1 Gallon was just not enough...

[GnarlyChick]

My one gallon IPA has only been fermenting for a week and
I quickly realized one gallon was just not enough! I wanted to go all out, the whole shebang. Sooooooooo I bought a few things today.....

This Saturday will mark my first 5 gallon batch and I'm stoked. I'll be making a Weizenbier/Hefeweizen. Any first timer tips would be awesome.

 

[Desrever]

I just Made that Exact kit about 3 weeks ago, I haven't tasted it yet other then when I was bottling it was pretty good! Make sure everything is as clean and sterile as possible, read the directions a few times over, get everything organized on brew day, Take a deep breath and good luck but then again I'm really still new to home brewing too.

 

[gstrawn]

The directions should cover just about everything you need. Being that you've done at least one 1 gallon batch you should be at least partially familiar with the process. Don't do anything crazy recipe or procedure wise until you are comfortable with the processes and able to predict the results. This is advice I ignored and brewed a few bad batches as a result.

Sanitize and an important transition I made was using temperature control during fermentation. It makes worlds of difference. At the very least try a swamp cooler, that is if you don't have a cool enough space in the first place.

Relax and have fun.

 

[OldStyler]

I have the same Ikea rug!

Advice: have fun with it, don't freak out about little mistakes, just keep everything clean and try to hit your temps.

 

[BryceL]

I don't see a wort chiller in there, so make sure you have some ice on hand to make an ice bath. You will want to cool your wort down to your pitching temp as quickly as possible. Also, I can't tell what size pot that is, but if you are planning to do full boils make sure your stove has enough power to get it boiling. Have fun with it though, it looks like you are already hooked!

 

[Hernando]

I have the same Ikea rug!

Advice: have fun with it, don't freak out about little mistakes, just keep everything clean and try to hit your temps.

I was just about to comment onthat rug as mine is in my living room as of yesterday

As for tips the old saying, patience is a virtue holds true in home brewing. Don't judge fermentation by the airlock and have fun!

 

[brian74]

Ok guys, do yall remember the Old Milwaukee's Best commercials a few years back where the guys would do or say something rather feminine and the huge ass can of beer would crush him?

This:

I have the same Ikea rug!

 

[brian74]

Oh and BTW to the OP, just keep it clean, control fermentation temps as stated above and remember that you can't rush the process; the yeast runs the show once it is pitched. Just keep drinking a well made micro for a few more weeks and you'll be drinking your own again in no time.

 

[durk]

I bought the same starter kit. I have 2 batches under my belt with decent success. Here are a few things I picked up after the first batch.

1. better thermometer
2. star-san
3. wine thief (for hydro samples) i didnt like using the turkey baster.
4. vintinator for washing/sanitizing bottles
5. made an immersion chiller

 

[BradleyBrew]

Awesome equipment! If you have an LHBS go get some wyeast 3068 and use that for a true hefe experience ... what yeast came with the kit? Good luck.... !

 

[Cimerian]

I got that same kit. I realized 1 fermenter wasn't enough though and went back and bought a 2nd fermenter. I can now have 10 gal fermenting at a time.

 

[drycreek]

temperature control during fermentation.

This is something that is often overlooked when people (myself included) first start homebrewing. I think a lot of the kits and recipes fail to stress the importance of temperature control, but it makes a huge difference in the quality of your beer.

If you are doing a hefeweizen, your yeast will probably have an optimal temperature in the upper 60s. If your house is much warmer than that, try to find a way to keep the bucket cool, at least for the first week of fermentation.

 

[GnarlyChick]

Awesome equipment! If you have an LHBS go get some wyeast 3068 and use that for a true hefe experience ... what yeast came with the kit? Good luck.... !

It came with a dry yeast but the brew dude at my LHBS recommended wyeast 3068 so that's what I got

 

[GnarlyChick]

Haha wow what a popular rug! Thanks for the tips! I will definitely use an ice bath for cool down and keep track of the temperature from then after. Question. What if the temp is getting too high,what's a good way to get it down without blasting the a.c?

