Croy9000
Well-Known Member
I started my first batch of beer earlier this week and figured I would join the community here and document my experience. Both what I did and what I felt I did wrong and can improve. After following the recipe instructions to a tee and getting the wort into the fermenting bucket, I began reading up and realize the recipe instructions skipped over many techniques I wish I had used.
I bought a 'deluxe' brewing kit from my LBHS that included a secondary carboy. It also include your choice of one ingredient kit, of which I chose a Brown Ale. I also bought 3 cases of Grolsch type bottles.
Recipe - Brown Ale / BG: 1.044 / FG: 1.011
Tues April 29
Started process. I decided to cut the ingredients in half for a final quantity of 2.5 gallons. I was really nervous about having 5 gallons of nasty beer for my first attempt. Although in hind site this was a pita. I should have just stuck with 5.
Couple of things I wish I did:
* The instructions said nothing about 'quickly' cooling the wort to <80 after the boil. Although after 20min cooling I did read about this, and got the pot into ice. Definitely need to be prepared next time. I may look into a chiller, or just have the ice ready.
* I probably should have aerated the wort better than I did. The instructions in the recipe said to just just aggressively stir the wort and cool water mixture to form a good layer of bubbles on top. After reading I can see the importance of lots of oxygen for the yeast. Next time I will shake the fermenter vigorously.
* I should have boiled the cold water I put into the fermenter (that the wort was added to). I'm now nervous about contamination. Does everyone else do this?
Gravity: 1.043 / Air Temperature 73f
Fri May 2
Down to about 1 bubble every 2 min. Couple of nights ago it was 1 bubble every 4 seconds.
Sat May 3
Today I transfered to the secondary. I had planned to leave it in the primary for at least 7 days. But after more reading I learned of the importance of keeping oxygen away from the beer. With a 5 gallon carboy the beer goes all the way up to the neck, minimizing the headspace. But because I only did 2.5 gallons I thought it might be a good to transfer while there was still some fermentation still going on so it would push the oxygen from the carboy. Not sure if that was the right choice though. Although, my gravity reading was 1.018, and my target is 1.011. So maybe it was the right choice?
Gravity: 1.018 / Air Temperature 75f
I bought a 'deluxe' brewing kit from my LBHS that included a secondary carboy. It also include your choice of one ingredient kit, of which I chose a Brown Ale. I also bought 3 cases of Grolsch type bottles.
Recipe - Brown Ale / BG: 1.044 / FG: 1.011
Tues April 29
Started process. I decided to cut the ingredients in half for a final quantity of 2.5 gallons. I was really nervous about having 5 gallons of nasty beer for my first attempt. Although in hind site this was a pita. I should have just stuck with 5.
Couple of things I wish I did:
* The instructions said nothing about 'quickly' cooling the wort to <80 after the boil. Although after 20min cooling I did read about this, and got the pot into ice. Definitely need to be prepared next time. I may look into a chiller, or just have the ice ready.
* I probably should have aerated the wort better than I did. The instructions in the recipe said to just just aggressively stir the wort and cool water mixture to form a good layer of bubbles on top. After reading I can see the importance of lots of oxygen for the yeast. Next time I will shake the fermenter vigorously.
* I should have boiled the cold water I put into the fermenter (that the wort was added to). I'm now nervous about contamination. Does everyone else do this?
Gravity: 1.043 / Air Temperature 73f
Fri May 2
Down to about 1 bubble every 2 min. Couple of nights ago it was 1 bubble every 4 seconds.
Sat May 3
Today I transfered to the secondary. I had planned to leave it in the primary for at least 7 days. But after more reading I learned of the importance of keeping oxygen away from the beer. With a 5 gallon carboy the beer goes all the way up to the neck, minimizing the headspace. But because I only did 2.5 gallons I thought it might be a good to transfer while there was still some fermentation still going on so it would push the oxygen from the carboy. Not sure if that was the right choice though. Although, my gravity reading was 1.018, and my target is 1.011. So maybe it was the right choice?
Gravity: 1.018 / Air Temperature 75f