How many batches did it take before you got one that you really thought was great?
My town must have really decent water because I have only treated one batch in any way other than filtering. I used a Brita filter on the kitchen sink for the first 20 or so batches. I then moved to the porch and installed a house size charcoal filter.
My first batch was the Northern Brewer Irish Red Ale extract kit. I allowed it to get too warm for the first night of fermentation. I was advised to use a secondary and go 2 weeks then 3 weeks then bottle it.
My second batch was the Northern Brewer Patersbier extract kit. I used a swamp cooler and controlled the fermentation temperature.
I would rank that beer in the top 20 of my current total of 85 batches. 4 extracts, 4 partial mash then all grain. Since switching to all grain I have also done a few more extracts and both traditional all grain and BIAB.
I credit my success a lot on luck, some on paying attention to details, a lot on information I have learned here on HBT, and not having to deal with bad water.
So for me the first really good beer was my second batch.
My town must have really decent water because I have only treated one batch in any way other than filtering. I used a Brita filter on the kitchen sink for the first 20 or so batches. I then moved to the porch and installed a house size charcoal filter.
My first batch was the Northern Brewer Irish Red Ale extract kit. I allowed it to get too warm for the first night of fermentation. I was advised to use a secondary and go 2 weeks then 3 weeks then bottle it.
My second batch was the Northern Brewer Patersbier extract kit. I used a swamp cooler and controlled the fermentation temperature.
I would rank that beer in the top 20 of my current total of 85 batches. 4 extracts, 4 partial mash then all grain. Since switching to all grain I have also done a few more extracts and both traditional all grain and BIAB.
I credit my success a lot on luck, some on paying attention to details, a lot on information I have learned here on HBT, and not having to deal with bad water.
So for me the first really good beer was my second batch.