First brew had some hiccups... Input?

[Jfultz]

Hey home brewers. So I just finished my first brew yesterday, it was a Brewers best cream ale extract kit, and things didn't go exactly according to plan. First off, I intended to brew outside, but there were some issues with the burner so I ended up having to brew inside, had a hard time keeping a rolling boil (temps maxed right at 200f. Secondly, the tube that came with my hydrometer was too small to test in (didn't think about putting it directly into the wort until today), and I have NO clue what my og was. Next, I decided to go ahead and boost the gravity a bit with some honey at knockout (from reading a few threads on the same beer knockout is the best bet for getting some actual honey flavor to come through). I didn't add a whole lot, roughly 1/4 lb. I know I'm nuts for switching up my first recipe, but I didn't want to do a cream ale anyway (had to find something the wife agreed to try), so I figured what the hell. First tries are experiments anyway. My BIGGEST hiccup by far though, was forgetting to add top-off water. I boiled 6 gal to start so the volume wasn't too far off, I just checked and its sitting just above 4.5 gal. So I definitely made a few mistakes, probably some questionable decisions, but oh well. My biggest questions are about the honey and the low volume. What do you guys think? Did I break it?

Note: I swear I sanitized the heck out of everything, even stuff to be boiled. I know that's rule number one and I was very careful to observe it.

 

[beergolf]

If those are the only mistakes you made, you are good. A slighlty less on the volume will only increase the OG slightly. A 1/4 lb of honey will also only add a little.. If you did an extract batch then you OG will be pretty close to what the recipe calls for. ( of course slightly higher for the little less volume and the honey)

Don't worry. You will make beer and it will be pretty close to what you wanted. The higher boil volume will give you a little more bitterness to offset the extra ABV by the smaller volume and the honey addition. So you are good.

Now for the hard part...... Step away from the fermenter and do not mess with it for at least two weeks. Three would be better. I know it is difficult. I almost wore out my steps to the basement going down there to check on my first brew. Patience is the hardest thing to learn about homebrewing beer. At first it was difficult, now after almost 250 brews and many fermenters going at the same time, I have a hard time remembering what I have brewing.

Welcome to this great addiction, errrr I meant hobby...

Now brew another batch.

 

[Jfultz]

Awesome, thanks for the encouragement. I know it will definitely be beer, I just hope it doesn't suck. Next step is another fermenter so I can keep the pipeline going. Cheers!

 

[Kent88]

If you really feel reckless and that one bad result wont deter you from trying again, and your beer is still krausening (all foaming and turbid) you could boil and cool enough water to top it off and just pour it in with a sanitized funnel. You *should* be able to get away with topping off before krausen falls because any oxygen added would be scavenged by the yeast.

But no guarantee, I haven't really done that before, so I don't know. I remember how nervous I was my first batch, and if you're like that then I'd recommend leaving it alone. It will probably be fine.

Don't worry about the gravity readings. Personally, I rarely take gravity readings except when I sparge, which you aren't doing because you're using extract. When you're using a kit and things turn out pretty close to where they're supposed to be (which I would say they have, volume issues and honey additions and all) then you wont be far off from what they say.

 

[grd]

As a new brewer, I too have made a few mistakes myself. It is nice to know that these mistakes are understood by the "veterans" here. : )
I am brewing on a gallon scale so my mistakes won't hurt as bad.

If those are the only mistakes you made, you are good. A slighlty less on the volume will only increase the OG slightly. A 1/4 lb of honey will also only add a little.. If you did an extract batch then you OG will be pretty close to what the recipe calls for. ( of course slightly higher for the little less volume and the honey)

Don't worry. You will make beer and it will be pretty close to what you wanted. The higher boil volume will give you a little more bitterness to offset the extra ABV by the smaller volume and the honey addition. So you are good.

Now for the hard part...... Step away from the fermenter and do not mess with it for at least two weeks. Three would be better. I know it is difficult. I almost wore out my steps to the basement going down there to check on my first brew. Patience is the hardest thing to learn about homebrewing beer. At first it was difficult, now after almost 250 brews and many fermenters going at the same time, I have a hard time remembering what I have brewing.

Welcome to this great addiction, errrr I meant hobby...

Now brew another batch.