First Oktoberfest Brew

[DemizE]

Hey guys! New to this forum and new to brewing and had a few questions to ask :fro: I bought a beer making kit that came with all the goodies to get started. I have the carboy and the standard fermentation bucket with the spigot, the capper and all the other things I need to get this rolling. I boiled my wort and followed the instructions to the "T". I now have the bucket in my closet fermenting and was wondering what should the reading be on an Oktoberfest brew? Hydrometer is new to me and was looking for the easiest way of reading it to tell if it's all set after 2 weeks or so to start bottling. Also I dont need to move any of the beer into a bottling bucket if I already have my primary fermenting bucket with the spigot? I started last Thursday boiling and getting it into the bucket so I was reading to at least let the beer ferment for 2 weeks. Is that correct? I appreciate all the help. This seems to be the best forum for things like this and I intend to be around here permanently as I will continue to brew my own beer. :rockin:

 

[bgrayson726]

Fermentation is done when you test the gravity multiple days in a row and you get the same reading. Have you done that?

Just because you list a certain style doesn't mean we know exactly what the FG should be. You could always post the recipe so we could make logical guesses, but the only real way to determine is by testing your specific gravity many times and it remains constant. Good luck!

 

[DemizE]

Fermentation is done when you test the gravity multiple days in a row and you get the same reading. Have you done that?

Just because you list a certain style doesn't mean we know exactly what the FG should be. You could always post the recipe so we could make logical guesses, but the only real way to determine is by testing your specific gravity many times and it remains constant. Good luck!

When I check for the reading itself can I take the lid off to do this? Just hoping it wont contaminate anything. I have not checked at all because I figured it was supposed to sit for at least 2 weeks. It will be on week tomorrow. You think I should start checking it tomorrow?

 

[bgrayson726]

You can take the lid off with no worries (unless by some freak accident, something falls in your beer, that's what you want to avoid). Take the lid off, take a gravity reading, put the lid back on. Just make sure that everything that comes into contact with your beer is sanitized first

 

[DemizE]

You can take the lid off with no worries (unless by some freak accident, something falls in your beer, that's what you want to avoid). Take the lid off, take a gravity reading, put the lid back on. Just make sure that everything that comes into contact with your beer is sanitized first

Should I hold off until the 2 week period?

 

[ChandlerBang]

I think you probably need to post the recipe. Generally Oktoberfest's are lagers. That means you may need to do a D-rest and it would also require lagering. But we won't know any of this unless you post the recipe.

Also, there is a hefty CO2 blanket on top of your beer during fermentation. If you are careful to not disturb that you will have no problems poping the top for a few seconds to grab a sample for the FG.

Personally, I let most beers go 4 weeks plus without checking anything. Hefe's I do 10-14 days depending on the time and the recipe. Lagers however require more attention because you need to catch it right around 75% attenuation if you plan on a D-rest. Lagers are the only beers that i check the FG repeatedly.

 

[grace1760]

If it's only been 1 week, I wouldn't take a reading just yet. Maybe wait 1 more week, then take 2-3 readings over a few days. If consistent, go ahead and bottle.

I would rack to your bottling bucket, since this will be easier for you to mix in the priming sugar solution.

I'm not sure what the argument is, but I've read that using a bottling bucket as a primary is not advisable.

 

[DemizE]

Well I only have the one bucket with the spigot so I'm assuming I should transfer the beer within the next week or so to the carboy I have and let that rest for another week and then transfer it BACK into the original bucket and bottle from there?

 

[DemizE]

I think you probably need to post the recipe. Generally Oktoberfest's are lagers. That means you may need to do a D-rest and it would also require lagering. But we won't know any of this unless you post the recipe.

Also, there is a hefty CO2 blanket on top of your beer during fermentation. If you are careful to not disturb that you will have no problems poping the top for a few seconds to grab a sample for the FG.

Personally, I let most beers go 4 weeks plus without checking anything. Hefe's I do 10-14 days depending on the time and the recipe. Lagers however require more attention because you need to catch it right around 75% attenuation if you plan on a D-rest. Lagers are the only beers that i check the FG repeatedly.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006OMPP8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

That's the kit I bought. Doesn't say anything about D-Rest. Although I have no clue what D-Rest is. Care to elaborate?

 

[ChandlerBang]

Yeah it's a Lager. The kit doesn't say anything about what yeast it uses, but it does say it is a lager. Basically lager yeasts ferment at lower temps like mid to low 50s. Right at the end of fermentation the temp needs to be raised up to around 68 degrees for the yeast to clean up any diacetyl that may have been produced during early fermentation. After the rest is complete and the beer is at FG, then you need to lager for one to three months. Check out this for a little more in depth explaination.

EDIT: This may sound big and scary, but the second kit I bought was a lager and I didn't know it until I read the directions then got on here and started freaking out because I didn't have any kind of ferm temp control. That one turned out as a drinkable beer and I learned a lot about lagers. It just made me want to try another one.

 

[DemizE]

Yeah it's a Lager. The kit doesn't say anything about what yeast it uses, but it does say it is a lager. Basically lager yeasts ferment at lower temps like mid to low 50s. Right at the end of fermentation the temp needs to be raised up to around 68 degrees for the yeast to clean up any diacetyl that may have been produced during early fermentation. After the rest is complete and the beer is at FG, then you need to lager for one to three months. Check out this for a little more in depth explaination.

