My First Batch

[MagicRat]

I've wanted to get involved in brewing for the longest time and I've finally got my first batch brewed, fermented, and bottled. I jumped right into all-grain and my first batch was from the amber recipe in Palmer's book. I taste tested about 4 ounces at the end of the bottling process and I think this is going to turn out very well!
I'd done a great deal of reading for the last year or so but was still pretty nervous about screwing something up but everything went more smoothly than I had even hoped. One glitch that I will learn from - I didn't invest in the wort chiller and went with the ice bath but I didn't get enough ice and it took forever to cool the wort. It was still a couple degrees higher than it should have been when I pitched but I think this is going to be a real good first batch!

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Nice work Magicrat. It does take a good amount of ice to cool a five gallon kettle. I sit coffee cans and plastic water cans out on real cold nights and let them freeze. Store them in a couple five day coolers and on brew day I got plenty. I'm pretty tight so I will save the 50 on the copper and get 50lbs of 2 row.

 

[MagicRat]

Cool idea, but it won't work for me here in Florida. If we had an extra freezer (which we may soon), I might try doing something like this to cut down on buying ice, but for now I'm just going to be buying lots of ice on brew day.

 

[caver95]

Where are you in FL? I am in Fort Myers. Congrats on jumping in with both feet! I used my counter flow chiller for the first time yesterday. I am amazed at it!

I once made a batch and had no means to cool it. I placed the lid on the brew kettle and let it stand for the night. It turned out really well.

But I would save your money for a CFC, or find a chiller on craigslist. I have gotten 90% of my equipment off of craigslist.

I am sure it will be fine. It is beer and pretty much caused civilization, they didn't have any fancy copper or freezers to use. Welcome to homebrewing!

 

[MagicRat]

I'm in Tampa, caver.

 

[caver95]

cool, I grew up in South Tampa. I dont know any brewers around Tampa.