2nd batch Question

[AfroHopster]

ok 1st batch is in primary been there for about 3 days its a PSA IPA (extract) from brewers Best from the local store trying to keep my beer temps in the 65 to 68 range in the basement. I had to put it in a tub of water and that seemed to help but I only test the water temp around the bucket is that ok or is it another way.

next would be I want to do all grain but should I try a few more extract batches 1st or just jump in when I get the items to do so?

3rd looking to do a Saison but it looks like it needs 6 months or more before i can drink it??

any other ideas for a 2nd batch something to open around christmas

 

[prandlesc]

Welcome to the addiction, or rather, hobby. Looking ofr your second bath with your first in the fermetnro fo only three days indicates you're hooked already!

You might try putting a t-shirt on your fermenter and keeping that wet - it will help keep temps down. I brewed 2 - 1 gallon extract/steeped grain batches, one extract batch and then moved to all grain. If you like the process, and aren't afraid of spending some money o equipment - all grain is a lot more fun. And you'll find that you can control a lot more of the variables - which then shifts all the responsibility (and bragging rights) for making a really good beer to you! No more saying "the kit wasn't that great".

I've made a couple saisons and they don't take anywhere near that long. Six weeks, not six months is more like it. But you'll have the opposite challenge to the one you described - you need to get your fermentation temp up, not down. I've taken mine into the upper 80's, low 90's - so you'll need to find a very warm place or add some heating to your fermentation. A closet with a temp controlled heater will work.

You might want to try a porter for Christmas or a spiced ale. I've just transferred a spiced Christmas out of my primary into a keg getting ready to carbonate. It tasted GREAT going into the keg.

Here's the recipe:

[FONT=&quot]Christmas Ale - Gingerbread Ale[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Author: South River Brewing Company[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Size: 5.5 gal [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Efficiency: 74.37%[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Attenuation: 75.0%[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Original Gravity: 1.071 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Terminal Gravity: 1.018 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Color: 17.76 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Alcohol: 7.02% [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bitterness: 32.7 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ingredients:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]13.0 lb (86.7%) 2-Row Brewers Malt [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]0.5 lb (3.3%) Crystal 60 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]0.5 lb (3.3%) Special B - Caramel malt [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]0.25 lb (1.7%) Munich Wheat Malt [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]0.25 lb (1.7%) Chocolate Rye Malt [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1.25 oz (58.8%) Styrian Goldings (6.0%) - added during boil, boiled 60 m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]0.88 oz (41.2%) Saaz (5.0%) - added during boil, boiled 15 m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]0.5 lb (3.3%) Honey - steeped after boil[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1 tbsp Bitter Curacao/Bitter Orange (Peel) - added dry to primary fermenter[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2 ea Cinnamon (stick) - added dry to primary fermenter[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1 tsp Ginger - Dried, Cracked Pieces - added dry to primary fermenter[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3 ea Vanilla (whole bean), split and cut into pieces - added dry to primary fermenter[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2 ea White Labs WLP001 California Ale[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Schedule:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mash In - Liquor: 4.53 gal; Strike: 164.59 °F; Target: 152.0 °F[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Saccrification Rest - Rest: 54.0 m; Final: 152.0 °F[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mash Out - Heat: 0.7 m; Target: 168.0 °F[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]01:30:11 Sparge - Sparge Volume: 4.49 gal; Sparge Temperature: 180.0 °F; Runoff: 7.26 gal[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Notes[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Make a tea by placing the spices into a small hop bag and boil with the honey in 2 quarts of the wort for about a minute to combine. Let the mixture steep for at least 15 minutes, then add the tea to the wort going into the fermenter.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.24[/FONT]

Best of luck!