first batch suggestion

[ernie00]

So, I've been reading on this site for more than a year and have read "how to Brew" book 3 times. I've decided that I was ready to give it a shot and try to brew beer. So tomororw I will go buy the equipment needed and ingredients.

I've decided not to use a kit, I was thinking of using the Cincinnati Pale Ale receipe in the book to start with. It looks simple enough and the instructions are pretty clear. I like pale ales and Ipa's so it could be good to start with.

Any other suggestions or ideas ?

thanks
Ernie

 

[Yooper]

That's a good recipe, and I agree that the instructions are clear and easy to understand.

Good luck, and make sure you let us know how it goes!

 

[mr_bell]

I agree, that's probably a good choice and keeps it simple. I also don't think one can go wrong with a brown ale, American or English it's one of my favorite styles.

 

[eljefe]

Good luck. For a first brew, simpler is better. You can always expand from here. Regardless of how it turns out, commit to do 2 or 3 more. Also, be patient. Don't poke the bear or beer!

Please tell us how it turned out.

 

[ernie00]

Thanks for the support everyone. I'm really curious how this will turn out.

The kit comes with a bucket 6 gallon and a cardboy (5Gallon).. should I even bother with secondary fermenting or just leave the beer in the bucket for the first batch ?

thanks agian
Ernie

 

[Yooper]

I'd just leave it in the bucket for this batch.

Make sure you have a bottling bucket if you do that, though! If the bucket that you're fermenting in is the one with the spigot, you'll have to transfer to the carboy so you can use the bottling bucket to bottle.

 

[KevinW]

I'd just leave it in the bucket for this batch.

Make sure you have a bottling bucket if you do that, though! If the bucket that you're fermenting in is the one with the spigot, you'll have to transfer to the carboy so you can use the bottling bucket to bottle.

Great point! Nothing like painting yourself in a corner!

2-3 weeks in the primary and at least 2-3 weeks in the bottle and you should always have good results!

Be patient and you will be rewarded! Of course there is nothing wrong with sampling a bottle after a week or so just to make sure it tastes OK

Good luck and just keep brewing!

 

[ernie00]

so I went to pick up the equipment, did a few places today and it all looks the same. The only thing that is confusing right now is the primary bucket doesn't come with an air tight seal (rubber). And it was like this both stores. One of the store was the biggest place in quebec and the staff looked very knowledgeable. They knew about the palmer book and really answered all my questions. They said that what they do is just put the lid on top and no need for a airlock... then 4-5 days later transfer into cardboy.

Is this the right way or am I setting myself up for disaster ?

Doesn't seem like anyone has air tight with the rubber seal in the cover around here.

Thanks
Ernie

 

[McGarnigle]

You could probably get by with a lid loosely laid on top of the fermenter. Don't seal it; it might blow up. I still would say it's preferable to have a proper lid with a hole for an airlock.

Most people here would say 4-5 days in primary is too short. For the Cincy Pale Ale, you could easily skip secondary altogether and just leave it in the pail for ~3 weeks.

 

[PorterIdontknowher]

Is this the right way or am I setting myself up for disaster ?

Doesn't seem like anyone has air tight with the rubber seal in the cover around here.

While I am somewhat of a newbie, I'll say... don't worry about it...

From what I've read, a gasket in the lid does one thing for you... it greatly increases the chances that the rubber gasket will fall into your wort when you go to put the lid on the fermenter...

Think of it this way... to get into the standard non-gasket lid, a bacterium needs to be passing the edge of the lid, turn left or right to go under the lid, then go up above the lip of the bucket, then go left/right again, then fall into the beer... all traveling against the pressure caused by the CO2 from the fermenting wort... it needs to do the equivalent of the single bullet theory in the Kennedy assassination...

This is why some folks just put a piece of aluminum foil over the top of a carboy during primary...

Don't stress... the millions of yeast cells you pitch in will outcompete most other stuff that makes it to your wort...

 

[iron_city_ap]

My bucket doesn't have a rubber gasket and it works just fine. I would be nervous about not having an airlock though. If you just set the lid on the bucket without sealing it you are risking infection or worse, spilling . If you seal the lid without an airlock, you will probably end up with a bucket bomb. The 3rd option would be to buy the bucket with the lid with no air lock, drill a hole in it and put in a 3/8inch inner diameter grommet, then just put the airlock in that. Total cost for the grommet (you can pick these up at a home supply store like Home Depot) and airlock here in the states is about $3.

 

[ernie00]

Thanks a lot to everyone for the support in this adventure

. I'm not worried, I just want to make things right so I don't ruin my first batch.

So from what I can understand from everyone replies. I can
1) put the lid on, without sealing it and leave it there without going to secondary
2) Put the lid on and add a air lock to it. I already have an airlock so I could put it on there?

Before I posted my question I was thinking of doing number 2.

Either way I shouldn't do secondary on this first batch ?

Ernie

 

[KevinW]

Yeah, a secondary is not necessary most of the time. Usually for beers like lagers or very pale beers to help clarify or for dry-hopping secondary is needed.
2-3 weeks in primary is good for all beers to help the yeast finish the job and clean up a little of their mess too!
Good luck and keep brewing:rockin: