First brew

[ScubaSuds]

First time poster, long time reader. Like a few others I finally got a home brew kit from Santa, and brewed my first batch this evening. Everything seemed to go well - for a first timer anyway. I did pitch a little warm (78-80) it is liquid yeast and said 70, but from reading here it should be fine - cleaned everything up in the kitchen and now I wait not my favorite thing.
My initial gravity, which I don't think is right, I filled the tube about half way and the gauge went to the bottom, so I added a bit more wort and it finally floated at 1.050, does that sound about right? I'm brewing T. Coopers Sparkling Ale (5gal)
Thanks for the help, and a great forum - I'll let ya know what happens in a couple of weeks.

Steve

 

[I_B_Mongo]

Welcome to the hobby/addiction! the 1.050 seems normal, but it really depends on the recipe and what temp your sample was. I keep an strip thermometer on my sample jar so I always know what the temp is.
Good luck, and Happy Brewing!

 

[McGarnigle]

1050 sounds about right for Cooper's Sparkling. Did the kit tell you what it is supposed to be? If so, and you followed directions, then that's what you got. It's only when you go to all grain that you get serious variance.

Did you bring the temps down below 75-80? You definitely should. Below 70 is even better.

 

[ScubaSuds]

Thanks guys, I did follow the directions and now have the Fermentor (6 gal Carboy) down in the basement, it is 60 deg down there so she should cool off a little more and steady out at about 70 with the fermentation heat created.

Fingers crossed.

 

[alcoholocaust]

I am in the same boat as Scuba -

Only difference is I got worried that the basement is too cool....so, I moved it upstairs in the house where its warmer. Its an ipa recipe that's fermenting, so I figure the warmer the better.....right?

Either way - the cats are super intrigued with the airlock bubbling.

 

[beninan]

I am in the same boat as Scuba -

Only difference is I got worried that the basement is too cool....so, I moved it upstairs in the house where its warmer. Its an ipa recipe that's fermenting, so I figure the warmer the better.....right?

Either way - the cats are super intrigued with the airlock bubbling.

You would want it cooler if anything. I usually try to ferment at around 60-65 for ales. Warm temperatures can cause some off flavors and sometimes a violent fermentation.

 

[alcoholocaust]

Very good tip. Bangor Maine? The wife is from Waterville - got married in Bar Harbor. Stay warm!

brad

 

[Calder]

Thanks guys, I did follow the directions and now have the Fermentor (6 gal Carboy) down in the basement, it is 60 deg down there so she should cool off a little more and steady out at about 70 with the fermentation heat created.

Fingers crossed.

That might be too cool. Yes the fermentation heat will probably keep it going for a while (providing it starts before it gets too cool), but as fermentation slows, the wort will cool and the yeast will drop out of suspension. It does depend on the yeast and it's recommended fermentation temperature.

What a lot of new brewers do then is; they think it's done and rack to secondary (because the instructions say so), and then come back here and ask why they have such a high gravity ....... meanwhile they have tossed out all the yeast that dropped out of suspension.

When it starts to slow down, take it to a warmer place, and ignore any instructions that say to rack to secondary. Read threads here about use of secondaries, but I would strongly caution against racking until at least 2 weeks and you know that it is finished fermenting.

 

[beninan]

Very good tip. Bangor Maine? The wife is from Waterville - got married in Bar Harbor. Stay warm!

brad

My ex SWMBO went to KVCC in Waterville and I spent quite a bit of time there. Also, although it's on the other side of the state, I lived in Millington, TN for a couple years about 10 years ago. Small world! somewhat....