A home brew virgin's first time!

[aidan]

This is just my first one, a kit beer, Mangrove Jacks Munich Lager, but WOW I'm impressed! Reminds me of the feeling of when my first son was born! Full story and pictures of the cracking opening of the first bottle of a virgin home brewer here -

http://beerandgarden.com/my-very-first-bottle-of-my-own-beer/

Cheers,
Aidan

 

[Stefano]

Congrats it gets more rewarding the more you learn

 

[mattd2]

Congrats! I didn't even realise you were a Kiwi till i read the references to Mac's and Steinies!
Agree with your leasons learnt about the star san, got a bottle of it and after a few batches I am still above the 8 oz level of the 8 oz bottle!
The weird issue with you hydrometer could be from the temperature of the sample, the hydrometer is calibrated at 16 (or 21 - should be on it) deg C and the reading will be slightly higher or lower if the sample temperature is different.
ANd don't worry about if the temp is around 18 deg C, thats a better thing for your beer than being at 24 deg C. Have a read round here and you will see most of these guys recommend fermenting in the 60s (deg F - damn USA not getting with the times )
Also I think I spotted the 2 links between your old blog and new one - bottle cap and Bin Inn (did you get the brewcraft starter set?).

 

[aidan]

Congrats! I didn't even realise you were a Kiwi till i read the references to Mac's and Steinies!
Agree with your leasons learnt about the star san, got a bottle of it and after a few batches I am still above the 8 oz level of the 8 oz bottle!
The weird issue with you hydrometer could be from the temperature of the sample, the hydrometer is calibrated at 16 (or 21 - should be on it) deg C and the reading will be slightly higher or lower if the sample temperature is different.
ANd don't worry about if the temp is around 18 deg C, thats a better thing for your beer than being at 24 deg C. Have a read round here and you will see most of these guys recommend fermenting in the 60s (deg F - damn USA not getting with the times )
Also I think I spotted the 2 links between your old blog and new one - bottle cap and Bin Inn (did you get the brewcraft starter set?).

Yup a Kiwi now (and I'll be one for life) but a Paddy originally.

Where did you pick up your star san? I was thinking iodophor because I found it online at Liberty Brewing for a reasonable price. greatexpectations.co.nz is the only place I've found star san but it's $20 and shipping to SI is $11.50 so kinda expensive.

Well done on spotting the 2 links! You're very thorough! Post the answer in a comment and you'll be in to win the big prize, ha, ha..

 

[mattd2]

link here for a discussion in realbeer.co.nz on star san http://www.forum.realbeer.co.nz/forum/topics/starsan-1
The stuff last for ages, I use basically a few drops in a spray bottle and just spray down all my gear a let sit for 1-2 minutes. Haven't used Iodophor, but I did pick up that aparently we kiwis are now generally iodine deficient and one main reason is the dairy industry stopped using it as a sanitiser!

 

[aidan]

link here for a discussion in realbeer.co.nz on star san http://www.forum.realbeer.co.nz/forum/topics/starsan-1
The stuff last for ages, I use basically a few drops in a spray bottle and just spray down all my gear a let sit for 1-2 minutes. Haven't used Iodophor, but I did pick up that aparently we kiwis are now generally iodine deficient and one main reason is the dairy industry stopped using it as a sanitiser!

stopped using it? wouldn't that have been all the more reason to keep using it? Iodophor does seem to have the drawback that it stains. I see on that thread that you can make the StarSan go a long way and reuse it so maybe even though it costs twice the price it might still end up cheaper than idophor. Did you get yours from great expectations?

 

[jonmohno]

This is just my first one, a kit beer, Mangrove Jacks Munich Lager, but WOW I'm impressed! Reminds me of the feeling of when my first son was born! Full story and pictures of the cracking opening of the first bottle of a virgin home brewer here -

http://beerandgarden.com/my-very-first-bottle-of-my-own-beer/

Cheers,
Aidan

It is great.Congratulations its a "beer"!you are officially addicted.When are you expecting your first born?Due Feb something? I almost named my beer first born. Decided on full moon.. long story.

 

[mattd2]

stopped using it? wouldn't that have been all the more reason to keep using it? Iodophor does seem to have the drawback that it stains. I see on that thread that you can make the StarSan go a long way and reuse it so maybe even though it costs twice the price it might still end up cheaper than idophor. Did you get yours from great expectations?

Got mine from Hauraki Homebrew when I was up in Auckland. Yeah the milk companies switched to an easier alternative and didn't care as it is not really something they market the product being (enriched with iodine - oh yeah thats because we don't wash out the sanitiser. Not really a good slogan ) Besides that's why we have iodised table salt - oh wait everyone is reducing the amount of salt they use