First timer

[BeNZ]

For the past 3+ years I've wanted to try making my own beer, but have been putting it off and putting it off until a few weeks ago I secured a great deal and purchased a Mangrove Jack's starter kit.

The kit arrived and I had to resist the urge to rip straight into it as I wasn't prepared. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been buying some more gear to get me started and doing some research and this forum has been an excellent source of information, I really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge.

Tonight I kitted out an old wardrobe as a fermentation cupboard, pulled out the starter kit and brewed my first batch! I think it all went well, but time will tell. It's just an extract kit but it's still quite exciting.

Again thanks to everyone's valuable input on this forum!

Now I'm off to clean all the bottles I've acquired.

 

[GoeHaarden]

Welcome!

First brew and already controlling fermentation temps! The force is strong with you my friend!!

 

[Pappers_]

Nice, congratulations on your first brew!

 

[lootcorp]

Welcome to the slippery slope that is brewing!! Enjoy, and congrats on your first batch!

 

[ShareBrewing]

Welcome, friend! Are you obsessed yet?

 

[marjen]

I hope your wallet is ready to jump into the rabbit hole, lol.

 

[BeNZ]

Welcome!

First brew and already controlling fermentation temps! The force is strong with you my friend!!

Thanks mate, I figured that seeing as we are now heading into winter here in New Zealand and I'm brewing out in the garage/shed, the temperature controller was a small price to pay.

I did look into a heat pad but with them being only 25w and I'm not using an insulated enclosure it could possibly struggle hold the temperature. So I went down to the local hardware store and found that mini oil heater and it is working an absolute treat.

Checked in on it this morning, fairly cold air temprature 7°C [emoji32] but the temperature of the cupboard is sitting nicely at 22°C and the airlock is bubbling away! [emoji2]

Now I've just thought as it's a nice warm area, I need to set up some sort of deterrent for the mice before they find it...

 

[BeNZ]

Welcome, friend! Are you obsessed yet?

Absolutely lol, always keeping an eye out for a bargain!

 

[GoeHaarden]

Thanks mate, I figured that seeing as we are now heading into winter here in New Zealand and I'm brewing out in the garage/shed, the temperature controller was a small price to pay.

I did look into a heat pad but with them being only 25w and I'm not using an insulated enclosure it could possibly struggle hold the temperature. So I went down to the local hardware store and found that mini oil heater and it is working an absolute treat.

Checked in on it this morning, fairly cold air temprature 7°C

but the temperature of the cupboard is sitting nicely at 22°C and the airlock is bubbling away!

Now I've just thought as it's a nice warm area, I need to set up some sort of deterrent for the mice before they find it...

I think you're dead on with all your assessments. I think a heating pad would definitely struggle in those temps without insulation. Mine does anyway inside an insulated fridge, but the little space heater seems perfect since you have so much open space in that wardrobe.

I always forget about the different season timing across the globe (its 32C here), so I'm glad its holding temps for you.

What kind of beer did you brew?

 

[BeNZ]

I think you're dead on with all your assessments. I think a heating pad would definitely struggle in those temps without insulation. Mine does anyway inside an insulated fridge, but the little space heater seems perfect since you have so much open space in that wardrobe.

I always forget about the different season timing across the globe (its 32C here), so I'm glad its holding temps for you.

What kind of beer did you brew?

I was a bit unsure with the oil heater to begin with because when the temperature controller turns off the heater it could continue heating the space and the fluctuating temprature will have quite a high range.

But that was an easy fix, I just turned down the thermostat on the heater so it doesn't heat the oil too much.

So I'm brewing the kit that come with the setup. It's a golden ale called Robbers Gold. It comes with a packet of hops to add in after 5 days of fermentation so looking forward to lifting of the lid for a quick nosey.

 

[BeNZ]

I added the hops tonight and got to have a peek at the brew. Took the lid off and got a good whiff, smells really good.

Getting into freezing tempratures over night now but temperature is holding well in the cupboard. I reduced the temprature down to 20.5°C 2 days in after reading more about fermentation tempratures on the forum, I didn't want to risk a foul taste from the higher temperature.

The kit instructions says ferment at 20-25°C but the back of the yeast packet said 18-23°C so bringing the temp down made me feel more comfortable.

I think I have the bug, and a dilemma... I can't decide what to try brewing next.

I'm quite keen to try following a recipe using extracts, but with so many recipes out there it's really hard to choose.

 

[jschein]

Welcome, your first brew looks yummy

 

[GoeHaarden]

The kit instructions says ferment at 20-25°C but the back of the yeast packet said 18-23°C so bringing the temp down made me feel more comfortable

You will find variences like this everywhere in brewing. Who is right? Who knows. Over time you will do your own thing, make your own judgements, and tweek your own recipes.

For a golden ale, I'd go with the colder end of the spectrum as well.

Its looking like tasty beer! You're on the road to success. Your chamber seems to be doing great!

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Welcome to the forum and the hobby! Ah, yes planing the next brew. I stick to styles I enjoy, and styles others enjoy as well, my hubby isn't fond of highly hopped brews, so if I want him to help me drink it I need to make things he'll enjoy, but I also brew stouts and porters. Have fun brew what you enjoy, eventually explore other styles and challenge yourself, with added steps to the process.
Cheers!

 

[BeNZ]

Fermentation has finished with 2 consistent readings of 1.009 on the hydrometer. Says in the kit instructions that's what we are aiming for so that's cool, I didn't get a SG before fermentation which is probably a rookie mistake and I know not really necessary for kits bit it's a probably a habbit I need to get into moving forward.

I've been reading about cold crashing. I have an empty fridge sitting idle right next to my cupboard so while I'm new to all this I thought meh I have the gear why not give that a crack too.

