My first brew was the Peace Coffee Stout kit from Midwest. It actually turned out pretty damn well.
I followed the directions pretty closely. The only things that I did different from the instructions was cold brewing the coffee and I did not use a secondary.
I couldn't do a full boil, a) because the pot wasn't big enough, and b) because I was using an electric stove (definitely investing in a propane burner). Started with 2 gallons.
Everything went really well for a first brew, I suppose. I used a 5 gallon paint strainer over the bucket when I poured the wort in. In a moment of complete ignorance, I got impatient because it got clogged. While waiting for it to drain I took the strainer off and gave it a squeeze with my bare hand. Instant regret.
While putting the 3 piece airlock in, I jammed it in there too far, and the rubber piece fell out of the bucket lid. With this, I panicked. I hopped on HBT and did a search. Surprise, I'm not the first. I sanitized my arm and went in after it. I knew exactly where it was, so I had it out really quick.
OG was about 1.060
I left it in the primary for 3 weeks before bottling. I never had any activity in the airlock. Not a single bubble. Again, I searched on here and put my mind at ease.
FG was 1.010
Tried the sample and it tasted so much better than I ever imagined that it would. I'm at 2 weeks, 4 days in the bottle and had one last night. It was pretty damn good. Not an overpowering coffee flavor, just enough imo. This being my first, I don't know how it's "supposed" to taste, but I want to say that it may still need another week or so in the bottles. It has a hint of something that's off. I can't put my finger on it, because I simply have no idea, haha.
Anyway. /babble. Here's a pic.
I followed the directions pretty closely. The only things that I did different from the instructions was cold brewing the coffee and I did not use a secondary.
I couldn't do a full boil, a) because the pot wasn't big enough, and b) because I was using an electric stove (definitely investing in a propane burner). Started with 2 gallons.
Everything went really well for a first brew, I suppose. I used a 5 gallon paint strainer over the bucket when I poured the wort in. In a moment of complete ignorance, I got impatient because it got clogged. While waiting for it to drain I took the strainer off and gave it a squeeze with my bare hand. Instant regret.
While putting the 3 piece airlock in, I jammed it in there too far, and the rubber piece fell out of the bucket lid. With this, I panicked. I hopped on HBT and did a search. Surprise, I'm not the first. I sanitized my arm and went in after it. I knew exactly where it was, so I had it out really quick.
OG was about 1.060
I left it in the primary for 3 weeks before bottling. I never had any activity in the airlock. Not a single bubble. Again, I searched on here and put my mind at ease.
FG was 1.010
Tried the sample and it tasted so much better than I ever imagined that it would. I'm at 2 weeks, 4 days in the bottle and had one last night. It was pretty damn good. Not an overpowering coffee flavor, just enough imo. This being my first, I don't know how it's "supposed" to taste, but I want to say that it may still need another week or so in the bottles. It has a hint of something that's off. I can't put my finger on it, because I simply have no idea, haha.
Anyway. /babble. Here's a pic.
