First Batch!

[Antler]

Hey guys it's me again, picking up my bucket kit today and my first batch is going into the fermenter tonight! I'm gonna do a Pale Ale, the go to secondary and put a nice Red Ale into the fermenter! Any tips for this first timer?

 

[aggiejay06]

My tip: Don't use the secondary! Just keep it in primary longer. 3-4 weeks.

Otherwise just be sure to sanitize well. I recommend picking up some StarSan while you buy your kit. And have 1-2 beers while you brew...good karma to drink beer while you brew beer .

 

[Antler]

Thanks! I'm gonna try my first batch with the primary and secondary, then as that batch goes into the secondary I'm gonna put my next one into the fermenter and leave it there a month, then compare the two when done.

 

[Antler]

Got my kit, cleaning it now gettin ready for my first batch. I discovered that I have an airlock for the fermenting bucket but not for the Carboy. As soon as my first batch is done In the fermenter I'm going to a secondary with it and starting another batch. Do I really need another airlock for the Carboy or can I cover it with something I have laying around the house?

 

[jafo28]

If you have a LHBS just go get another airlock they're like one dollar, and always good to have a spare.

 

[Gfunk]

Get your self a spray bottle and put some of yor starsan in it. It will be helpful when you rack to secondary.

 

[Antler]

Get your self a spray bottle and put some of yor starsan in it. It will be helpful when you rack to secondary.

What's this starsan your talking about?

 

[Antler]

Got it done and in the fermenter about an hour ago. Started to bubble already!

 

[Gfunk]

Starsan is a sanitizer that you don't need to rinse. I'm on batch 7 With no contamination so I feel it work really well.

 

[Antler]

Oh I'll look into that. I just lucked into a couple fermenting buckets today for free. I know you guys say no to using a secondary but I'm gonna do it anyway. Question is, I have 3 ferment buckets and one Carboy. Can I use one of the buckets as a secondary to get two batches going?

 

[Antler]

Ok well Saturday I got my first batch (pale ale) into the fermenter and Monday night I put a Canadian Red Ale into another fermenter. The red ale isn't doing much for bubbling in the airlock, I'd planned not to touch either for ten days, to be sure of fermentation. I think the cover Jon my second bucket isn't sealing, and gases are escaping around the cover, than through the air lock. Will this hurt my beer?