What are people thoughts on using gelatin too? It's going to go in bottles, and I've got the space to be able to keep them at a controlled temperature during carbonation. Should I put some gelatin in for extra clarity or does it really have a bad effect on the carbonation process when bottling? Thoughts please.

Cheers!

 

[CA_Mouse]

Since you are cold crashing, I wouldn't think you would need to worry about the clarity. If you crash it at a reasonable temperature and let it sit undisturbed for 3 or 4 days, everything *should* drop out of suspension that you need to have drop. Make sure that you let it warm up slightly on bottling day before you start to fill your bottles and chill your bottles if possible, makes things easier and less messy.

Congrats on your first brew and welcome to the obsession!

 

[rossscottnz]

That is a good set up mate (I am up in the Waikato by the way) like you I am a newbie to this as well and just finished brewing and bottling a coopers real ale kit. At the moment I am in the process of making some room in the garage to brew out there instead of having my fermenters in the corner of the dining room, I have also set myself up for temperature control with the single output controller by mangrove jacks to run heat pads and I have fitted 15 inch thermowells into the lids of my fermenters so I can stick the temp sensor for the controller down that and get actual temps from inside the fermenter. here is how I have my temp controller set up on my first batch of feijoa wine

 

[BeNZ]

That is a good set up mate (I am up in the Waikato by the way) like you I am a newbie to this as well and just finished brewing and bottling a coopers real ale kit. At the moment I am in the process of making some room in the garage to brew out there instead of having my fermenters in the corner of the dining room, I have also set myself up for temperature control with the single output controller by mangrove jacks to run heat pads and I have fitted 15 inch thermowells into the lids of my fermenters so I can stick the temp sensor for the controller down that and get actual temps from inside the fermenter. here is how I have my temp controller set up on my first batch of feijoa wine
View attachment 571314

Yes in the garage has to be the best option. Out of sight so there's no temptation to play around with it, especially in my house the kids will be all over it.

I'm in Invercargill, no doubt we will be at a bidding war with each other at some point for something on trade me haha. So much gear out there.

Now I've got a week that I don't need the cupboard I'm going to do some modifications. The camp table has got to go, it can't really take the weight especially if I'm to run another fermenter in there.

The feijoa wine sounds interesting, I have done many years in the wine industy in Marlborough I don't think I could stomach making it at home lol.


Ben.

 

[BeNZ]

Since you are cold crashing, I wouldn't think you would need to worry about the clarity. If you crash it at a reasonable temperature and let it sit undisturbed for 3 or 4 days, everything *should* drop out of suspension that you need to have drop. Make sure that you let it warm up slightly on bottling day before you start to fill your bottles and chill your bottles if possible, makes things easier and less messy.

Congrats on your first brew and welcome to the obsession!

I've got the temperature sitting at 4°C at the moment.

This should be OK for the 3 or 4 days?

When you say warm up do I bring it up to the ambient temprature (around 10-12°C) will be enough? Or bit warmer?

Cheers.

 

[Sadu]

Congrats on what looks like a successful brew. I live in Wanaka (although staying in Auckland for the winter) and the South Island winters do mean temp control is not optional. On the plus side, you should have a go at brewing a lager before the end of winter, once you have a couple more successful brews under your belt.

22c seems a bit warm for a golden ale, depending on the yeast. One thing to watch is that most of the beginner kits say to ferment warmer than you actually should. They do it because noobs don't usually have temp control and if the beer gets too cold the fermentation halts - so the instructions always err on the warm side. See how you go, but I think around 18c is where you want to be for a golden ale.

 

[rossscottnz]

Yes in the garage has to be the best option. Out of sight so there's no temptation to play around with it, especially in my house the kids will be all over it.

I'm in Invercargill, no doubt we will be at a bidding war with each other at some point for something on trade me haha. So much gear out there.

Now I've got a week that I don't need the cupboard I'm going to do some modifications. The camp table has got to go, it can't really take the weight especially if I'm to run another fermenter in there.

The feijoa wine sounds interesting, I have done many years in the wine industy in Marlborough I don't think I could stomach making it at home lol.


Ben.

Haha we might do but I mainly go for the pickup only auctions then I get a better chance of getting a good price, I recently scored two fermenters, a heat belt, heat pad, 40 flip top bottles in crates, hydrometer, brewing spoon, paint stirrer (attach to cordless drill and stir the brew when mixing), syphon hose plus a few other items for $40.00 on a fixed price offer so that day was probably the best score i have had to date and it was all in good condition.

 

[ncbrewer]

I didn't get a SG before fermentation which is probably a rookie mistake and I know not really necessary for kits bit it's a probably a habbit I need to get into moving forward.

I wouldn't call that a mistake. Extract has a known ppg (points per pound per gallon). As long as you use the recipe volumes, OG is fixed. There is some variation with steeping grains, but very little since the amount of sugar they add is very small. With extract batches, I haven't checked OG in many years.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[Gytaryst]

Cheers! My first brew was an extract kit with a lot less equipment and/or temp control than you have - and the beer turned out fine. Looks like you're on your way to many enjoyable hours and a lot of good beer.

 

[BeNZ]

Tonight I bottled! Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, the end come off the bottling wand beer everywhere! One of the containers tipped over as it got near the bottom, beer everywhere again!

After 2 days in the fridge, I racked the beer in the garage straight out of the fridge into some water containers. Took the containers in the house and bottled in the warm.

I tipped the last dribbles from the containers into a glass and I'm pretty happy with the result, few little floaties in there. Fruity aromas, and bitter as hell haha.

Now the long wait begins!

Cheers

 

[CA_Mouse]

Nice color! Congrats on your near completed first brew. Don't forget to let the bottles sit at about 21-23C to properly carbonate.