First LME Brew

[BlightyBrewer]

I have just done my first LME Brew today. It's an English Bitter recipe with Light LME, Cascade bittering and finishing hops, and Irish Moss. During the boil, I noticed that it did not foam as much as I expected. I have read that the boil should be very vigourous, but I found it to be "rolling", but not that vigourous. Is there something wrong here?

Also, this recipe is from a US website, so all quantities are US. I made the mistake of making up to 5 British Gallons (6 US), where the recipe called for 5 US Gallons. Will this affect my beer?

Thanks for your help.

 

[loopmd]

Alright, I'll answer your question the best I can. First off, relax, have a homebrew. Your beer should be fine. As for the boil, I wouldn't worry too much about the boil. Sounds like it was boiling. How much water did you have boiling? All 6 gallons? Or did you do a partial batch boil? As for the 5 or 6 gallon problem, your beer might turn out a little light, but again, it should be ok. Did you happen to use a hydrometer to take gravity readings? Not a must, but was just curious as to how far off you would be with the extra water.

relax, have a homebrew

loop

 

[drvodka]

I have just done my first LME Brew today. It's an English Bitter recipe with Light LME, Cascade bittering and finishing hops, and Irish Moss. During the boil, I noticed that it did not foam as much as I expected. I have read that the boil should be very vigourous, but I found it to be "rolling", but not that vigourous. Is there something wrong here?

Also, this recipe is from a US website, so all quantities are US. I made the mistake of making up to 5 British Gallons (6 US), where the recipe called for 5 US Gallons. Will this affect my beer?

Thanks for your help.

ahhh here it is! sorry norman, couldnt find it as for the boil - bear in mind that I've only brewed two batches now, but they both seem happy. my gas stove will not allow my 2Gal (US) boil to get hot enough for a vigorous boil - it sits on maximum temperature on a nice bubbling, rolling boil, which I believe is just fine. I can't get a boil-over if I wanted one, which is nice (unless I cover it of course).

as for the volume issue, well all I can guess is that your batch will be less dense and thus the original gravity reading will be lower (although like loop, have no idea how much difference, try putting the recipe into the free www.beertools.com calculator and see what it thinks you'll get out in the end).

 

[BlightyBrewer]

Alright, I'll answer your question the best I can. First off, relax, have a homebrew. Your beer should be fine. As for the boil, I wouldn't worry too much about the boil. Sounds like it was boiling. How much water did you have boiling? All 6 gallons? Or did you do a partial batch boil? As for the 5 or 6 gallon problem, your beer might turn out a little light, but again, it should be ok. Did you happen to use a hydrometer to take gravity readings? Not a must, but was just curious as to how far off you would be with the extra water.

relax, have a homebrew

loop

Aaahhh, that's better. There's nothing quite like relaxing with a homebrew. As for the OG reading, it was 1.035 corrected. I guess this is about right for a 5lb LME. I boiled with 1.5 gallons (US) of water, then made it up to 5 gallons (Imp), to the mark on my UK fermenting bin.

 

[homebrewer_99]

It'll be fine, just a little light.

I usually boil about 5.5 gals and end up bottling about 5.

 

[BlightyBrewer]

It'll be fine, just a little light.

Just racked to secondary, and tasted a little of the brew......oh dear! It's like nats piddle! The SG is 1.010 and it is very light, too watered down in fact. I'm contemplating boiling up some more LME with a little water, cooling, and adding to the secondary (the yeast is still active). Is this a good idea?

 

[Walker]

sounds like a better idea than drinking 5 gallons of nats piddle.

-walker

 

[drvodka]

sounds like a better idea than drinking 5 gallons of nats piddle.

-walker

dont be so mean. it's 6 Gallons of nats piddle!

 

[homebrewer_99]

Does that come with the crap sandwich lunch special?

 

[BlightyBrewer]

I think I might post my "Nats Piddle" recipe on the beertools.com website, could catch on in the homebrew world.......

 

[drvodka]

I think I might post my "Nats Piddle" recipe on the beertools.com website, could catch on in the homebrew world.......

It'll catch on in all the countries where they dont know what nat's piddle is at least.

 

[Walker]

I technically don't know what nat's piddle is, but I'm sure I wouldn't want to drink it. I understand 'piddle', but have no idea what "nat" means.

-walker

 

[drvodka]

I technically don't know what nat's piddle is, but I'm sure I wouldn't want to drink it. I understand 'piddle', but have no idea what "nat" means.

-walker

this is the beer for you then.

 

[El Pistolero]

I technically don't know what nat's piddle is, but I'm sure I wouldn't want to drink it. I understand 'piddle', but have no idea what "nat" means.

-walker

Nat - a very small biting fly.