I did my first batch yesterday and all went relatively well I think. I had a couple of questions though.
1. I used whole hops (not pellets). I tried to add them in a hop bag (a piece of plastic mesh). The original idea was to help clarity/reduce trub by not leaving the hops in there loose. Then I thought that maybe I would want them in there during the ferment to continue to add bitterness (this recipe if for an American Pale Ale). I will be dry hopping later so does it really matter?
2. Noob mistake: first time with liquid yeast vial. Warmed up nicely and then proceeded to blow all over when I opened it. I think I got most of it in the wort, but I lost some. If things go slow, I was going to add some dry later on.
Comments?
1. I used whole hops (not pellets). I tried to add them in a hop bag (a piece of plastic mesh). The original idea was to help clarity/reduce trub by not leaving the hops in there loose. Then I thought that maybe I would want them in there during the ferment to continue to add bitterness (this recipe if for an American Pale Ale). I will be dry hopping later so does it really matter?
2. Noob mistake: first time with liquid yeast vial. Warmed up nicely and then proceeded to blow all over when I opened it. I think I got most of it in the wort, but I lost some. If things go slow, I was going to add some dry later on.
Comments?