EDIT: This may sound big and scary, but the second kit I bought was a lager and I didn't know it until I read the directions then got on here and started freaking out because I didn't have any kind of ferm temp control. That one turned out as a drinkable beer and I learned a lot about lagers. It just made me want to try another one.

Wow. One to three months? Man I was hoping for some beer by the end of the month lol. If I would have known it took that long I would have bought another kit. thought I was gonna save some money making my own beer :cross: As far as directions it doesnt say anything about any of that but never hurts to ask questions. If I am going to put it in the carboy should I do it at 2 weeks?

 

[hops2it]

Wow. One to three months? Man I was hoping for some beer by the end of the month lol. If I would have known it took that long I would have bought another kit. thought I was gonna save some money making my own beer :cross: As far as directions it doesnt say anything about any of that but never hurts to ask questions. If I am going to put it in the carboy should I do it at 2 weeks?

Don't worry about the lager thing right now. Yeah that's the real way to make one but the kits are more geared toward brew and drink. Give it a couple weeks and check SG. If you don't have a hydrometer yet, wait 2-3 weeks and bottle it. Then give it 3 weeks or so before moving to fridge. Doing a dyed in the wool Oktoberfest takes a lot of dedicated fridge space or other means of long term climate control. Guessing you may not have that right now and that's ok. I did the True Brew kit when first starting out and I thought it was pretty tasty.

 

[Cosper123]

Yeah you're not going to save any money brewing your own beer. My beer for example are going to come out around 11 bucks per bottle for the first batch. Basically I figure I'm going to have to drink tens of thousands of beers to break even, if even that.

I brew in spite of this because, I'm going to have to drinks tens of thousands of beers. But seriously, I am a big fan of certain seasonal beers and some beers that my local microbrew only sells every so often. I want to be able to have that at any time, screw the seasons! I also like the idea of making my own beers, an excercise in ego I wouldn't tolerate with much else. A hobby, a point of solitude and an excuse for "me time"...but no illusions of saving money.

I mean...when I actually get around to brewing that is. I like to look before I leap so I'm combing through the various threads and links with a passion. My wife keeps laughing at me, but while she merely bakes...I will create works of art!

 

[DemizE]

Don't worry about the lager thing right now. Yeah that's the real way to make one but the kits are more geared toward brew and drink. Give it a couple weeks and check SG. If you don't have a hydrometer yet, wait 2-3 weeks and bottle it. Then give it 3 weeks or so before moving to fridge. Doing a dyed in the wool Oktoberfest takes a lot of dedicated fridge space or other means of long term climate control. Guessing you may not have that right now and that's ok. I did the True Brew kit when first starting out and I thought it was pretty tasty.

Well I have a hydrometer and all that. I have my fridge and thats it besides a cool basement Brew and drink is fine for me as I am not making my own brewery But I have talked to several brewers and they agree once you buy specifically all the grain and all that in large quantities you can save alot of money on beer itself. not to mention it's your own custom beer that you can perfect on your own

 

[ChandlerBang]

You can definitely save money in the long run unless your favorite beer is natty light. You can't make beer that cheap.

As far as the lager thing goes, I didn't mean to scare you. The bottom line is don't put too much hope into the first batch. Or the first couple. They might be great. They might suck. But you'll learn some stuff and make better beer next time. The best way to make good beer early is to make EASY beers. There is a Simple Hefe recipe I got off of this forum that is stupid easy. And it is tasty. Those kind of recipes help to build your confidence and process.

 

[DemizE]

You can definitely save money in the long run unless your favorite beer is natty light. You can't make beer that cheap.

As far as the lager thing goes, I didn't mean to scare you. The bottom line is don't put too much hope into the first batch. Or the first couple. They might be great. They might suck. But you'll learn some stuff and make better beer next time. The best way to make good beer early is to make EASY beers. There is a Simple Hefe recipe I got off of this forum that is stupid easy. And it is tasty. Those kind of recipes help to build your confidence and process.

Got it. You know of any other good beginner beers that are tasty and arent to hard to make? You've been mighty helpful so far and I appreciate the help

 

[ChandlerBang]

Got it. You know of any other good beginner beers that are tasty and arent to hard to make? You've been mighty helpful so far and I appreciate the help

You are welcome. And this forum is a big part of why I have been as successful at this as I have. You can read all the brewing books you want but nothing replaces reading the "Oh F**K, don't do this" threads. I have talked to a lot of people at work and other places who have had tragic experiences brewing because they tried one kit and it failed and they didn't have anywhere to turn for questions.

I order all of my kits from Austin Home Brew. Other places may be just as good, but on $100+ orders they ship for free. Find a couple recipes that sound safe for your tastes and try a couple. The instructions are very easy to follow and the kits are fresh I really like how you can select extract, partial mash or all grain for each recipe. I'm not really into doing my own recipes yet so I just stick to what I know. There are a ton of good beers that other people have developed already, so I'm not going to reinvent the wheel just yet.

Check out the recipe section of this forum. There are thousands of recipes posted. Just look for something with a few ingredients and you definitely want an ale. I like wheat beers anyway, but they seem to be a little more forgiving if you don't have solid fermentation control. That may be a good place to start (if you like that style).