Recent content by LifeBeginsFriday

I just finished a mr. beer batch. I think it was west coast pale ale.. Just over a month since been bottled and I thought it was pretty good.. better then just after carbed atleast.

Just wanted to say I just tasted my first from a 5 gal batch. Its only been bottled for 6 days but I couldn't wait any more... so I cooled 1 just to try it. Its a red ale and I know it has time left for good carb and conditioning but its got potential. looking forward to a few weeks down the...

I actually did use a heating pad around the carboy to bring up the temp.. most of all I keep a small heater in the closet I keep the primary and bottle in as a matter of fact. It does become quite a pain plugging and unplugging. It has a thermostat I just don't like leaving it on if I'm not...

hey mikfire speaking of the brew club I just talked to a guy at the other day that told me about it. as of now I'm planning on going.. I've lived petersburg/richmond area as long as I can remember and I don't think i've ever seen lengends. I know the area though i'm sure i'll find it. for the...

hey I'm on my second 5 gal batch but with this one I just bought a 6.5 gal carboy for primary... my question is what is the easiest way to take a sample from the carboy. the ale pale I was using before had a bottom drain. any ideas? by the way I just bottled the first batch yesterday a red...

funny. I have my first batch in primary - should be ready to bottle by sat. and I'm going be heading to the brew shop this week to buy a second primary and ingredients kit to get another batch going. at least I'm not the only one ;)

Ok thanks for the info... I'm planning on going back to the brew shop this week to buy a second primary anyway so I'll probably pickup a siphon before next weekend.. wish me luck ;)

I was planning on move it to the bottling bucket by the spigot but I'm not going to be using a secondary so maybe I will get a siphon for transfer. the other thing is that I'm understanding it will clarify during conditioning?

hey.. I have a batch of red ale in an ale pale w/ bottom spigot as primary. Its been in since 1/24 - so far so good. took a hydrometer reading tonight - s.g.1.049 now getting 1.013, everything seems to be fine but I took the sample from the spigot and it still appeared to be pretty cloudy. Is...

hey. I'm a noob also, using a bucket for my first large batch. I think I am going to invest in a better bottle deal before the next... just something about being able to see whats going on in side ;) as some already stated...

ok thanks. makes sense

I just have a quick question, and its should I cover the brew pot during the boil. or just leave open?

thanks for the quick reply - well what I was thinking is that both buckets have bottom drains, so I can just rack back to the primary for bottling.. the other kit they offered came with a secondary - it was a 5 gal better bottle.. I believe... so what would be the difference.

Hey.. Just thought I'd get on and mention I'm in the middle of my first partial... at least I think. Its a red red ale kit - had to steep the grains and what not.. let me know if I'm wrong.. anyway I plan to use a bunch of bottles I've been saving planning on this.. anyone have any suggestions...

Hi to all, I've been looking around the forum for a few weeks now... just trying to get a feel for what I'm getting involved in ;) .. My brother bought me a Mr. Beer kit - California Pale Ale... just bottle about 2 weeks ago... If I must say myself it turned out pretty good, but it has peaked...