New in NJ

[NJNewb]

Hi all,

I’m a newbie in NJ. I’m working on my first brew now (just went in bottles today). I’ve been lurking awhile and have picked up a bunch of tips so I thought it was time to join in.

 

[JohnSand]

Welcome aboard!

 

[MaxStout]

Welcome to the forum, from Minnesota!

 

[Cyclman]

Welcome to the hobby, and the group, from Colorado

 

[TKWoody]

Welcome to the hobby and to HBT!

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Welcome to the forum. What did you brew? Let us know how it turned out in a couple weeks.

 

[bronzdragon]

Welcome! I live in PA but work in NJ...been brewing for 5, 10, 15, 20 ... oh, I lost count.

 

[nDub]

Welcome

 

[NJNewb]

Thanks all!

I actually live in NJ and work in PA so I’m Bronzdragon in reverse.

First brew is a NB Block Party Amber extract kit. I have a Hefeweizen kit on the way for batch number 2. Along with a wort chiller, a new spoon and a how to brew book. Ironically this was sold to the wife as an “affordable hobby”. I may be in some trouble

 

[bronzdragon]

“affordable hobby”

When I first started, that was an idea I had. Now, all I can tell you, is that if you enjoy it, start breaking it to her slowly, start with small equipment purchases, so she doesn't have a heart attack when you want to buy a full on three tier system.

Good luck!

 

[NJNewb]

LOL!

That’s my plan. Today the book arrives, tomorrow the spoon and the rest on Thursday.

I just have to figure out how to tell her I want build a fermentation chamber and get a kegerator.

 

[bronzdragon]

It will only take a few rounds of bottling and you will see the benefits of kegging. I bottled for several years, putting off the kegging because of money. But once I changed over, I never really went back. The only things I bottle currently are my Dubbels or Quads, in Belgian bottles or meads/wines. If you have questions, feel free to just mail me.

 

[NJNewb]

The beer didn’t turn out half bad. Maybe a little sweet for my taste but I’ve had much worse. I’m going to brew my second batch in a couple days.

 

[JohnSand]

Keep practicing and studying. It took me a long time to brew really good beer. Now I brew everything I drink at home.
Even though I probably have $1000 invested in my brew gear, I'm probably saving $100 a month by not buying beer.

 

[pozmantv]

Cheers from Melbourne Australia

 

[bronzdragon]

I've made good beers with extract and all-grain, but the one thing that I noticed when I switched over to all-grain was that I was getting a better ferment and less residual sweetness. As you move forward, on your next brew, make a yeast starter and ramp up a larger yeast population to pitch. Also, when the wort is going into the bucket make sure you aerate it good. You don't have to have an O2 wand, just use a slotted spoon to slosh it around good and introduce a lot of oxygen. Those two things should help your ferment out. Keep on brewing!

 

[NJNewb]

Thanks guys,

I’m doing a Hefeweizen extract kit from NB tomorrow. My thought being I tend to drink a lot of that style so I know what it’s supposed to taste like and I’ll have a better sense of any off flavors.

I got dry yeast with the kit. I was going to rehydrate first this time instead of just pitching into the wort. Would it make sense to do a starter with dry yeast? I’ll definitely try the slotted spoon trick, I just shook the bucket for a couple minutes last time.

I think all grain is in my future but I want to get the basics down first before I lay down the money for an all grain rig.

 

[bronzdragon]

Rehydrating will definitely help. But, put a starter kit on your list of things to get going forward. Having a larger yeast colony to pitch helps out in a more complete fermentation. If you underpitch yeast, they get stressed out and either die off too soon or cause off flavors. I wouldn't worry about it now, but get a flask, stopper (with hole), a pound of dme and another airlock and you'll be set to make starters going forward. /cheers

 

[NJNewb]

Rehydrating will definitely help. But, put a starter kit on your list of things to get going forward. Having a larger yeast colony to pitch helps out in a more complete fermentation. If you underpitch yeast, they get stressed out and either die off too soon or cause off flavors. I wouldn't worry about it now, but get a flask, stopper (with hole), a pound of dme and another airlock and you'll be set to make starters going forward. /cheers

I’ll do that I was going to try out liquid yeast next anyway. Might as well go whole hog.