1st batch worries

[keg2881]

Well on Sunday I brewed my 1st batch and have very high hopes. The only thing that concerns me is that I mixed in all of my DME during the 1st 20 minutes of the brewing process. I read through my book after I was all done and had the beer in the fermentation bucket. The only thing that I can see being a problem is that I didn't have the "hot break". Which will cause the clarity to suffer correct? Please some one put my mind at ease and tell me all will be fine.

B.T.W, the DME powder is tasty, and the the air lock is bubbling away!!!

 

[Revvy]

Actaully break material with extract is not that common nor that important. Most of the break happens in the actual creation of the extract by the maltser.

And the first question about adding the extrat in the beginning, that really isn't an issue either. That's how most instruction will say, at least in the old days, now we do late extract additions because it makes our extract beers lighter by reducing kettle carmelization, but really that is all, and not doing it won't ruin your beer.

Relax, it is really hard to mess this stuff up.

 

[keg2881]

Actaully break material with extract is not that common nor that important. Most of the break happens in the actual creation of the extract by the maltser.

And the first question about adding the extrat in the beginning, that really isn't an issue either. That's how most instruction will say, at least in the old days, now we do late extract additions because it makes our extract beers lighter by reducing kettle carmelization, but really that is all, and not doing it won't ruin your beer.

Relax, it is really hard to mess this stuff up.

Thanks for the huge boost in morale!!! Now if I can only remain patient!!!

 

[slantedbolt]

Thanks for the huge boost in morale!!! Now if I can only remain patient!!!

I hear ya man. I am just starting this hobby too, and I have my first batch going now. I go down and look at my carboy every couple hours. I have no idea what I am looking at, except that it is bubbling and churning.

Its fun so far.

 

[Homercidal]

RDWHAHB! All will be well. It sounds like you are reading up on the process and being that involved most likely means you will be just fine.

After a while you will not be so excited waiting for the beer to do it's thing. That's mostly after you have a batch or two done and have some homebrew to drink while you wait.

I did a brown ale last Sunday and by this weekend I am still caught be surprise when I get up out of my computer chair and see the bucket sitting there behind me. "Oh yeah! Only 2 more weeks before I need to make the next step..."

 

[keg2881]

I hear ya man. I am just starting this hobby too, and I have my first batch going now. I go down and look at my carboy every couple hours. I have no idea what I am looking at, except that it is bubbling and churning.

Its fun so far.

Good to know I'm not the only one who constantly check the bucket in the closet. I even posted a video on youtube while I was home at lunch.

 

[slantedbolt]

Im crazy about checking it... I come home and need to let my dog out, but I run down stairs quick to check my brew... I have a problem...

 

[keg2881]

Im crazy about checking it... I come home and need to let my dog out, but I run down stairs quick to check my brew... I have a problem...

The only problem I see is that this process moves a little too slow, but I'm sure well worth the wait.

 

[Calder]

I'm on batch #170 and I still continually check everything is going OK. It's all part of the obsession.

Right now I have 2 starters going that I keep checking. One is from a smack-pak that I am going to use Friday, and the other is trying to cultivate the dregs/bugs from a sour commercial beer.

 

[mikeysab]

I did a brown ale last Sunday and by this weekend I am still caught be surprise when I get up out of my computer chair and see the bucket sitting there behind me. "Oh yeah! Only 2 more weeks before I need to make the next step..."

You do know you're supposed to primary for 4 weeks, not 3 right? ha ha, just kidding.

I love checking on my buckets. I really love my better bottle. Watching what's going on in there is a lot of fun. Seeing the kreusen rise and churn really gets my juices flowing. Right now I have 10 gallons of American Amber and 2 gallons of graff going, and every time I open the door on my brew closet, the smell alone makes me want to get a glass and start drinking (I have drank straight out of the primary before, only after running out of non primary beer). When I don't have something going, I'm looking up recipes and reading about ingredients, and sniffing my brewing buckets.