Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Kit Tips

[mikeprooo]

Just for reference, warmer beer is unable to keep as much CO2 in solution. Since you went for a cooler temp to a warmer one, you're likely seeing off-gassing as a side effect of that change in equilibrium. It doesn't necessarily mean you are done fermenting, but will contribute to the bubbles.

Thanks!

Its been going for a few days now, and there is still quite a bit of bubbling in the liquid going on, and the there doesn't seem to be as much debris in it. It has even lightened up a bit to more a golden color than the darker color. I'm thinking this is the "finishing" and I may be ready to bottle soon...maybe Sunday?

Thanks again!

 

[mikeprooo]

Hey everyone!



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[mikeprooo]

Hey everyone!



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Hey again!

Anyways, I finally bottled my 1 gal batch of chestnut ale. I got a hydrometer and decided to take a reading and it looked like it was at 1.012 or so, and I'm pretty sure it tasted like beer! It had been 3.5 weeks in the fermenter, so I decided it was done and time to bottle!

I thought I had the process of bottling down, but it still seemed to be pretty difficult and I'm sure it will get better with practice. The most difficult part IMO was needing an extra set of hands while starting the siphon and when filling and switching the bottles while holding the racking cane at the right height without it getting in the trub etc. I chose to go directly from the fermenter to the bottles, as I got some of the Fizz Drops from NB. I also had a bottling wand with the spring-valve and that seemed to make it easier.

I managed to fill 6 16oz Groelsch-type bottles; I think without the hydrometer reading I could have made seven as I had about a half bottle filled before sucking the trub. I don't think 96 ounces is too bad for my first gallon batch.

So I think I did pretty good for my first batch being an all grain (I'll update in a few weeks when I crack the first bottle.) I have a 1 Gal "Dead Ringer" kit from NB that I'm going to try next, I definitely think I'll have an easier time getting the process down.

Thanks again for all the advice and keeping this thread going!

Mike

 

[Phoenix7801]

Installed the airlock. I know it says to fill up the airlock to the line with sanitizer but there isn't a line shown on it. I just filled it up halfway and hope for the best. Still seeing some bubbles in the wort just no big bubbles gurgling in the airlock. Oh well. Its difficult being patient.

 

[mikeprooo]

Installed the airlock. I know it says to fill up the airlock to the line with sanitizer but there isn't a line shown on it. I just filled it up halfway and hope for the best. Still seeing some bubbles in the wort just no big bubbles gurgling in the airlock. Oh well. Its difficult being patient.

Looks good! Dont forget to put the cap on the airlock, if you havent yet get one of those fermometer strips to monitor the ferementation temp...keep it around 68 - 70 or so. Find a dark area with constant temp,
let it go and relax!

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[Phoenix7801]

Anybody who has brewed the Everyday IPA: About how fast was the noticeable fermentation and does it finish its fermentation early? One week later the airlock isn't gurgling and there doesn't seem to be very much activity in the jug. The temperature had been around these last couple of days. I'd take a gravity reading but if its not done yet I don't want to waste potential beer.

 

[Calichusetts]

Anybody who has brewed the Everyday IPA: About how fast was the noticeable fermentation and does it finish its fermentation early? One week later the airlock isn't gurgling and there doesn't seem to be very much activity in the jug. The temperature had been around these last couple of days. I'd take a gravity reading but if its not done yet I don't want to waste potential beer.

This is normal. The majority, and sometimes full fermentation can occur in the first few days. Give it a few more days to a week and the beer should be cleaned up and ready to bottle.

 

[ElJefeBrews]

Anybody who has brewed the Everyday IPA: About how fast was the noticeable fermentation and does it finish its fermentation early? One week later the airlock isn't gurgling and there doesn't seem to be very much activity in the jug. The temperature had been around these last couple of days. I'd take a gravity reading but if its not done yet I don't want to waste potential beer.

Im brewing 1 gallon and noticeable fermentation is usually done within the first few days. You will still see little bubbling going on in the fermenter because the yeast are cleaning up the byproducts they made and getting at the last of the fermentable sugars. You'll notice your beer will smell like green apples at this point because the byproducts aren't cleaned up yet. Also, as long as you clean and sanitize all your hydrometer reading equipment properly, you can just pour your sample back in the fermenter. I've never had a problem doing that

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[BrassBraBrewing]

We got a Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA kit for Christmas – and a Chocolate Maple Porter refill. We were super-excited about the idea of home brewing but more than a little nervous about getting started without having more instruction than BBS’s online videos.

