Hello and First Brew

[dashultz]

Hello - I've been a lurker for a while but have just brewed by first batch of beer last night and wanted to share with everyone here.

My set up is
Brew Kettle - keg with a 2000 watt heating element, Tap in the front
Copper Chiller (cooled the beer down in about 10 minutes)
Primary - Ale Pal
Secondary - Better Bottle

I'll post some pictures of my set up a bit later if anyone wants...

I brewed a batch (5 gallons) of Fuggle IPA which I purchased the kit from Midwest brewing supplied. After chilling (took about 12 minutes to go from boil to 78+/- degrees. After I chilled it, I dropped it into my ale pale and aerated it and put the yeast to brew.

My SG was pretty much on (about 1.045) and my yeast is hopefully taking as we speak.

When I tasted it after it cooled - it had a nice flavor and was pretty sweet tasting. I'm assuming that is normal, correct?

Here's some pics -
Beer starting to boil

Beer taken from the Kettle after filling my Ale Pal (Hows the color?)

 

[WrongCoastBrewery]

I have used a few of Midwest kits and they do have a sweet taste. Everthing will be fine once the yeast takes off. I think you will end up with a nice beer there. Midwest kits are usually pretty good. So far sounds like the setup is solid. Welcome to the obsession. Cheers man!

 

[JBrady]

When I tasted it after it cooled - it had a nice flavor and was pretty sweet tasting. I'm assuming that is normal, correct?

Yep thats normal, the majority of that sweetness is going to be turned into alcohol.

 

[JohnnyO]

Congratulations and welcome!!

Your wort should taste sweet! All of those little sweetness morsels are what the yeast eat to create alcohol!!

 

[Calder]

The unfermented wort will taste sweet. It is a sugar syrup. At 1.045, it i similar to having 1 lb of sugar dissolved in a gallon, or an ounce of sugar in a coffee cup.

 

[dashultz]

I have used a few of Midwest kits and they sometimes do have a sweet taste. Everthing will be fine once the yeast takes off. I think you will end up with a nice beer there. Midwest kits are usually pretty good. So far sounds like the setup is solid. Welcome to the obsession. Cheers man!

Thanks! Yeah - It's an obsession already . My wife was lonely last night as I was in the basement all night and she asked if I was ever going to come up.

I'm super excited to brew some of my own beer and share it with friends. Hopefully I'll be able to provide some good contributions back to the community as I love DIY projects.

 

[WrongCoastBrewery]

Thanks! Yeah - It's an obsession already . My wife was lonely last night as I was in the basement all night and she asked if I was ever going to come up.

I'm super excited to brew some of my own beer and share it with friends. Hopefully I'll be able to provide some good contributions back to the community as I love DIY projects.

I would think about finding something she likes and keeping that around. That will help to curb the SWMBO from getting annoyed. Mine likes the cider so I keep that around.

 

[rjwhite41]

Sweetness is not confined to Midwest kits. All wort taste sweet (or at least it should) before it is fermented. That is why it is referred to as "sweet wort." That sweetness is sugar and that sugar will turn into alcohol. Color looks good, pretty light, but I assume that is how it is intended to look. Congrats on your first brew!

 

[WrongCoastBrewery]

Sweetness is not confined to Midwest kits. All wort taste sweet (or at least it should) before it is fermented. That is why it is referred to as "sweet wort." That sweetness is sugar and that sugar will turn into alcohol. Color looks good, pretty light, but I assume that is how it is intended to look. Congrats on your first brew!

I'm sorry if you thought I was saying that. Of course, they all have a sweet taste. I was referring to my use of midwest kits and their quality. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[dashultz]

I would think about finding something she likes and keeping that around. That will help to curb the SWMBO from getting annoyed. Mine likes the cider so I keep that around.

Yeah - she doesn't drink beer but she does like things I cook with beer, especially different breads. I've thought about doing Wine with here. What is the cider you had made?

Sweetness is not confined to Midwest kits. All wort taste sweet (or at least it should) before it is fermented. That is why it is referred to as "sweet wort." That sweetness is sugar and that sugar will turn into alcohol. Color looks good, pretty light, but I assume that is how it is intended to look. Congrats on your first brew!

I thought the color looked light too but I had nothing to compare it against (only a double bock in the fridge currently). I steeped the grains for just over 20 minutes @160 (was cooled to 150 when I removed them). I started with just over 6 gallons and finished with 5.15 gallons total (including what was left in the bottom of my kettle with the trub). I had a buddy who told me you can get cards or something to help compare and validate coloring. I guess we'll see how it tastes when it's done. How well is the color an indicator of the finished product?

 

[WrongCoastBrewery]

Yeah - she doesn't drink beer but she does like things I cook with beer, especially different breads. I've thought about doing Wine with here. What is the cider you had made?

Well, she is from NH so one time while up there, we went to an orchard and got some fresh pressed cider. I grabbed some mulling spices and steeped those in the cider for about 15 minutes. I also threw in about 1/2 cup of brown sugar plus a half gallon of water. I then used Safale S-05 and directly pitched it in. SG was 1.058ish and the FG ended up around 1.011. I bottle conditioned and used regular ol' priming sugar to bottle it up. It was smooth even before it carbed up. Had a nice alcohol kick to it without being a slap in the face. I think it was around 6.5% abv and very tasty.

 

[frazier]

Yeah - she doesn't drink beer but she does like things I cook with beer, especially different breads. I've thought about doing Wine with here. What is the cider you had made?

Scroll down to the winemaking forum, and check out EdWort's Apfelwein. It's very popular.

How well is the color an indicator of the finished product?

If the color is way off, it might indicate a problem in the process. Otherwise, not much. When I started out, I made a decision not to worry about color or clarity until I had other parts of the process under control. At any rate, it will look much different in the glass two months from now. Cheers!

 

[Homercidal]

She better get used to having you in the basement for hours on end on brewday (and even between brewdays!)

Wouldn't it be nice if she were willing to hang out while you brewed and drank some beer with you and got involved and wanted to help??

 

[WrongCoastBrewery]

She better get used to having you in the basement for hours on end on brewday (and even between brewdays!)

Wouldn't it be nice if she were willing to hang out while you brewed and drank some beer with you and got involved and wanted to help??

If she does, she is a keeper. Tried that with mine and she refuses to help out or hang around.....which could be good in itself too.

 

[braceful]

She better get used to having you in the basement for hours on end on brewday (and even between brewdays!)

Wouldn't it be nice if she were willing to hang out while you brewed and drank some beer with you and got involved and wanted to help??

My SWMBO loves to help....especially with bottling

Last week at work she read about yeast starters **swoon**

 

[rjwhite41]

The original color will be very close to the final color but it doesn't really mean anything. Your process sounds fine so I assume midwest wants the color to be that light. I have not done a midwest kit since I started brewing so I cannot speak of their quality. They claim to be quite popular though.

Today when I left work my wife asked if I was making a starter tonight and she didn't even sound annoyed. So, I think we're making progress!

 

[WrongCoastBrewery]

Damn, I am so jealous of you guys and your SWMBOs. I guess I will keep at it with her and try to turn her.