First Brew Underway...

[Verio]

Wow, wife TOLD me to go get Apple Juice and yeast today to make that Apfelwein. Excited

 

[Frodo]

Does it look low for 5 gallons in a 6.5 gallon carboy?? I swear I measured it correctly.

It's tough to tell in the photo. If you marked the carboy with nail polish you'd know for sure. (add a gallon of water at a time and mark the carboy). It looks like you have the same type 6.5 gal carboy as I have (but I can't be certain); my 5 gal mark is 3.5 inches below the bottom of the raised "ring" where the carboy starts sloping toward the neck. FYI I usually shoot for 5.5 gal into the fermenter so I get a finished 5 gal out after losing some to trub and yeast. Seems many recipes are formulated for 5.5 gal too for that exact reason, so it's something to be aware of when you're trying to hit your expected OG.

 

[Verio]

It's tough to tell in the photo. If you marked the carboy with nail polish you'd know for sure. (add a gallon of water at a time and mark the carboy). It looks like you have the same type 6.5 gal carboy as I have (but I can't be certain); my 5 gal mark is 3.5 inches below the bottom of the raised "ring" where the carboy starts sloping toward the neck. FYI I usually shoot for 5.5 gal into the fermenter so I get a finished 5 gal out after losing some to trub and yeast. Seems many recipes are formulated for 5.5 gal too for that exact reason, so it's something to be aware of when you're trying to hit your expected OG.

Hmm... just measured it myself now. Looks like there's 4 1/2" from the top ring like you mentioned. Then again there's a lot of Krausen now, so it may have affected where it's sitting at now. Then again, I may be a 1/2 gallon off.

Oh well, it is what it is.

 

[Justibone]

Too true!

Lesson learned for next time, and if watering it down when you drink it helps, then you can do that then. Or, mix it into a beer cocktail. Or, let it age and the alcohol flavor will go down. You really can't lose with beer being too strong. Too weak on the other hand...

 

[Verio]

Too true!

Lesson learned for next time, and if watering it down when you drink it helps, then you can do that then. Or, mix it into a beer cocktail. Or, let it age and the alcohol flavor will go down. You really can't lose with beer being too strong. Too weak on the other hand...

If I take the FG and it's still wicked high, can I pour water in, to get the correct FG? I am using extracts, so there shouldn't be any real variation in gravity, correct?

 

[slowbie]

If I take the FG and it's still wicked high, can I pour water in, to get the correct FG? I am using extracts, so there shouldn't be any real variation in gravity, correct?

I wouldn't, but I also wouldn't worry about the FG being to high as it's very likely that the OG was correct.

 

[Frodo]

I wouldn't, but I also wouldn't worry about the FG being to high as it's very likely that the OG was correct.

+1. Don't add water to beer after it's done and bottled either... that's sacrilege IMHO.

 

[Verio]

+1. Don't add water to beer after it's done and bottled either... that's sacrilege IMHO.

Alrighty. I'm gunna roll with it and see what happens. Amazing amount of krausen (sp?) on top. I figure the worst that's happened is a strong Wit... which can't be too bad

 

[Justibone]

+1. Don't add water to beer after it's done and bottled either... that's sacrilege IMHO.

I guess I'm unholy, then, b/c I've done it.

 

[Verio]

Hmmm... I'm up to about 4 inches of Krausen now in the Carboy. I'm afraid it will reach the top some time today. Is that a normal amount, and if its higher than normal, is there any negative affects of too much fermentation?

I've been keeping the ambient temperature of the tub its sitting in, at around 58-62 degrees. Which I figure leaves the internal carboy at about 65 degrees, based upon a 5 degree internal increase.

 

[Justibone]

It will probably go higher. You need a blow-off tube, or fermcap-S. The kreusen can end up being taller than the beer itself... best take it pretty seriously.

 

[Verio]

Well, second brew is in the secondary fermenter I got. Brewing 5 gallons of Apfelwein based upon Edworts recipe. We'll see how it ends up!! Wife wants to hand out bottles at Christmas, but I told her it probably wont be ready by then.

 

[Frodo]

I guess I'm unholy, then, b/c I've done it.

I'm an atheist, but not when it comes to beer.

 

[Verio]

It will probably go higher. You need a blow-off tube, or fermcap-S. The kreusen can end up being taller than the beer itself... best take it pretty seriously.

Woke up this morning to find my airlock full of krausen. So I btook the airlockout and shoved a hose in the bung and the other end in a bucket of sanitizer. We'll see how that works out.

 

[dfc]

I hope you sanitized the hose before you shoved it in the bottle.

 

[Verio]

It will probably go higher. You need a blow-off tube, or fermcap-S. The kreusen can end up being taller than the beer itself... best take it pretty seriously.

I hope you sanitized the hose before you shoved it in the bottle.

Yeah I have a trusty bottle of starsan in a spray bottle. Sprayed down the inside and outside plus the bung as well.

Had to leave early this morning for all day, so I get to see what happened tonight at 6pm.

 

[dfc]

Best of luck to you.

 

[passedpawn]

For sanitization I used the cleaning solution AHS provided, basically poured 5 gallons in the carboy, added the solution, and mixed itup.

Hmmm. Make sure you know the difference between a cleaner and a sanitizer. You want a sanitizer.

If is B-Bright or One-Step, it's a cleaner. PBW is a cleaner.

Get some Starsan. It's a sanitizer. Others use iodophor or bleach, which also are sanitizers.