Last weekend, we hit the jackpot: A local brewing supply store was holding a free workshop. We attended, not realizing that it would be an *actual* all-grain home brewing demonstration. Three and a half hours later, we knew a LOT more – maybe just enough to be dangerous. A little high from all the delicious smells (and tastes from our host’s homebrew samples), we supplemented our BBS kit with a few purchases: a biggish brewing bag, a couple 2-gallon plastic tubs, a big bucket, a couple airlocks, an extra 1-gallon glass carboy, a nice metal thermometer, some Star-San, and an auto-siphon…oh, and bottle caps and a capper.

Sunday morning, we got up and started brewing! We re-read the BBS directions and reviewed our notes from the demo – and combined them as best we could. We modified the BBS instructions to make it a BIAB recipe and followed all the temperature recommendations our supply-store-host had offered, which were a little more clear that the BBS info. Our first batch (that “Everyday IPA”) was in one of our 2-gallon buckets (fitted with an airlock) just 4 ½ hours later. Not bad for our first time! We started the second batch right away…a little over 4 hours after that, our second batch was next to the first.

Now what? We’re stuck – and here’s why.

Our brew-shop host suggested that the brew should remain undisturbed in the plastic bucket for two weeks; after that, we should (carefully!) siphon it into a secondary vessel – our gallon carboy – where it should stay for another two weeks. Finally, we should bottle it – leaving it alone for another two weeks before tasting it.

We have been reading A LOT during the past week, and we have learned of all the controversy surrounding secondary vessels. As newbies, we don’t really know what to do next. How concerned should we be about the possibility (probability?) of our plastic bucket’s not being air-tight? Or should we be more worried about aerating the brew during transferring it into a secondary vessel? How long should each of these stages be? I realize that these are hotly debated topics…but we sure would love some advice. What move should we make next?

I’m thirsty, dang it!

 

[hehawbrew]

Ive been brewing just a year now and love the BBS recipes. So far, everyone has tasted great! Plus, they are easy to modify and make your own!

I've never transferred to secondary because I don't want to risk infection and it's a pain! Most of the time people transfer to have a more clear beer, but, letting it sit a week or two longer will let everything settle.

I'd recommend letting the beer sit at least 21 days at a minimum before bottle time. It's hard to wait but I think a month in primary is good followed by a month in bottle.

I'd also suggest you guys go buy stuff for a five gallon set up now. It's fun.


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[Phoenix7801]

Ok so seriously this beer is WEIRD!! Today is two weeks since I brewed the BBS IPA. Within the first 18 hours it started its fermentation and was going crazy enough that krausen invaded the blowoff tube. After replacing the vessel full of sanitizer a day later the ferm settled down and I put the sanitized airlock in.

I noticed then that the airlock wasn't bubbling but I've read enough threads to understand that ferm still happens even if the airlock doesn't show it. I still saw some small bubbles rising in the jug. So TODAY (2 weeks have passed) Im like ok time to check for FG and what do I see but the beer is cloudy again and there's a white foam on top. Also the airlock is bubbling now.

So is this weather related? The temperature where I'm brewing has always been around 65-68 until this past Saturday when the weather outside was in the mid 70s and inside my ferm area was around 75. Can someone offer me some insight as to what may be happening? Ill answer your questions to the best of my ability.

 

[ElJefeBrews]

The first paragraph sounds normal. I've done 3 Brooklyn brew shop kits and I've had problems with stalled/slow finishing fermentation with them. I've heard the yeast isn't the best. But i haven't had that problem with white labs or safale. And the everyday ipa is supposed to be cloudy, btw. Just wait it out till there's no bubbles or foam

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[Phoenix7801]

Well ok then. Ill wait it out lol. I just think its funny how it had a vigorous fermentation early on. 2 weeks of meh then "oh hey ferm back on!"

 

[ElJefeBrews]

That happened to me with their summer wheat. It was weird. But as someone on here one told me, The yeast is more patient than we are

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[violinguy]

So I drank my IPA superbowl weekend and it was very good. 16 days fermenting and another 17 in the bottles before drinking.

I have seen it around the boards a few times but I thought I would reiterate for anyone using these kits - The amount of priming sugar (honey in this case) seems to be too much.

Per the directions, I used 3 tablespoons of honey dissolved in 1/2 cup of water. At the time, I thought it wasn't nearly enough but it was my first brew and I didn't know anything :cross: . After speaking to my brother, an experienced home brewer, he thought it was too much, but if the directions said so, so be it.

I didn't have any bottle bombs, but all 9 beers seemed over carbonated, and a couple oozed for several minutes. All in all, no disaster for sure, and the beer tasted excellent. Just a few too many bubbles.

I have bottled another batch (non BBS kit) and only used 2 tbl of honey. Will see how it turns out...

VG

 

[Calichusetts]

So I drank my IPA superbowl weekend and it was very good. 16 days fermenting and another 17 in the bottles before drinking.

I have seen it around the boards a few times but I thought I would reiterate for anyone using these kits - The amount of priming sugar (honey in this case) seems to be too much.

Per the directions, I used 3 tablespoons of honey dissolved in 1/2 cup of water. At the time, I thought it wasn't nearly enough but it was my first brew and I didn't know anything :cross: . After speaking to my brother, an experienced home brewer, he thought it was too much, but if the directions said so, so be it.

I didn't have any bottle bombs, but all 9 beers seemed over carbonated, and a couple oozed for several minutes. All in all, no disaster for sure, and the beer tasted excellent. Just a few too many bubbles.

I have bottled another batch (non BBS kit) and only used 2 tbl of honey. Will see how it turns out...

VG

2 is much better and what I switched to after my first batch.

 

[BrewBrad]

Has anyone had any joy with the BBS Oatmeal Stout? How similar to Guinness is it?

 

[hehawbrew]

Nope, but if you try it, let's us know.


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[Phoenix7801]

Well the fermentation that had kicked up last week finally settled down enough to say its go time! Primed with 2 tbls of honey and ended up with 9 bottles of Everyday IPA. Well I had about 4 ounces of green beer let over from the bottling so I decided to taste it. My thoughts? It tasted good albeit flat of course. I didn't detect a chemical alcohol taste people describe when talking fusel alcohol. I just don't think I ever had a high temp swing. Hence the 3 week ferm as opposed to 2 weeks that the kit recommends. No acetaldehyde notes either but I could be wrong. The citrusy notes from the hops hit my buds first and foremost. However, I will say this: despite the small amount I drank, I could taste the ABV on this sucker. I could never take a gravity reading since it requires alot of beer to float the hydrometer but I think I did right. Now just gotta let it carb (fingers crossed). May there be no bombs!

 

[hehawbrew]

Awesome! That was the first beer I ever made and it was like a miracle when I popped my first one.

I think it was wise to wait an extra week. Give it at least 4 weeks in the bottle. Cherish each bottle. They will be the 9 best beers you'd ever had.

Start another batch! What's next on the list?


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[Phoenix7801]

Oh well I hope they carb up faster than 4 weeks considering I usually give up all extraneous drinks except for water during Lent. The funniest thing is I happened to get some of it on my hands and damned if my hands didn't smell really good afterwards. As for what to brew next I'm not sure. My mom drinks BL Lime, Dad drinks Natty Light and my sister likes wine. I on the other hand like franziskaner weissbeir.

 

[hehawbrew]

It will carb up faster, but, the taste will be best with some time


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[capt82]

My wife got me the same IPA kit. It made it easy and got me more interested in all grain brewing. I followed their directions and beer came out good. After my first batch, I went and got a 3 gallon carboy. Now I'm hooked.

 

[hehawbrew]

Yep! After two kits, I ended up buying their recipe book and started doing 5 gallons. All of their stuff taste good and is easy to tweak to come up with awesome variations.


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[Phoenix7801]

So my brother in law asked if ill be making some beer for a trip the whole family is going to take at the end of April. So now I have to figure this out because 9 beers split between a handful of drinkers isn't gonna cut it. This is starting to become a wonderful problem too have.

 

[hehawbrew]

Get a 5 gal set up. Brew it up soon and it will be ready for April!


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[Scout001]

Anybody mention that the 3 TBsP of honey can overcarb? My first batch was a bunch of gushers. Fridging them helped a bit, but still lost a lot of beer upon opening. I went down to 2 TBsP on my 2nd+ batches and havent had that problem since.

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[Scout001]

Whoops old thread..bit buzzed

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[Phoenix7801]

Its not so much an old thread Scout. We're all posting new stuff we're doing in regards to BBS. On Northern Brewers website they have it calculated out to use 2 tbls of honey to give the required carbonation.

 

[hehawbrew]

I've never had an issue with the three tbs, but that could be bc of residual honey on the spoon.

I've done a few recipes with maple syrup and have pretty inconsistent results with that tho.


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