First All-grain batch

[Mobstar]

AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!

I made my first batch over the weekend!
Wow.. wasn't expecting it to take 5 hours.
I made the Cremora Cream Ale that is included in the beersmith software. I think my mash efficiency is quite good. The recipe calls for 1.052SG and I got over 1.060.

The brew is fermenting like crazy! the airlock is clogged with tons of crap and my blow out is bubbling like crazy!

One question. The recipe only states to age for 28 days.
How long should I wait before putting into the secondary?? and then bottling? Do I divide the 28 days into 3 schedules?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Walker]

Wow.. wasn't expecting it to take 5 hours.

5 hours for your first AG is pretty good. I am pretty efficient with it these days, and it still takes about 4 hours from start to finish.

My first AG batch took a looooooooooong time. I remember still messing with my mash-tun while a more experienced guy who was brewing along side me was already getting his wort to a boil. He was chilling before I had my wort all in the kettle.

One question. The recipe only states to age for 28 days.
How long should I wait before putting into the secondary?? and then bottling? Do I divide the 28 days into 3 schedules?

There is no single answer to this. Most folks will tell you to leave the beer in a fermenter for at least 4 weeks. You can do that as 4 weeks in primary and then into the bottles, or 2 weeks primary, 2 weeks secondary, and then into the bottles. Or you can do something different than this.

If you are going to use the secondary, my adivce is to give it two weeks in primary, then two in secondary, and then bottle it and wait for another 2 or 3 weeks before drinking it.

 

[Mobstar]

LOL. Love the avatar Walker.
Sounds like sane advice.
I think the reason it didn't take more time is that I had a couple extra hands to help lift/handle stuff. Also, The dual coil chiller I built dropped the temperature from boil to 26 degrees in just under 10 minutes.

 

[maida7]

One question. The recipe only states to age for 28 days.
How long should I wait before putting into the secondary?? and then bottling? Do I divide the 28 days into 3 schedules?

Thanks a bunch!

The answer is simple. You leave it in the primary until it's done fermenting. Then you put it in the bottles. You can start drinking when it's carbonated but it may improve with a few extra weeks in the bottle.

The next logical question is "how do I know when it's done?"

It's done fermenting when it has reached the target finishing gravity AND the yeast has fallen to the bottom.

 

[prosper]

5 hours is a decent time. You can eventually fine-tune your processes to shave off some more time, but no a ton

 

[samc]

I'd most likely go 3 weeks in primary and then cold crash for 3-5 days, then bottle. Since I keg if it was my beer I'd do 2 weeks primary, 5-7 days cold crash and then in the keg for tasting until I felt it was ready to drink. Love the kegs.

*above depends somewhat on type of yeast, fermentation temps & gravity readings, so no hard and fast rules here.

 

[Mobstar]

Thanks, I was under the impression that the beer would be a lot cleaner if a secondary was used. I'd like to get into Kegs but I'll have to master the brewing process first. Then I'd have to convince the wife... Trust me!! I can't wait to get rid of the bottles!! Sanitizing bottles sucks!!

 

[Walker]

Thanks, I was under the impression that the beer would be a lot cleaner if a secondary was used.

this is debatable. my personal experience and opinion is that using a secondary helps the beer clear up faster.