First batch question

[Raspberryeskimo]

Hi there! I'm all set up with my equipment and ingredients, and ready to brew my first batch. I am following Charlie Papazian's The Home Brewer's Companion, and thus am trying to make his first recipe. Before I get this all started, I realize that Papazian's recipe calls for hop-flavored malt extract. My local homebrew store does not have a malt-flavored variety available for sale, so I picked up two cans of light malt extract. If I use it, will it mess up my brew?

 

[Demon]

Did you also pick up any packages of hops? If so you're fine. His book is probably referring to pre hopped extract.

 

[Raspberryeskimo]

I didn't get any hops, and since I am trying to follow this first recipe to a T so as no to mess anything up, I don't even know when I should add it in the brewing process.

 

[Yooper]

I didn't get any hops, and since I am trying to follow this first recipe to a T so as no to mess anything up, I don't even know when I should add it in the brewing process.

You need hops at the very start of the boil. Without hops, you can not go on. They are absolutely a requirement for step 1.

You'll have to put off your brew day until you either get some hops, or some prehopped malt extract.

My preference is to not use prehopped extract anyway, so I think you'll end up with a better beer in the long run. But it means going to the store and buying some hops before you can proceed!

 

[shafferpilot]

using unhopped extract is fine... but you definitely need to boil hops into the brew, or you'll end up with sweet, thin, alcoholly stuff that won't taste much like beer at all. check out this online book for info on extract brewing:

http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html

 

[Raspberryeskimo]

Thanks everyone. I've already learned that patience is a virtue in homebrewing. I'll be off to the store to buy some hops in the next few days!

 

[Calder]

Before you go, you might want to post the recipe, and ask what type of hops and how much you will need. All hops are not equal.

 

[Raspberryeskimo]

Great idea, Calder. The recipe calls for:
- 5-6 lbs hop-flavored malt extract
- 5 gal water
- 1 pkg ale yeast (I got a wet American ale yeast)
- 3/4 c corn sugar

Combine malt extract and some water, boil. Add 3 gallons of cold water to sanitized fermenter, then add malt/water mixture to fermenter. Attach fermentation hose, then later the fermentation lock. Ferment 8-14 days. Bottle and age 10 days.

 

[macleod319]

From a "knocking the dust off" brewer... Might be a little fat on the water side of things. You can do two different things here, but the ingredients list (amount) is for a 5-gal batch. Either

1) Use the 5 gal boil water and "top off" your fermenter when you add the wort to get to 5 gallons, or

2) Use a smaller amount of boil (2-3 gal), add the rest to the fermenter, and top off afterwards.

#2 is good if you want to pre-cool your fermenter, add the wort a little warmer (if you don't have a cooling setup), and pitch. #1 is good for getting your OG readings 100% right off the bat, better for sanitation (cuts out the "unknown" on your water issues).

You're not adding the corn sugar to the wort right away, right? Just checking

 

[TopherM]

This is going to end up as a light blonde ale. I'd get 2 oz of Saaz or Cascade hops (or even a combination). Add 1 oz of the hops when you start your 60 minute boil. Add .5 oz with 15 minutes left in the boil and .5 oz with 5 minutes left in the boil.

 

[Raspberryeskimo]

Thanks for your advice, you're awesome! And I will be adding the corn sugar at the bottling stage.
Really excited to get my first batch started. Just gotta remember to relax and not worry! Too bad I can't have a homebrew til I've made the first batch, though!

 

[Raspberryeskimo]

Alright, so I am finally set to begin this first homebrew. Before I start, I have one final question. I wanted to add raspberries to this brew. Is that getting too complex for my first try? If not, at what stage during the process do I add the raspberries?

 

[shafferpilot]

too complex for your first brew.

 

[TopherM]

I would lay off on the raspberries for your first brew. Get the basic process down to where you are robotic about the main parts of brew day, then start experimenting and doing more advanced techniques.

Just FYI, though, for fruit additions, you would put them in your secondary bucket and rack from primary on top of the fruit following primary fermentation. About 3lbs of raspberries adds a noticible flavor to a 5 gallon batch.

 

[Raspberryeskimo]

Well I carefully followed my recipe step by step and dedicated a day to the task, but 20 hours later there is still no fermentation activity in my carboy. I'm worried that my wort wasn't cool enough at the bottom, and maybe I killed my yeast. Any ideas? What a noob... :-/