New Brew Help

I just started my first brew yesterday. I am going for a hybrid between an ESB and an IPA. Here is my sequence of events. Please criticize any of my techniques/terminalogy misuse. aslo, what does IMO stand for?


Specialty Grains (Started with 5 galons of water and steeped at 170 for 1 hour):
½ lb. English crystal malt
¼ lb. german dark crystal malt
¼ lb. honey malt

Malt Extract (added about 10 minutes into the boil):
6 lbs. British LME
1 lb. Munton and Fison DME

Hops (total boil time of 60 minutes):
1 ½ oz Kent golden hops @ start of boil (Boiling)
¾ oz Fuggle hops @ start of boil (Boiling)
½ oz hallertaur @ 40 mins into boil (Flavoring)
1 ½ oz Fuggle @ 40 mins into boil (Flavoring)
½ oz hallertaur @ 53 mins into boil (Aroma)

Yeast (prepared before boil with about ¼ lb. of malt and warm water, added after cooling to boil to about 80 degrees):
London Special ESB Ale Liquid Yeast

It is fermenting right now as there is gas escaping through the air lock! I am really excited to see how it turns out.

 

you don't really need to steep your grains that long (30 minutes would be fine) but i don't think it will affect it as long as you didn't go over 170.

not sure what you really mean about preparing the yeast? making a starter is generally done at least 24 hours before you pitch, otherwise the extra malt isn't necessary. when did you "prepare" it?

if she's bubbling you you're probably good to go. recipe looks good...let us know how it turns out!

 

IMO = in my opinion
IMHO = in my humble opinion

Looks like quite a recipe for your first batch. And it sounds like your off to a great start.

Mind if I ask where you got your recipe from?

 

Recipe looks great. You didn't hurt anything by doing what you call preparing the yeast, but likely didn't help either. Starters are to get the yeast started and mainly have them active and reproducing before going into the wort. This means more yeast cells at the beginning. To know how to do this properly just search starter or look it up on howtobrew.com. This isn't a neccesarry step, but it you plan on using liquid yeast it isn't a bad idea to learn how to do it. I use dry most of the time because I'm too lazy to make a starter. Sounds like you will have great beer when it is finished though welcome to the hobby.

 

Thank you, I will look into shorter steeping times. As far as the preparation of the yeast, I guess I meant that I made a starter, but apperantly I did this step a little too late.

The recipe is from a local Home Brew shop here in Seattle. They have a lot of other great recipes as well. Thanks for the warm welcome and I hope to hear from you all in the future as well.

 

Wow, for anyone who cares, This recipe is amazing. For a first time beer, it exceeded my expectations 10 fold. My second brew turned out even better. I love this stuff...

 

Wow, for anyone who cares, This recipe is amazing. For a first time beer, it exceeded my expectations 10 fold. My second brew turned out even better. I love this stuff...