First batch..with a question!

[despain85]

Started my first batch and it's going well.. Or so I assume. The airlock bounced around for a good 3 days and now it's stagnant and it's been 6 days since fermentation started or was put in the bucket. But my real question is; when I cleaned my brew pot it had some burn marks across the bottom from the extract. Will this be an issue? I had a nice rolling boil in my pot for the hour and hopped at the right time. I will be bottling next week on Friday, it will out it at 14 days of fermentation. All the reading I've done so far makes me think I'm on the right track. I'm not even lifting the lid until the 10 day mark and will take a reading to see where I sit. Am I on the right track?

 

[kombat]

Sounds like you're on the right track to me. Regarding scorching the extract, most people recommend that you turn off the heat while you add the extract and stir it in, then fire the burner back up after all of the extract has been dissolved into solution.

 

[despain85]

Sounds like you're on the right track to me. Regarding scorching the extract, most people recommend that you turn off the heat while you add the extract and stir it in, then fire the burner back up after all of the extract has been dissolved into solution.

I did turn the heat off when I dumped the extract in, but I cranked it back up after it was in but not dissolved. Good to know that. Thanks!

 

[SteakW]

Since it scorched, chances are you were using LME (DME floats to the top and is much harder to scorch, at least in my experience) so I might think your beer might come out darker than expected but perhaps not.
A simple remedy to this would be to turn off the heat, add extract, mix in completely (add a portion, mix it in, add the next portion, mix it in, etc) then once it's all completely mixed in, turn the heat back on. If you have an SS kettle, scrape your mixing device across the bottom of the kettle to ensure there is no residual extract. If you are using aluminum then very very gently rub your plastic or wooden mixing device (don't use metal with aluminum) across the bottom. You don't want to rub off that passive oxide layer. Don't worry about it too much, just keep it in mind.

 

[boydster]

Doing a late extract addition also helps minimize scorching. You can add around 1/2 of your extract at the beginning and the rest at knockout, still keeping the burner off when you add any extract like you did before.

 

[despain85]

So its been 12 days fermenting and I just tested my first little bit with my wine thief. Tested at 1.010. Right on the money from my recipe sheet. It's gotta sit until Friday that's when I will bottle it. It tasted like beer and smelled like beer! Man am I excited to drink this stuff. I picked up an auto siphon to make it easier on me. Here is a pic..

With priming sugar I've got the perfect amount for 5 gallons. Should I put it in the bottom and let the beer that's siphoned in mix it, or should I mix and gently stir?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[C-Rider]

I've found the beer will mix it just fine.
Another thing w/the extract. If you can soak the container of extract in warm/hot water for as long as you can before adding it to the boil. This will let it flow better and mix easier.