First ever brew tomorrow...am I ready?

[abledsoe]

I am going to attempt my first brew tomorrow. I just got my kit last week and have been trying to cram in as much info as possible. I will be using an American Amber Ale extract kit. I plan to get all my equipment out tonight and be sure everything is ready and clean.

I am a little confused on the yeast. It came with a packet of dry yeast that says to rehydrate and gradually mix with wort to synch temps, then add to the entire batch of wort. However, the instructions that came with the kit says just toss the dry yeast onto the surface of the wort and stir. I tried looking up what to do and it seems either will work. Is one preferred? Also, I just noticed the yeast packet says keep refrigerated, which it has not been since I got it, a week ago. Is this going to cause a problem?

Hydrometer readings- I take my first after I add the yeast to the wort, before I seal the fermenter. Do I take readings at various times during fermentation, or just again at the end?

Secondary fermentation-Is it worth it for this brew? I had originally planned on it, I have a glass 5 gallon carboy, but I have read a few things that say don't mess with it the first time.


Any tips/advice/thoughts/help is greatly appreciated. I look forward to getting one under my belt.

 

[jezter6]

Your yeast should be fine. Toss it in and stir.

Take the reading before you pitch yeast..no sense in possibly removing some yeast when doing your sample.

Take one now, then after 1-2 weeks, and then 3 days after that. If you get 2 readings the same in a row, it's done.

The typical recommended situation is 1-2-3. One week in primary, 2 weeks in secondary, 3 in bottles.

Secondary fermentation is a misnomer, it's a clearing tank. You can do it if you want, or not. If you don't, I'd recommend keeping it in the primary another week. (~3 weeks) You can then transfer to bottling from there.

I secondary only because I age there for a few weeks/months before I get around to kegging it. You don't have to for your first time, and would probably be better if you don't worry about it this time.

Good luck and get a second brew ready, becaue if you wait until this one is bottled, you'll drink thru it quick and will have to wait on your second batch.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

As far as the yeast goes, rehydrating it is better, but even if you pitch it directly onto a typical wort you'll be fine. The problems that can arise are from pitching it into a stressful solution (ie. temperature too hot or sugars way too concentrated.) With a normal amber ale, either way should work, but fermentation will go a little bit faster if you rehydrate.

You'll take a gravity reading when you add the yeast, then start taking more after a few weeks. Once the gravity reading stays the same for a few days you'll know that the fermentation is done.

The current wisdom for secondary fermentation is that it's completely optional for typical beers. If you leave your beer in the primary for 3-4 weeks you'll accomplish just as much clearing as you would if you used a secondary.

Glass carboys are fine, but IMO they only really need to be used if you're planning to secondary for a VERY long time (like letting a Lambic style bulk age for a year or three.) They are heavy, slippery, and when you drop one it will create dangerous shrapnel. If you're going to use one, I'd strongly reccomend that you pick up a brew hauler (cargo straps that are fitted for glass carboys.)

 

[deremer]

i just poor my dry yeast in to the fermentor and mix. take a hydrometer reading now and again in a couple of weeks. when you get the same reading 3 days in a row you have beer. i put my beer in a secondary for about 2 weeks but the first batch makes it hard to wait.

 

[abledsoe]

So opening up the fermenter a few times to take readings wont hurt anything? I assume whatever I take out of the reading I do NOT put back in, correct?

Should I go ahead and keep the dry yeast packet in the fridge until tomorrow, or does it even matter now?


And thanks for all the quick responses!!

 

[jezter6]

Sure, but wait. You should only need to open it twice. If you wait 1-2 weeks till the next reading then again 3 days later, it's 99% likely it'll be finished and good. Don't put the sample back in. Drink it and learn what beer tastes likes in various states of fermentation.

As long as you're sanitary about it (don't let anything touch the wort that isn't sanitized, and don't just leave the lid open for hours on end while you're in there) you will be fine to open it a few times. We ALL did it our first time, you will too. You'll learn patience once you have a few more underyour belt.


It doesn't matter about the yeast. It's been sitting in that box for weeks or months by now, it won't hurt to let it sit another day.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

It's normal procedure to properly dispose of any liquid taken for gravity samples (read drink it.)

As long as you sanitize your thief (or whatever you're using to take a sample) you should be fine opening the fermenter after a few weeks. Just make sure nothing else drops into the bucket.

Refrigerating dry yeast or leaving it out will both be fine. Leave it in the fridge for tonight.

 

[david_42]

Definitely drink the sample and make notes on the flavors.

And a sanitized turkey baster makes a good sampler.

 

[abledsoe]

First batch is in the bucket. Things went pretty well, I think.

My biggest concern is the OG. Kit instructions call for 1.050-1.054. Mine was 1.040. Now, I did add the yeast to the wort before I took the sample for my reading, not sure if that affects the OG at all.

Also, I didn't realize ahead of time that my kit only came with 1 muslin bag. I used it for the grains so both rounds of hops just went straight into the pot. At the end, the wort seemed to have quite a bit of crud in it. As I siphoned it into the fermenter I left a little bit of wort behind trying not to suck out too much crud.

Fingers are now crossed.

 

[FoeKillerCreek]

On my 1st, I forgot to get all the LME out the container and my OG was about .015 low. I think the reduction of fermentables caused it. But it is still beer, just a little less alky. Pitching prior shouldn't make a difference.

I think most people boil the hops sans bag, I do. Look up whirlpooling to help reduce the amount of trub extracted.

Sounds like you did well, be patient.

 

[jezter6]

it also could be that you added too much water to top up and are over the 5g mark, like FoeKillerCreek said, some missing malt extract, or just that you didn't stir all that well and got a bit that's kind of watery. If you poured the top up water on top of the boiled amount into your fermenter and didn't stir hard, you probably just got a watery sample.

It's very hard to miss gravity on an extract batch unless you mess with water additions wrong or forget to add some extract.

I wouldn't worry about it, you'll still have beer and it's probably perfectly fine.

Now try to resist the urge to keep peeking at it. Just let it sit for a week or two before even thinking of taking any readings.

 

[abledsoe]

I also just noticed that, 2 hours after I stuck the airlock in the fermenter, that half the water in the airlock is gone. Is that normal?

 

[dracus]

A couple things.

1. Always put airlock on after you have fermentor in its final resting place. Moving it around with airlock can do this as well as potentially spill liquid during transport.

2. What was your temp when you pitched. If it was higher end of range then when wort cooled it will contract and suck back some liquid.

On the plus side you have a good seal. Make sure to use vodka or starsan in your airlock.

 

[abledsoe]

It was about 77degrees when I pitched. And I did move the fermenter a little after I put the airlock in, I didn't think of that. The airlock was filled with starsan.

If it gets too low should I ad more to the airlock? I can throw some vodka in there if needbe.

 

[jezter6]

Starsan or vodka works. Keep it at the little fill line and you'll be ok.

With the bucket, if you carry it around, it will end up flexing and sucking in. No worries, just keep it filled and you'll be ok.

Did you do the temp correction for 77 degree sample? I don't know it off the top of my head and probably won't be 10 points different, but I'm betting you either put a little extra water in, or your sample was just a little more water than wort. Either way - no worries, just relax and you'll get get beer out of it.