First Batch of Brew

[abjones116]

Hello all-

New to the forums and at brewing. Starting my first batch this afternoon hopefully everything goes smoothly. 5 Gallon Batch.

This is what I have:
6lbs Dark LME
3lbs Amber LME
8oz Caramel/Crystal Malt
8oz Special B Malt
1oz Vanguard (60 mins)
1oz Cascade (5 mins)
1 Cinnamon Stick
1tsp. Nutmeg
Wyeast #1275

Primary will be a 6.5 glass carboy and secondary will be a 6 gallon bucket which I will also use for bottling.

Two stage fermentation and letting the beer age for about 3-4 weeks after bottling.

I'll keep everyone posted on how it turns out. Any suggestions are also appreciated.

 

[RM-MN]

Don't use the bucket for secondary because it leaves too much of the beer exposed and can lead to an infection. Leave your beer in the carboy until bottling time, about 3 weeks. Use a hydrometer to tell if the beer is ready to be bottled.

 

[tooblue02]

Agree'd with leaving it in the primary instead of moving to the secondary/bottling bucket. If you are set on a secondary then I would recommend getting a 5.5 gal Carboy for secondary fermentation.

 

[Hello]

Looks delicious. I would spend some time reading this thread This vs. That right here. I started reading it yesterday for the first time. I hadn't really noticed it before. It has so much great information and thus far, I can't seem to argue with it.

Here is the post on racking to secondary and the pros and cons.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/vs-pro-con-analysis-109318/#post1204663

 

[abjones116]

Don't use the bucket for secondary because it leaves too much of the beer exposed and can lead to an infection. Leave your beer in the carboy until bottling time, about 3 weeks. Use a hydrometer to tell if the beer is ready to be bottled.

Agree'd with leaving it in the primary instead of moving to the secondary/bottling bucket. If you are set on a secondary then I would recommend getting a 5.5 gal Carboy for secondary fermentation.

Alright. Very good so no secondary fermenter, however, should I just use the bucket instead of the carboy and bottle from there?

Looks delicious. I would spend some time reading this thread This vs. That right here. I started reading it yesterday for the first time. I hadn't really noticed it before. It has so much great information and thus far, I can't seem to argue with it.

Here is the post on racking to secondary and the pros and cons.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/vs-pro-con-analysis-109318/#post1204663

Thanks for the post - it was very good information. I am still combing through bits and pieces of the thread but very informative.

 

[Begin2Brew]

Honestly, be lazy. Spend your effort on sanitation and brewing, once the beer is fermenting kick back and relax. The only beer I pull out of the fermenter less than 4 weeks is a wheat, and I only secondary my pale ales and IPA's.

This whole RDWHAHB is true. Give it time, be patient!

 

[tooblue02]

Depends on how you plan to carbonate... If you use corn sugar or something similar then make sure your bottling bucket is empty for bottling day!

 

[abjones116]

Thank you all for the suggestions. Brew day went good as far as I can tell at this point. The wort is sitting in a nice cool area for the next few weeks.

I'll keep everyone updated.