First Batch Seems to be Progressing Nicely

[DaveCane]

I must be the proverbial blind squirrel.

My wife bought me a northern Brewer setup for Father's Day with a Caribou Slobber extract kit. I read some stuff online, but did not find HBT and the wealth of information available here. I went ahead and brewed up my first batch a few weeks ago following the NB instructions, but they don't really tell you much about taking measurements, etc. I did take a gravity reading at the beginning, but didn't adjust for temperature.

So, after about two weeks in the primary and about a week in the secondary (I know - now - that transfer was probably unnecessary), I checked the gravity again. It was at the level it others were reporting for this kit with dry yeast. Checked again after a few more days and the gravity was the same.

I went ahead and boiled some water with the priming sugar, added it to my bottling bucket, and then added the beer from my primary. Sanitized the bottles and I was off to the races. Bottling with a drippy bottling wand was an adventure, but I managed to fill 48 bottles and get them capped. I've been storing them for a week in the closet.

Finally opened one up last night. After I took off the cap, a little foam developed in the bottle. Poured it in the glass and there was a small head that quickly dissipated. The flavor was nice, but very light. I know this will develop more after a few more weeks in the bottles. The carbonation was like a lot of small bubbles. It didn't seem like fully carbonated beer, but, from what I had read, I was surprised that the beer wasn't still flat. Even though it wasn't all the way done, it was really cool to drink a beer that I had brewed myself!

Planning on giving them a few more days in the closet and then moving them to the fridge. Really looking forward to trying them as they develop more of that full flavor!

Now to worry about that NB Saison kit I've got in the fermenter, which has, what I hope, are just yeast floaters on top!

 

[eadavis80]

You will want to leave your bottled beer at room temp for AT LEAST 2 WEEKS, if not three, before moving them to the fridge. Congrats on the debut brew! C. Slobber is a solid choice and gets better with time. I know it's tough, but I encourage you to put a sixer aside and try them around Halloween - you'll be impressed by how much it matures well.

 

[DaveCane]

Couldn't seem to upload these pics from my phone. Here are a few pics of the beer in the bottle and in a glass.

 

[DaveCane]

You will want to leave your bottled beer at room temp for AT LEAST 2 WEEKS, if not three, before moving them to the fridge. Congrats on the debut brew! C. Slobber is a solid choice and gets better with time. I know it's tough, but I encourage you to put a sixer aside and try them around Halloween - you'll be impressed by how much it matures well.

Thanks for the advice! I guess I was just afraid of the dreaded over-carbed bottles!

 

[flars]

Congratulations. Sounds like everything went well.

I would recommend not moving the bottles to the frig for four to six more weeks. Caribou Slobber improves with age when bottle conditioned at room temperature, about 72°F.

CO2 pressure is building in the bottle. Two to three days, sort of minimum, in the frig before opening will force the carbonation into solution. When the beers are ready, the head should be dense small bubbles, and last in the glass, as long as your glass doesn't have soap or anti spotting residue.

Caribou Slobber is one of my favorites.

 

[DaveCane]

Tried another bottle tonight. A bit of a gushed when I opened it, but not too bad. Poured it into a glass. Had a nice 1" head. No longer had that fizzy carbonation. Tasted good! Really happy with the results!

 

[DaveCane]

Tonight I tried a bottle that had been in the fridge for 24 hours. The foam stayed in the bottle when I cracked it open and there was a perfect thick head when I poured it into the glass. The beer smells and tastes great! [emoji3] Now, I've just got to stop drinking them, so they can keep developing that even better flavor I keep hearing about!

 

[kh54s10]

Tonight I tried a bottle that had been in the fridge for 24 hours. The foam stayed in the bottle when I cracked it open and there was a perfect thick head when I poured it into the glass. The beer smells and tastes great! [emoji3] Now, I've just got to stop drinking them, so they can keep developing that even better flavor I keep hearing about!

This is very true. Caribou slobber is a brown ale which will definitely benefit from some ageing. A month to a few months would put it at it's prime.

When I have a good beer it is difficult to keep it around long enough to see what it would be like with longer time.

 

[brew703]

I have a 1 gallon Caribou Slobber extract kit I got for Fathers Day. Will brew that one when I have room in my fermenter. I brewed two extract kits but have since moved on to BIAB. Looking forward to brewing the CS as I've heard it is really good.