Hello, first time Brewer from CA

BongoYodeler · Jun 12, 2016

Greetings from the left coast. About a year ago I decided I'd give brewing a go. I started by patiently watching you tube videos and reading forums (mostly this one, but a couple others now and then). I bought, and read How to Brew. I then assembled enough gear to try extract brewing, and began the journey 14 days ago with NB's Nut Brown Ale. A couple minor rookie gaffs on brew day, but nothing serious. I took a sample today to check the gravity, (I'm going to leave it it the fermenter for another two weeks due to a busy schedule). It actually tasted like beer!! Not very good beer, but beer nonetheless. :ban:

ChelisHubby · Jun 12, 2016

Well welcome to our Obsession. Your beer will be better in 2 weeks but You still need to bottle it so add 2 or 3 more weeks. I hope you continue to brew as things do get better. :mug:

BongoYodeler · Jun 13, 2016

Thanks, I fully expect it to taste better with some time on it. Don't get me wrong, I think today's sample didn't taste all that bad, just that it tasted incomplete. But I have patience and a spare fridge full of some good commercial beers to help keep my thirst quenched. I'm not only stoked, I'm also trying to figure out what I want to brew next.

Cheers.

Erik_Mog · Jun 13, 2016

Welcome to the obsession, uhm addiction,....I mean hobby.

GreatBeerTour · Jun 13, 2016

Be cautious in taking samples- avoid infection. Give it time- bottle- wait (for what seems an eternity) THEN taste it- Both you and your buddies who are drinking your "free" beer will proclaim it to be the best Brown Ale ever! and it will be- because you made it.
Welcome

ncbrewer · Jun 13, 2016

GreatBeerTour said:
Be cautious in taking samples- avoid infection. Give it time- bottle- wait (for what seems an eternity) THEN taste it- Both you and your buddies who are drinking your "free" beer will proclaim it to be the best Brown Ale ever! and it will be- because you made it.
Welcome

+1 to all this. And as far as sampling, there are those who sample as fermentation progresses, and those who don't. I'm one who doesn't. Papazian cautioned against "mucking about in your beer". I wait until two days before bottling day and sample. Then again on bottling day. If the gravity is stable, I bottle. The fermenter stays closed all other times. It's one of the many things that come down to personal preference.

Welcome.