Hello from Maryland

[Multifaceted]

Greetings and Salutations, fellow homebrewers!

I got into this hobby in Nov. of last year, my wife initially bought me a 5 gal starter kit from Midwest, and it then began propagate. I brewed about 5 batches up until late Jan., but fell off the wagon (so to speak) due to an unforgiving and unwavering life schedule. That's about to change now because I'm Jones'n for some homebrew activity, and it's early autumn up here in the Piedmont of MD - perfect weather for brewing and fermenting some ale! I digress...

I've only cut my teeth on extract brewing and have a modest intermediate-beginners equipment list: 5 gal stainless kettle (donated from Mom), 6 gal plastic primary, 6 gal glass carboy, 5 gal glass carboy, plenty of feet of 3/8" siphon tubing, bottling bucket, thief, auto-siphon, hydrometer, etc. - all of the essentials. I'm living in a top floor apartment with an electric stove, so AG is out of reach for the time being, though I do intent to attain that as a goal. As for now, I'm just trying to get acclimated as a brewer, become familiar with the ingredients, craft my own recipes, and not freak out about sanitation like I had been. I have been cooking almost daily for the last twelve years, so I'm no kitchen virgin - My wife will tell ya! (seriously, I'm a great cook)

I've got three Mini Mash recipe kits en route from Austin Homebrew as we speak, should be ready to start a new batch in primary this Saturday - stoked!

I've Googled some general questions in the past, which had lead me here, so as a former lurker and with a rekindled interest - I've decided to join the forum. I look forward to gaining knowledge from the community and eventually will be able to contribute.

Cheers!

-Clarence

 

[Hammy71]

Welcome!

 

[Cyclman]

Welcome to the group, sounds like a great start!

 

[NTXBrauer]

Welcome Clarence!

 

[IslandLizard]

Welcome to HBT. It's one of the best brewing resources.

Controlling fermentation temps has been the most drastic improvement for me, and I learned it here. Omitting the secondary was well, second.

 

[vNmd]

Welcome. Good to see someone else from Carroll county.

 

[Homercidal]

Welcome!

I hate to break it to you like this, but you CAN do AG brewing in an apartment! With Brew in a Bag you can mash in that 5 gallon kettle, sparge in a separate kettle (if you want to sparge), and then boil in that kettle. You can either make up a higher gravity wort and dilute after the boil with cooling water, just like extract brewers do, or brew smaller batches.

And BIAB AG batches are REALLY easy to get started on. You only need a 5 gallon paint strainer bag and the stuff you already have.

 

[Milan37]

Welcome. I'm also in Carroll County, close to Eldersburg. While I agree that you don't need to 'freak out' about sanitation, do not slack there. It doesn't add much effort and it never hurts. It's not bad practice to sanitize everything that comes into contact with your beer after it has cooled from boiling--from pitching to sampling to bottling/kegging.

 

[Multifaceted]

Much obliged, and many thanks again for the warm welcome to you all.

Welcome to HBT. It's one of the best brewing resources.

Controlling fermentation temps has been the most drastic improvement for me, and I learned it here. Omitting the secondary was well, second.

Welcome. Good to see someone else from Carroll county.

Indeed it is, I moved here from west Baltimore two years ago. Is anyone here a member of the Midnight Homebrewers League?

Welcome!

I hate to break it to you like this, but you CAN do AG brewing in an apartment! With Brew in a Bag you can mash in that 5 gallon kettle, sparge in a separate kettle (if you want to sparge), and then boil in that kettle. You can either make up a higher gravity wort and dilute after the boil with cooling water, just like extract brewers do, or brew smaller batches.

And BIAB AG batches are REALLY easy to get started on. You only need a 5 gallon paint strainer bag and the stuff you already have.

Thanks, I've actually considered the BIAB method in my present situation in lieu of a three vessel system. Having not done it before, I'm always a little cautious to jump in with both feet, so to speak. Fortunately, I will need to get some paint strainer bags for my partial mash kits that I just received, so I'll be sure to get the 5 gallon sizes. Just wanted to get my feet wet first in extract, move up to partial-mash, then make the big leap to AG via BIAB. Is sparging really not necessary for BIAB, or do you just let it drain then squeeze out the liquid & sugars?

Thank you for the tips!

Welcome. I'm also in Carroll County, close to Eldersburg. While I agree that you don't need to 'freak out' about sanitation, do not slack there. It doesn't add much effort and it never hurts. It's not bad practice to sanitize everything that comes into contact with your beer after it has cooled from boiling--from pitching to sampling to bottling/kegging.

Oh, believe me - I haven't been. I'm the kind of guy who 'cleans-in-process' while cooking, so it carries over into brewing. I've been told by some other brewer friends that I worry too much about cleaning and sanitation, but I've remained steadfast in my early ways. The only factor that has me consider otherwise, is that cleaning and sanitizing is really the bulk of my brew days — brewing the beer is the fun and easy part. Clean & sanitize beforehand, then cleaning afterwards is the hard work. Maybe I just need a better wash facility. Definitely don't skimp on cleaning & sanitation. I'm a budget-builder, I can't afford to waste the money or spend hours brewing beer to risk an infection and at worst dump two cases of beer down the drain.

 

[acarr160]

Welcome from Taneytown as well!