Well, I've had my Caribou Slobber in the fermenter for ten days and was concerned about fermenting at too high a temp as the optimal yeast temp only went up to 70 degrees and I was at about 78 per my original post. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f29/new-guy-first-brew-question-391296/ I decided to take a gravity reading to see where I am. I bought the Mad Brewer kit from NB so I could take these readings. It's pretty hard to get an accurate reading, but after several attempts and my temp conversions I think I'm about 1.021'ish. I'm planning on leaving it for another 2.5 weeks in the primary as it seems this can only help. I'm hoping the SG will come down a bit more as well, although it doesn't seem to be doing anything right now.
Anyway, the real point of this post is that my concerns turned to outright joy as i tasted my sample...it tasted pretty good already. Of course this is my first brew so I have no idea what it's really supposed to taste like, but I was suspecting rubbing alcohol or bananas because of the hot fermentation; it actually tasted like a brown ale. (maybe just a touch sweet, but I typically like IPA's so it may be normal) Now I just have to be patient I guess and avoid the desire to keep taking readings and sampling it. I'm stoked that fears were unfounded and that I may have a drinkable brew. It may be a little sweet and low on alcohol content, but overall I'm very happy. After it's been in the primary for a month, I plan on bottling it for another 2 weeks and then putting them in the fridge for a couple of days...just in time for my 40th.
Anyway, the real point of this post is that my concerns turned to outright joy as i tasted my sample...it tasted pretty good already. Of course this is my first brew so I have no idea what it's really supposed to taste like, but I was suspecting rubbing alcohol or bananas because of the hot fermentation; it actually tasted like a brown ale. (maybe just a touch sweet, but I typically like IPA's so it may be normal) Now I just have to be patient I guess and avoid the desire to keep taking readings and sampling it. I'm stoked that fears were unfounded and that I may have a drinkable brew. It may be a little sweet and low on alcohol content, but overall I'm very happy. After it's been in the primary for a month, I plan on bottling it for another 2 weeks and then putting them in the fridge for a couple of days...just in time for my 40th.