Getting Antsy!!!

[BigTerp]

Brewed my first batch about 2 1/2 weeks ago (Fat Tire Clone From AHS). Things went as planned and my redneck swamp cooler did an excellent job of keeping fermentation temps in the low 60's. My curiosity finally got the best of me this past Sunday and I popped the lid on my ale pail to check the SG. Took a big whiff and thought OH NO. It smelled like really strong alcohol and stung my nose a bit. Everything looked good and my SG was spot on at 1.011. While I was trying to figure out why my beer smelled so alchololy I poured my hydro sample into a glass and took a taste. It was awesome!!! I went back and smelled my bucket before I closed everything back up and it smelled wonderfully. DUH, it was the CO2 you big dummy. Now I'm going to let the temps get back up to 70-72, take another hydrometer reading tomorrow, just to be sure, and then bottle it up this weekend. In the mean time I just ordered a Caribou Slobber kit from Northern Brewer. Something to keep me occupied while I wait on my Fat Tire to finish up bottle conditioning. I think the addiction has begun!!!

 

[koerd85]

congradulations! next try a lager and then you will be an addict!

 

[asidrane]

Brewed my first batch about 2 1/2 weeks ago (Fat Tire Clone From AHS). Things went as planned and my redneck swamp cooler did an excellent job of keeping fermentation temps in the low 60's. My curiosity finally got the best of me this past Sunday and I popped the lid on my ale pail to check the SG. Took a big whiff and thought OH NO. It smelled like really strong alcohol and stung my nose a bit. Everything looked good and my SG was spot on at 1.011. While I was trying to figure out why my beer smelled so alchololy I poured my hydro sample into a glass and took a taste. It was awesome!!! I went back and smelled my bucket before I closed everything back up and it smelled wonderfully. DUH, it was the CO2 you big dummy. Now I'm going to let the temps get back up to 70-72, take another hydrometer reading tomorrow, just to be sure, and then bottle it up this weekend. In the mean time I just ordered a Caribou Slobber kit from Northern Brewer. Something to keep me occupied while I wait on my Fat Tire to finish up bottle conditioning. I think the addiction has begun!!!

Sounds like you should pick up another fermentation bucket. It is always good to have beers at different stages of fermentation. It was sad earlier this summer when I had nothing fermenting. I just kept seeing my homebrew supply dwindling. Now I have two buckets full, one of them is ready to go in bottles.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Awesome!!! Congrats and welcome aboard. Gotta love that co2 burn!

 

[Seven]

Resist the urge to judge if your beer is a success or not based on how it smells/tastes at 2.5 weeks old. I've had beer taste like crap going into the keg then completely awesome once chilled and carbed up.

Sounds like you're on the path to deliciousness... congrats on your first batch!

 

[BrewerinBR]

. I think the addiction has begun!!!

Yes your passion for home brewing is growing! Congrats!

 

[BigTerp]

Sounds like you should pick up another fermentation bucket. It is always good to have beers at different stages of fermentation. It was sad earlier this summer when I had nothing fermenting. I just kept seeing my homebrew supply dwindling. Now I have two buckets full, one of them is ready to go in bottles.

Yeah, another fermentation vessel is definitely on the short list of things to get. I'll probably go with a 6.5 gal. carboy, just so I can watch some beer porn. Just need to figure out a way to get both of those in my swamp cooler.

Resist the urge to judge if your beer is a success or not based on how it smells/tastes at 2.5 weeks old. I've had beer taste like crap going into the keg then completely awesome once chilled and carbed up.

Sounds like you're on the path to deliciousness... congrats on your first batch!

I totally agree. I was just instantly worried when I took that first whiff. It's a wonder I didn't pass out from all that CO2. The hydro sample was good and I expect things to really come together in the next few weeks after bottling!!