Hello from TX

RedRaiderDavid · Sep 22, 2014

Hello! After years of being interested in the hobby I finally decided to take the plunge and start doing it. I just ordered a "gold" kit off of Amazon and a 5 gallon stainless brew pot. If I get into the hobby like I think I will I envision either buying an existing or building a kegerator or keezer and brewing into kegs. I know me and don't think I have the patience to bottle long term.
I welcome any suggestions as I get started and am sure I'll be asking all kinds of dumb newbie questions.

unionrdr · Sep 22, 2014

Howdy from the Great Lakes! I still use the same 5 gallon (20qt) SS kettle I started with. I now do PB/PM BIAB in that same kettle. The only things that changed were the nylon paint strainer bag for the grains & a 2nd floating thermometer. One in the mash & the other in the kettle of sparge water. I dunk sparge the bag after draining the main mash in the big kettle. Stirring the sparge & letting it soak 19 minutes gives higher OG's. Something to try in the future... :mug:

Melana · Sep 22, 2014

Howdy from Massachusetts! Glad to have new faces!

keggert · Sep 22, 2014

Welcome to the hobby. If you're in Lubbock there are two HBS in your area. One is Yellow house canyon brew works, the other is Sograte. Both seemed friendly and helpful when I stopped by.

RedRaiderDavid · Sep 22, 2014

Thanks all! Keggert I am a Texas Tech alum but live in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. There are several HB shops around but I haven't had a chance to visit one as they all seem to keep office worker hours. I need to find some time this week to pick up some ingredients and misc supplies so I can brew as soon as my kit arrives.

therishel · Sep 22, 2014

This is Tom, located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Sadly, I am planning to pour 24 bottles of what was supposed to be Cream Stout down the drain today. Came out awful. Flat and a bit vinegar-ry. I can't detect any hint of alcohol in the stuff, so I am thinking that I killed my yeast or did not provide the right mix for the yeast to thrive. First batch, so live and learn.

Second batch (~2.5 gal) is in secondary fermentation now. I used Star-san instead of the no-rinse sanitizer that came with the kit. I also doubled the lactose (I know that it's not fermentable) and transferred it to secondary fermentation (I left the first batch in primary fermentation for 3 weeks.) Same recipe - Cream Stout LME kit from Midwest Supplies. This batch *definitely* got going early as there was krausen coming out of the airlock. So this time I know that the yeast is good.

I am planning to attend the local brewer's league meeting this Friday (http://gulfcoastbrewersleague.com/). Question - Should I take a couple of bottles of the nasty stuff with me to the meeting to get opinions on what I did wrong or is it too difficult to tell after the fact?

Tom