First Beer

[matt31]

So I finally got to make my first beer with my kit today. Mr. Beer, used the West Coast Pale Ale and booster that came with it; the booster was really difficult to mix into the water.

Already looking forward to making the other kit I got with it, a stout with UME instead of booster.

 

[LIONS_FAN2539]

received same kit for x mas. on my sixthday of fermenting/west coast. took a sample today. everything on schedule for bottling shortly. went to a lhb and got my next batch and alot of info

 

[aekdbbop]

welcome both of you! Mr. Beer seems like a popular start into homebrew.. but if your kits don't turn out just right.. know there is better stuff out there, and don't lose hope! (not to jinx your brew)

one tip: with mr. beer, be extremely careful when priming with your sugar.. measurement wise... I over sugared mine, turned out gross...

 

[LIONS_FAN2539]

thanks for the advice on sugar. the kit was a gift cuz they knew a had been researching brewing. my local brew supply is awesome and has made up some custom recipes and spent alot of time explaining in detail.

 

[matt31]

So after a week in the fermenter I tried a little sample of my beer today. It tasted like Budweiser, really. Very slight carbonation. One more week to bottling.

 

[LIONS_FAN2539]

bottled mine sunday and started new batch. everything looks good. lhb is working with me. equipment upgrades: 6 gal bottling bucket/than can double as fermenter, lid , airlock,cornsugar and my next batch. 26.00!

 

[LIONS_FAN2539]

did the pale ale that came with mr beer. tasted great prior to bottling,gonna try one sunday
brewed a lhb recipe for light beer using all the ingrediants. cooked it up on the side burner. moving to secondary saturday.
next batch, a wheat recipe ive created! this is awesome

 

[Orfy]

Quick tip. If you want to really increase the quality of your beer then buy a bag of dried malt or a can of liquid malt and use that instead.

The other thing is to increase the time before you bottle it.

 

[LIONS_FAN2539]

using muntons brand dry

 

[Orfy]

Should be good then.

 

[LIONS_FAN2539]

muntons wheat
centinial start
cascade middle
centinail finish

 

[matt31]

Looking forward to the next batch as well, going to be a stout this time. I already feel like I need larger fermenters and am debating using dme to prime. Bought a copy of CJOHB earlier this week and have already read it through. That book answered a lot of questions I had.

 

[LIONS_FAN2539]

its amazing how intersesting this hobby is. this site is such a help.

 

[Doogals]

Another 1st time brewer here. Using Mr Beer. Bottled last Sunday, 1/7 using the 1 liter PET botttles that came with the kit. Primed with corn sugar. Instructions say to wait 1 week after bottling then refrigerate.

I have seen posts here saying to wait longer than 1 week after bottling. The bottles have become very firm. I sure don't want them to burst.

Should I wait another week before refridgerating? Thanks!

 

[TK421]

Another 1st time brewer here. Using Mr Beer. Bottled last Sunday, 1/7 using the 1 liter PET botttles that came with the kit. Primed with corn sugar. Instructions say to wait 1 week after bottling then refrigerate.

I have seen posts here saying to wait longer than 1 week after bottling. The bottles have become very firm. I sure don't want them to burst.

Should I wait another week before refridgerating? Thanks!

Refrigerating will stop the yeast from consuming the priming sugar and thus stop CO2 production. The bottles will get very firm and that's a good thing. The bottles pressurize and any new CO2 created then dissolves in the beer creating carbonation.

IMO, one week is plenty long enough for Mr. Beer recipes, but to be safe I'd throw one in the fridge on Saturday afternoon, and try it Saturday night. If it's good, put the rest of them in and drink up!

 

[Pumbaa]

let them sit for a week then put them in the fridge for a week or 3. That extra time in the fridge will give them time to age a bit and develope the flavors a bit more. If ya dont have the fridge room to spare any place cool and dark will be fine as long as you didnt over prime. All of my beer right now is sitting in cases in the basement and they are fine. I dont put them in the fridge until I am ready to drink them and have yet to have a bottle bomb (knock on wood).

 

[attitude]

I went different route, bought 2 stage deluxe from Homebrew Headquaters and bought a extract kit. brewed it last sunday. Moving to secondary fermenter today or tomorrow... Well see

 

[Doogals]

Thanks for the input. I have plenty of fridge space so I will put them in cold storage tonight and mark the calendar and try to patiently wait!

I found a hbs nearby. I have the bug. Well......there goes the vacation money....LOL.