 

[rjsnau]

Cool! Welcome to the hobby! Along with what everyone else is saying I would be sure to try to keep the temp in the 65-70 degree range for a Hefe. Just follow the directions and you should be good. Make sure everything after the boil is sterile. As BradleyBrew mentioned, a Hefe yeast will add allot of character to the beer.

 

[djfriesen]

I am going to try my bathtub for temp control on my next batch. Keeping my carboy submerged in water will keep the temerature more constant, as well as allow me to add ice and/or water to control the temperature. Not too sure on how it will work but it will have to be better than sitting at 68-70 F on the shelf in my closet. Wondering if a floating pool thermometer will be accurate enough to control temps.

 

[Tizzomes]

Ok guys, do yall remember the Old Milwaukee's Best commercials a few years back where the guys would do or say something rather feminine and the huge ass can of beer would crush him?

This:

Classic! !

 

[Tizzomes]

My biggest mistake was opening bottles to early and freakin out cause " it has a yeast flavor ".

Simple rule for me was 3 weeks ferment---3 weeks bottle your good to go.

 

[BryceL]

Haha wow what a popular rug! Thanks for the tips! I will definitely use an ice bath for cool down and keep track of the temperature from then after. Question. What if the temp is getting too high,what's a good way to get it down without blasting the a.c?

One more tip regarding temperature. Be aware that when fermentation is at its peak, the wort temperature can be as much as 10 degrees higher than your ambient air temperatures. You will need to try to do some adjustments as you go through the various levels of fermentation activity. You can get those sticky thermometers to stick to the side of the carboy which measures the actual wort temperature. They are only about $3. The only problem with them is that you can't submerge them in water if you are going with that method of temperature control.

 

[OldStyler]

Classic! !

touche...

 

[Bernie Brewer]

It won't be long and you will find that 5 gallons isn't enough either.......

 

[lou2row]

Ok guys, do yall remember the Old Milwaukee's Best commercials a few years back where the guys would do or say something rather feminine and the huge ass can of beer would crush him?

This:

I thought it was Milwaukees Best.

 

[Hang Glider]

Haha wow what a popular rug! Thanks for the tips! I will definitely use an ice bath for cool down and keep track of the temperature from then after. Question. What if the temp is getting too high,what's a good way to get it down without blasting the a.c?

freeze several bottles of water. swap out as needed. Like before work, and when you get home.

Also, you don't need a stick on thermometer - Wally World sells indoor/outdoor thermometers cheap. the outdoor probe is weatherproof, so just drop it into the tub of water holding the bucket. The wort temp will only be a degree or two warmer than the water bath, since water is a better thermal conductor than air, it will pull the heat off the fermenter.

 

[Tizzomes]

touche...!! Even better I guess the t & d are a bit close ...cheers

 

[jonmohno]

Yeah , just get a cooler big enough for it then freeze some 20 oz plasitic bottles of water and rotate them as much as you can. Keep a thermometer in it and you can keep it within about 5 degrees with 6-8 hr rotation. I always did it when i got up before work after work then before i went to bed.

 

[Kylito87]

I have the same Ikea rug!

Advice: have fun with it, don't freak out about little mistakes, just keep everything clean and try to hit your temps.

LOL I have the Same IKEA rug

It really pulls the room together.

Like everyone always says Sanitize Sanitize Sanitize..... and then Sanitize again.

Fermentation temps are critical. However I have only brewed 5 batches so far I can't say much here, I have probably been lucky but you should atleast do a swamp cooler . I don't have the room but my apartment has a 4 pipe system which means I can keep it around 60-65 degrees all year if I want.

Main thing though RDWHAHB ( or craft beer). This is one of the most rewarding Obsessions...... I mean hobby I have taken up.

Have fun and Happy Brewing

 

[hough77]

It won't be long and you will find that 5 gallons isn't enough either.......

+1, I'm working on that problem now!