First batch and first keg

[TheMinionsThree]

I just started this hobby and decided to start out kegging. I just kegged my first beer earlier this week, force carbed it and it tastes yummy!!!

I started with a NB Irish Red Ale and i think it got a bit to warm during ferment but it still tastes really great. seems to have a low ABV (4.5 maybe) did not test wort before ferment (didn't know better) used projected OG of 1.044 but that is just a guess. if that is correct it should be around 4.7%.

Any way this was fun I am ready to start the next one.

 

[Rivenin]

if it was extract, as long as you kept the water numbers correct, it's not easy to deviate from it but sounds good and good job bub! sounds like you had a great time.

 

[normonster]

Right on. You should look at a temp controller and fridge combo. Excellent fermentation chamber.

I have about 6 batches through my system (Blond, Pale Ale, then repeated twice each with various dry hopping and boil hop changes). I really like the blond ale because you can ferment it in one week, force carb it in 5 minutes and start drinking it an hour later...lol). I'll have to try a Red soon. I think I have my Pale recipe tasting pretty good...added some oatmeal and I dry hop the hell out of it! I'm going to do the blond one more time this coming weekend (this time I'm going to dry hop it as if I'm trying to ruin it) and then move on to a Red or a Brown.

Cheers.

 

[TheMinionsThree]

I love DIY projects so I made a fermentation chamber for my current porter. I used a mini fridge mounted to the side of a foam lined wooden box. Hooked the whole thing (fridge and fans) to a SCT-1000 for temp control. Taped the probe to the carboy and can keep a as low as a 62F constant temp.

 

[normonster]

How many carboys can you fit in there?

I wish I'd gone with a chest freezer because even with a large standup fridge I can really only fit two fermenters at a time (I sprung for it and got the stainless brew-buckets, which I really like BTW). If I really squeeze it in I can get those two fermenters in along with two full corny kegs, but it's a tight squeeze and I can't have the C02 in at the same time.

I'm thinking about chopping the part out of the fridge that separates the freezer and fridge to make a taller, two layer set up but I don't' know what I'll find in that section....a little scary.

Cheers and craft beers!