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Great advice. I'm definitely going to pick up the cubes. I feel like it's not worth chancing the corn sugar mixture that comes in the kits. I just brewed my first batch and I'm waiting for it to carbonate now, but I'm afraid that the mixture may not be enough to carbonate. I guess I'll find out...

Mongoose, how long would starsan last in a spray bottle? If I left it in the bottle for a month, would it still be effective? Just curious. I keep tossing what's left down the drain and I'm wondering if I could keep some of it. If it's not worth it, id rather buy a nice size container of it and...

Man, you've been helping me along the way since day 1! By the way, does your screen name mean Pennsylvania Dave?

Good luck on bottling day! It was the funniest part when you Seal the deal with a bottle cap. Question though. How do you NOT introduce oxygen in the bottles? With the hose constantly full and the bottling wand doing its thing, I can't figure out how oxygen enters the beer unless I was causing...

I agree. For my first time bottling (a couple of days ago), the spigot was extremely useful. My only concern was that the spigot could potentially have dust and sediment up in it since it's sticky in there. I sprayed it all over with starsan so I hope it did the trick but I can't be too sure...

Thanks for the advice! Really like the marble idea. Should I add them in now? It's still fermenting.

I'm definitely going to follow the instructions. I came this far! Better finish it according to the directions. I am very glad I started out with extract brewing. It's still a whole lot of fun, and I hope it tastes delicious. Tomorrow is my first bottling day. You all have helped me out so...

Sorry for the newbie question here, but how do you eliminate headspace? For example, I have one gallon fermenting in a glass carboy, stuffed with the stopper and airlock. Krausen has ended, but the airlock is still bubbling away. All looks good so far. What am I supposed to do to avoid that...

Thanks for the tip. I brewed 5 gallons, which ended up a little under 5 gallons. The kit came with the corn sugar... should I avoid it and get something else like the sugar cubes? Also, I saw some drops at my local homebrew store that can be used instead. Should I do that instead, or is there...

Great idea. And thanks for the tips on the gravity tests. So, I am bottling on Tuesday and I had a question: I have the fermenter with the beer in it at the moment, and I also have my bottling bucket with a spigot attached. I know I have to stir in the corn sugar I boil up, but I just wanted...

Great advice. But my fermenter is stuck in the 58-60 degree mark. There is no more activity (after a good strong week of activity - although it was warmer out during those days). I'm afraid if I bottle after 3 weeks, there still may be active yeast that will suddenly become active again and blow...

Thanks mongoose. I'm going to stick with the sticker thermometers. I went to my local homebrew store yesterday for the first time. Never even knew he existed and he's about 5 minutes up the road. He's been open for 15 years. I decided to get more of my equipment from him instead of online...

lol agreed. Any advice on digital thermometers? Is there a such thing to have on top of a fermenter? I could get a stainless thermometer, but the digitals (if they exist) may cost just about the same. Just curious.

This is really interesting. Thanks for everyone chiming in. Wow, this thread is overloaded with knowledge and tips. I'm looking forward to trying a beer. I'll most likely try one a week-in, then two week, then I'll have them all ready for the party which would be 16 days after bottling. We...

Thanks for your input. It's obvious that oxidizing beer is problematic. I certainly don't want my first batch of beer to taste like a wet paper bag lol. I've been pretty careful so far. When I moved the fermenter, it's plastic, so i lightly squeezed it to lift. When I did that, it forced some...

Thanks all! How about oxygen? When is introducing oxygen bad?

Lol, great point. I know I'm worrying too much, but It's my first batch ever, and everything i read up on is always talking about how simple it is to completely ruin it. Thanks mongoose! I'm done worrying lol. I'm going to cheers my first beer to all of you, no doubt, for all of your help and...

I take it back! Lol, it's doing it again. Just checked. The bubbles have returned. I was concerned for a minute there.

Jrodmfish - thanks, I'm trying not to worry lol. I'm just concerned that it may not be operating properly anymore. Reason for my concern is, I noticed it would still bubble one time about every 45 seconds or so. Now, it's doing nothing since I moved it. I'm going to sit by it and wait for it...

Great looking burner. Just checked it out. Thanks for the advice. I was going to move the fermenter in to a warmer room (it's 58 degrees currently in the room it's in), but when I lifted the fermenter, i noticed it made a sound like it was dripping some water back in to the fermenter. I used a...