I brewed my first brew, NB Irish Red extract kit w/specialty grains, on Sunday. I did a full boil, but did not want to over compensate so I started with 5.5 gallons before additions figuring I could always top off. I added 1/3 of my extract at boil with 90% of scheduled bittering hops and the remaining 1/3 just past 10 minutes left. I have an aluminum 36 qt kettle that is pretty squatty so I was able to cool to under 95 in about 15 minutes with just an ice bath and was at 72 in about 21 minutes. My wort went into my carboy through a strainer and fine screen and I shook the heck out of it before pitching Wyeast 1056 without a starter. My OG was supposed to be 1.044, I estimated it at 1.043 but I did top of a little.
Foam was appearing @ 8 hrs and going strong in the morning and through the day. At 53 hrs things have slowed a bit. Foam has reduced a bit. My ambient temp is about 65, the temp on my carboy reads 67. I have no intention of touching it till after at least 3 1/2 weeks where I will go to bottle for another 3 weeks. What do you think my FG will be? Should I concern myself with checking gravity since I intend to leave it in primary for almost 4 wks?
Most importantly, what to brew next??
Foam was appearing @ 8 hrs and going strong in the morning and through the day. At 53 hrs things have slowed a bit. Foam has reduced a bit. My ambient temp is about 65, the temp on my carboy reads 67. I have no intention of touching it till after at least 3 1/2 weeks where I will go to bottle for another 3 weeks. What do you think my FG will be? Should I concern myself with checking gravity since I intend to leave it in primary for almost 4 wks?
Most importantly, what to brew next??