Recent content by MadisonBrewer

I really really wish I would have read this before drilling a hole through my chest freezer wall... haha, I guess this was something I just had to learn the hard way. :o

did not know that, very nice to know :)

Either one should work, but, like I said, I'm not sure how all the trub from your last batch will affect the fermentation. I like to pitch onto the secondary yeast cake simply because there is less junk in it (trub, hop particles, dead-autolyzed yeast etc), but I know it will work to pitch it...

Are you pitching onto the yeast cake from the primary or secondary? If it's from the secondary, then hopefully you've gotten rid of most of the trub in siphoning process, so it shouldn't be a problem to pitch right on the yeast cake. If it's the cake from the primary, then I'm not sure...

I've used quite a few of the BB kits, although not the Brown Ale. But brown ales are pretty straightforward, so it's a good choice for your first brew! All the BB kits I've made have turned out pretty well, I've been happy with them.

What kind of beer are you making? Some styles and yeast types are going to give you the banana flavor, it's just a natural part of those beers. I'd recommend that you switch up the type of yeast you are using if it keeps on being a problem for you. It might go away or at least lessen a bit...