Attempting My First (Brooklyn) Brew!

[J-Bert]

Hey Gang,

I'm tackling my first brew, Brooklyn Brew Everyday IPA! I've read a few theads on this kit, and feel like I've got a decent idea ( I think ) for what to do.

Tonight at my LBS, another brewer recommended a two stage fermentation process.

Is there any benefit to doing this so early in the game, or should I just follow thr directions and worry about that later?

 

[TasunkaWitko]

I'm brewing my first brew as well, which is the Chocolate Maple Porter from BBS.

If it were me, I would follow their timeline, which is given here:

http://brooklynbrewshop.com/brew-timeline

Their procedure is also given in the instructions for the Everyday IPA:

http://brooklynbrewshop.com/directions/Brooklyn_Brew_Shop_Everyday_IPA_Instructions_.pdf

In addition, the folks at BBS are very helpful, and an email to them should answer any questions.

Anyway, my understanding is that this is one of their most successful mixes, so if it were me, I'd follow their instructions "by the numbers," at least the first time. You're learning enough as it is, and this is all new, so best to stick with a solid, time-tested procedure. The only deviation that I made from the instructions for mine was to give the fermentation 3 weeks rather than 2, and that was after checking with them, first. My reasons for this are because up here in the north, temperatures are down a bit, and it seems that an extra week won't hurt anything at all, according to BBS.

Hope this helps -

Ron

 

[J-Bert]

Thanks Ron.

I was pretty much going to follow their write up, just reducing the amount of honey for bottling

 

[jason1973]

There instructions has grains in the water then try to strain them out, use a biab bag

 

[cobrem]

I wouldn't bother with secondary fermentation for that kit. Especially if you're doing a 1 gal batch. You'll end up losing some volume during the transfer, and every drop counts with small batches!

Secondary is good for extended aging (like more than 4 weeks), and post fermentation additions (dry hopping, fruit, wood aging, etc).

 

[J-Bert]

Jason, how would you recommend that? I bought a cheese cloth bag to help with straining. Can I cook the grains in the bag instead?

 

[jason1973]

Jason, how would you recommend that? I bought a cheese cloth bag to help with straining. Can I cook the grains in the bag instead?

Im still new myself, they sell actual grain bags and socks, google boil in a bag allot of vids on utube also alot info in this forum

 

[J-Bert]

I have the bag and a big enough pot to cook completely in 1. Might try it this way.

 

[jason1973]

Im still new myself, they sell actual grain bags and socks, google boil in a bag allot of vids on utube also alot info in this forum

Forgot, way i do it, make sure pot you use for mash water covers grain bag, keep flipping and turning bag durring cook time, then place bag in strainer over your brew pot, rest is same as brroklyn instructions. Ive done 2 bbs kits all ready both came out great. Including the ipa

 

[jason1973]

First one did water didnt cover bag so used sanitized laddle to keep bag wet invetween flips

 

[dude3516]

I did brooklyn brews for my first year. They make some tasty stuff but from experience I wouldn't secondary. Heck, I hardly do so now unless I'm making crazy additions, like cocounut to my porter. As far as straining I simply had a wire colander that sat nicely in a second pot.

I highly recommend jumping into all-grain as soon as you feel comfortable though. I was shocked to find that I could get a wheat recipe for 5.5 gals for $23~ as compared to the $15 kits. Of course the equipment has cost more, but man do the beers taste better. Good luck, and welcome to the hobby.

 

[TasunkaWitko]

BBS is already all-grain?

 

[J-Bert]

Here we go!

 

[jason1973]

looks like your ready to go

 

[J-Bert]

Survived the first brew. All in all, not that bad. We'll see in a month how it tastes!

 

[dude3516]

BBS is already all-grain?

Huh, I coulda swore the first porter I did all those moons ago was from them and it was an extract kit.

 

[J-Bert]

Finished it up around 1 am. Overall, pretty painless experience. I'll check it tonight for fermentation activity.

Now I need to plan another cook for this week!

 

[jason1973]

Finished it up around 1 am. Overall, pretty painless experience. I'll check it tonight for fermentation activity.

Now I need to plan another cook for this week!

My bbs ipa i did one week in bottles and 48 hour in fridge and was perfect.

 

[singybrue]

I think you're confusing beer making with your meth-making hobby.
You brew beer.
Just giving you a little crap-welcome to your new obsession!

 

[J-Bert]

I think you're confusing beer making with your meth-making hobby.
You brew beer.
Just giving you a little crap-welcome to your new obsession!

Oops! I thought I was on homemethtalk.com!

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[J-Bert]

Just checked the jug. Sitting at 68 degrees and fermenting away nicely in my basement.

What should i brew next?

 

[TasunkaWitko]

I'm going to do the grapefruit hone ale, because my wife got it for me.

Then, it will be the oatmeal-raisin cookie stout, chestnut brown ale and smoked wheat - not necessarily in that order...

Then, the light, refreshing spring/summer beers!

 

[JJ900]

For a next beer, consider BBS Warrior double IPA. I just brewed this and it was my first home brew ever so not much to compare to but the bottle I just tried after 3+ weeks from brew date ( I couldn't wait any longer to try) was better than I expected. I was hoping it to taste 'drinkable' and it was better than that, smooth, good carbonation. It was all grain which I'm not sure if all BBS are that way, but it was a good challenge that helped me understand what's involved. I did go out and buy a 5gal kit and am alternating between 1 and 5 gal recipes.

 

[TasunkaWitko]

Yes, they are all all-grain. Here are their current offerings: