As a first time brewer my first batch is well under way. I tried a NB Irish Red extract kit. I learned a lot on brew day. My gas stove does not have enough output to boil 2.5 gallons of water in a 5 gallon kettle. I was able to work around this by placing the kettle over two burners to get the water boiling. I will definitely use my turkey fryer burner for the next batch. I got all of the wort in the kettle and took an OG reading and it was 1.036. According to the recipe it was supposed to be 1.044 with a FG of 1.010 so I was a little concerned. I moved my carboy to a room in my basement that is dark and is consistently 65-66 degrees at all times. Man those things are heavy, I used a plastic clothes hamper with foam padding in the bottom to move the carboy. Fermentation started about a day later and the wort churned and bubbled for about 5 days before the bubbling and moving slowed way down. I just moved it to my secondary today after 2 weeks and the FG was 1.002 so I concluded my cheap hydrometer must be off but consistent. I have spent numerous hours in a lab in my younger years so I understand that measuring instruments can be off but consistent is still good. I tasted a sample today and it was actually pretty good with no off flavors. I am looking forward to bottling in a couple weeks and trying this out after carbonation occurs. Now I just need to decide what to brew next.
First batch for new brewer.
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bilder
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Welcome to the addiction.
Before long you will be looking at everyday items and trying to figure out how to modify them for use in homebrewing.
Before long you will be looking at everyday items and trying to figure out how to modify them for use in homebrewing.
Congrats and welcome. If you topped off the fermenter to get your volumes right, the wort may not have been mixed well enough which results in an off OG reading. Dont worry about it at all. One suggestion is to consider a brew hauler. It's a sling that is used to carry carboys. I would not trust the handles of a hamper with a full carboy going downstairs.
Also, I think you'll be much happier with the turkey fryer.
Also, I think you'll be much happier with the turkey fryer.
AJinJacksonville
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Congrats on the first brew and welcome to the hobby.
Assuming you used a glass carboy, I would strongly suggest that you trade out for a bucket or big mouth plastic carboy...it made me nervous reading about it going down the stairs...
Good luck!!!
Assuming you used a glass carboy, I would strongly suggest that you trade out for a bucket or big mouth plastic carboy...it made me nervous reading about it going down the stairs...
Good luck!!!
I strongly agree with this. One slip with that carboy on the stairs and it could be emergency room or coffin. Be safe! Buckets are much more forgiving. They have handles for carrying, The big open top make cleaning simple. The don't shatter if dropped nor if the wort is a bit warm going into them. I've even dumped boiling hot wort into mine.
The hydrometer scales are linear so testing at one data point is accurate across the entire scale. Water (distilled and at the right temp for your hydrometer) will read 1.000. Tap water will be very close to that, close enough to see if your hydrometer is off.
The concentrated wort of an extract batch is so much denser than water that it is common to get a bad hydrometer reading as getting a homogeneous mixture is very difficult. Rest assured that the extract has the right amount of sugars that mixed with the correct amount of water will get you the expected OG. Ignore your hydrometer reading for OG and just worry about the FG.
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Ok I just bottled my first batch. If I start brewing more than I will definitely move towards using kegs. Bottling was labor intensive with all the cleaning and sanitizing of the bottles and a little messy because my new bottle filler leaked the whole time.
As far as those worried about me using the stairs, the hamper I was using is about 3.5 feet tall and can carry way more weight than a full carboy. I really like using the glass, I could see what was going on and it was easy to clean. Anyone with stairs use a bucket to carry the wort down the stairs and then add it to the glass carboy?
As far as those worried about me using the stairs, the hamper I was using is about 3.5 feet tall and can carry way more weight than a full carboy. I really like using the glass, I could see what was going on and it was easy to clean. Anyone with stairs use a bucket to carry the wort down the stairs and then add it to the glass carboy?
http://www.homebrewing.org/FerMonster-PET-Carboy-7-Gallon-Includes-lid-whole_p_6193.html
I use the 7 gallon Fermonster as shown in the link above (I have no affiliation to or compensation from the website, but I have received good service from them in the past). In fact, I have four of them now. They are easy to clean, I use a microfiber towel and PBW.
Let me start by noting that people can make their own choices, and you are a person, so you're included in that.
And good on you for getting through your first batch!Now, that said, I wouldn't use a glass carboy for any reason I can think of right now. They are heavy, difficult to clean, and dangerous. Here's a link to the "Broken Glass Carboy Injury Compendium." Don't read it unless you have a strong constitution.
There are terrific plastic fermenters that are easy to clean, light in weight, and won't break if you make a mistake. The Fermonster, noted by JTK78, is one of them.
I know that new stuff costs money, but please be careful with that carboy.
Let me start by noting that people can make their own choices, and you are a person, so you're included in that.
Now, that said, I wouldn't use a glass carboy for any reason I can think of right now. They are heavy, difficult to clean, and dangerous. Here's a link to the "Broken Glass Carboy Injury Compendium." Don't read it unless you have a strong constitution.
There are terrific plastic fermenters that are easy to clean, light in weight, and won't break if you make a mistake. The Fermonster, noted by JTK78, is one of them.
I know that new stuff costs money, but please be careful with that carboy.
Mongoose is right about that. I broke two in the first few times I tried to use them. I really like Ale Pails, and I just got a big mouth better bottle (I think) but that is great because you get to actually see the yeast going off. Anyway, for the amount of time your beer will be in the fermenter use plastic, easier and safer. JMHO
Well took my first taste after two weeks of bottle conditioning. Flavor is good, beer fizzes in your mouth, no visible head on the beer. I will let it sit a little longer to see if longer conditioning will produce more head on the beer.
Dish soap can destroy the head if not thoroughly rinsed. Did you use that by any chance?
I hand wash all my dishes with dish soap. May try rinsing the glass more before pouring.
A little update. I let my beer condition for another week and tried one tonight. There was a noticeable increase in gas released when I popped the top, the beer had a thick foamy head, and the flavor seemed to improve after another week of conditioning. I am going to give it one more week before I move it down to my cool basement. At this point I am pleased with my first attempt.
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