Brewer as of today!

[h4mmy86]

Hello citizens,

I'm pleased to report that I've made the leap from normal man, to brewer today when I started my first batch of beer! I used the Northern Brewer Deluxe Starter Kit along with their American Wheat Ale extract recipe kit.

I also would like to ask about my hydrometer readings.

My sample was foamy and I was impatient so I did round these numbers a bit, but here they are:

10% Sugar
5% Alcohol
1.040 Specific Gravity

and the temperature of these readings was around 65*



...So whatta you think brewers? Am I on the right track?

 

[DannyD]

so where does the 10 % and the 5 % come from? reading on the hydro?

(you will not get 5%abv from 1.040 beer)

 

[h4mmy86]

so where does the 10 % and the 5 % come from? reading on the hydro?

(you will not get 5%abv from 1.040 beer)

Yup, these are my slightly rounded hydro readings.
The hydro that came with my kit claims to read: potential abv, percent sugar (balling), and specific gravity @ 60*/60* F.

 

[DannyD]

mmmm........I would stick to only the gravity as "true",what does it say in plain water of that temp

 

[RM-MN]

My hydrometer (triple scale) has all those numbers but in tiny letters under the specific gravity scale is says beer. That is the one you use for beer. Your hydrometer should say what temperature it is calibrated for also. Many are for 60 F. At 65 your reading would be close.

Congratulations on becoming a brewer. I find it to be a fascinating hobby, one with plenty of frustrations but great rewards too. Such a wide variety of ways to make beer, all the different combinations of grain, yeast, and hops to explore. Have fun with it, learn lots, ask many questions.

 

[Sheldon]

Welcome to the not-cult world of this grand addiction from a fellow Commonwealther (VA).

 

[h4mmy86]

Just wanted to follow up and say this first batch is bottled! Next on my list is the Honey Brown Ale Northern Brewer extract kit

I also ordered an outdoor gas burner to boil my wort on next time because working with my old electric stove was a bit of a hassle.

 

[h4mmy86]

Just one more follow up, I popped open a test bottle last night and it was great! ...I feel so accomplished

 

[Eisenhans]

Congratulations, my friend!

 

[jonnyp1980]

Congrats!!!

 

[amandabab]

congrats
1.040 is about right.
the other two scales are meaningless in beer and more for wine/simple sugar solutions.

 

[h4mmy86]

Just wanted to share a pic of this brew I'm enjoying as I type, poured no more than 15 minutes ago! I am very pleased this being my first brew, but I probably wont make this kit again. Nothing wrong with it, just not my cup of tea. ...now this Honey Brown I'm fermenting has my hopes up!

 

[verbhertz]

Congrats! I used the same starter kit and brewed the same wheat as my first last September.

 

[h4mmy86]

Congrats! I used the same starter kit and brewed the same wheat as my first last September.

That's awesome! I had alot of fun with that kit, although my electric stove was quite a hassle... Turned out really well tho! I was a little surprised by how strong the hops stand out (but I shouldn't have been). Its a good beer, just not what I would shop for in a store.

 

[verbhertz]

It surprised me too, but I enjoyed it. I brewed it again with apricot extract. Turned out OK but real apricots taste much better.