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The steeping method was the one recommended in the "recipe" if you don't have a thermometer. Definitely didn't let it boil long, I yanked the grains out as soon as it barely came to a boil, hopefully that will be OK. Now my concern is its been a week and very little CO2 coming off. The first...

On the hydrometer.... I haven't read the directions on it yet. I know it is used to determine the specific gravity of the beer. That's great but I am still ignorant as to what specific gravity I am looking for. Or am I looking for a lack of change in specific gravity to know that it is...

No...didn't fully boil 'em....I put 'em in when water was cold...soon as the water began to boil...I pulled 'em out. This was recommended in the directions...one of the clear portions that existed. No I am awaiting signs of life...48 hrs in and no off gassing that I can tell. Maybe that...

Okay...so the beer is now fermenting (my first attempt). The recipe ( a supposed clone of Dogfish Head 60 min IPA) was seriously thin on details. I had some grain. several packets of various hops. two 3.3 lb cans of liquid malt syrup and about a half cup of "priming sugar". I boiled the...

Well... after all the considerations....there was a tub of sanitizer buried deep in the items in the kit. that said, when I initially put the airlock in, I accidentally popped the rubber grommet through the lid and into the fermentation bucket. So, I did use a bit of vodka to wipe my arm off...

I guess Oxy Clean is as easy to get as anything else. That said, I was thinking....what if I scrubbed everything out "clean" and then sanitized by swishing around and/or wiping all the potentially contaminated items with Vodka or Everclear several times (in order to increase exposure time)...

I guess Oxy Clean is as easy to get as anything else. That said, I was thinking....what if I scrubbed everything out "clean" and then sanitized by swishing around and/or wiping all the potentially contaminated items with Vodka or Everclear several times (in order to increase exposure time)...

I don't know what yeast came in the kit. My first go round will be with the ingredients the kids got when they bought the brew kit. They knew I like IPA's and it might even be a mimic of one I am familiar with so...I will look closer when I dig it all out again.

I am wondering how labor intensive this thing is gonna be. I work 3-4 long days each week where I am NOT gonna want to tinker much. Any recommended brews suited to the lazy brewer?

Ah Ha....hadn't thought of that part. Will put down a piece of plywood and maybe some insulating Styrofoam or old rags or something to disallow heat transfer to the concrete floor.

OK. Makes sense. I will probably wait a week or so. Hopefully this cold spell will move off and get more seasonable weather. I am really looking forward to this ...I think the kids are looking forward to it as much or more! Wanna have a batch ready by end of June for a family reunion.

Yes, I am on board with the swamp cooler idea...even if its a makeshift/homemade one. But my worry at this point is being too cool....is that a problem or maybe not so much early on?

Good day all. After being a small batch beer aficionado for some time now....my kids bought me a brew kit for Christmas and the ingredients for an IPA. The weird weather has me in a bit of a quandary as to when to start brewing. I live in Maryland and will be brewing in my garage which is...