First Brew, fermenting,kegging?

[Calfj60]

I'm planning my first brew day for April 9th, it's my birthday. So my question is will 2.5 weeks be long enough to ferment a pale ale extract kit? Then if I keg it what do I do to preserve it? I have to leave town for 3 weeks. Am I screwed or is there any way to make this work?

 

[fimpster]

2.5 weeks should be OK. I usually let mine go 3 to 4 weeks. The kegging will preserve your beer. It will actually age quite nicely in the keg under CO2 for those 3 weeks. Not screwed, in fact its a good schedule.

 

[scottballz]

2.5 weeks should be OK. I usually let mine go 3 to 4 weeks. The kegging will preserve your beer. It will actually age quite nicely in the keg under CO2 for those 3 weeks. Not screwed, in fact its a good schedule.

Exactly what he said ^^^
you are gonna come home to a nicely mellowed out beer.

 

[Calfj60]

Thanks guys, you recommend to set it at say 12psi and leave it in my keezer?

 

[Beer-lord]

I also agree and I use 12 and after 7-10 days, it's ready to enjoy. Another week and it's pretty much perfect.
Enjoy, leave town and come back and brew another one.

 

[guitarguy6]

Here's a handy calculator http://www.brewersfriend.com/keg-carbonation-calculator/

 

[solbes]

Good calculator. Depending on your keezer temps, 12 psi may be too low (for a warm keezer), just right, or to high (if your keezer is warm). Purge your keg 4 or 5 times by pulling on the pressure relief ring (if you have ball lock kegs). This will get rid of the oxygen and blanket your beer in CO2. Then chill it down for the 3 week period.

Timeline sounds perfect. I would think a pale ale is at about peak 6 weeks from brew date.

 

[Calfj60]

Thank you! I'm really looking forward to getting started. It's been a long time coming

 

[fimpster]

Remember to come back and tell us how things went. Have fun and most of all RDWHAHB!

 

[Calfj60]

I was able to brew Thursday as planned and everything worked as planned. New stand, equipment all worked well. I finished with 1.060 which was higher than the box of 1.051-1.055.

Now I just have to be patient...

 

[fimpster]

Now I just have to be patient...

That's the hard part, and why many of us have several beers going at different stages at all times.

Congrats!

 

[Calfj60]

I am already thinking of beer number 2 and how to get away from LME