovered for a day or two is that going to hurt?
Third , prior to pitching my yeast my gravity reading was 1.075 and the instructions said that it should be around 1.080 or so. Why is my gravity reading lower than what it should be? Did I boil too long? I am ready to bottle and the gravity is stuck at 1.015 for 2 days now. So I have my bottles drying in the dishwasher now and will tackle it tomorrow or the following day. Is it ok to leave your beer in the fermenting bucket for a day or 2 after the yeast is finished fermenting the sugars? I don't know why it would but just figured I would ask.
Of course because I am new to it I have commonly asked questions, but I couldn't easily find the answer to any of them really other than what a secondary fermenter is used for.
I appreciate all your help and input on the matter!!
PS- Has anyone ever used Brewers Best kits on a regular basis? Is there other kits that are less expensive / better bang for the buck?