How many did it take

[Ridire]

I think I've just had a revelation. I am relying on "good fermentation temperature" based on temp of wort at pitch + ambient temperature, without thinking about beer temp inside of fermenter. Next batch will include a swamp cooler for the heavy ferm, regardless of what the room temp is.

 

[dpatrickv]

Honestly, my first beer was delicious(All grain) and even won best damn beer at our local brew club monthly competitions. I had been around it for awhile though so it wasn't like I was brand new to the process.

 

[J8D]

My second was great. It has been hit or miss along the way (9 to 1). I also moved and didn't realize brewing with a water from a softener was bad (until five batches later).

 

[Ridire]

Follow up. I still have some of my first brew (5-6 weeks in bottles). I made this thread after tasting one that had been in the fridge 24 hours. I am now tasting one that has been in the fridge for 72 hours. A world better. I thought 24 hours in fridge wound be fine but the difference is pretty significant after 72 hours. Maybe I should show some restraint and leave them for a week in the fridge? Maybe try same with my IPA (I put a bottle in there today and won't touch it for at least 4 days).

 

[plumber_bob]

Follow up. I still have some of my first brew (5-6 weeks in bottles). I made this thread after tasting one that had been in the fridge 24 hours. I am now tasting one that has been in the fridge for 72 hours. A world better. I thought 24 hours in fridge wound be fine but the difference is pretty significant after 72 hours. Maybe I should show some restraint and leave them for a week in the fridge? Maybe try same with my IPA (I put a bottle in there today and won't touch it for at least 4 days).

It's been stated many times, many ways,... patience, patience, patience. Aging is good,... rushing things is bad.

pb

 

[Ridire]

It's been stated many times, many ways,... patience, patience, patience. Aging is good,... rushing things is bad.

pb

I get it but I thought aging at room temp was important but didn't realize fridge time, beyond just getting them cold, would make that much of a difference.

 

[plumber_bob]

I get it but I thought aging at room temp was important but didn't realize fridge time, beyond just getting them cold, would make that much of a difference.

I never would've thought it true either until you posted your findings. But that kicked in the lesson I've been learning about patience. The main thing to remember, I reckon, is to try different times with different types of aging. Heck brewing is still in the experimental stages in some ways. And we are all scientists at different levels.

The good side of your learning is that you are posting it for others to use in their quest for fan****ingtastic beer, and in turn they will hopefully post their findings and results, good, bad, ugly, or great. Then we all grow and learn.

pb --- can you tell I'm doing my exercises? 25oz curls

 

[Pelican521]

Not sure if my first batch has "ugly baby syndrome", since I made it and really like it. Not sure why I picked a ESB clone as my first but since I haven't had a commercial English bitters in many years I can't really compare it to anything. But since it's mine, I like it.

My second brew, a Racer 5 clone (IPA) just went to bottle yesterday and tasted great. I can't wait to see how it is when it's carbed up. I messed up my calculations and did close to a full boil as opposed to the 3 gal it called for.

My third is a Moose Drool clone and has been in the primary for a week. I thought I really had things down going into this but seemed to have the most "issues" with this brew. This maybe because I now know a lot more than when I brewed my first batch. I also did a late extract addition with this one and reduced my bittering hops by 20 percent. We'll see how this one comes out...

For my fourth, I'm going to do a BIAB partial mash. Not sure what style to do, any ideas that are a good choice for a first time partial mash?

 

[histo320]

For me it was #5 of my own recipes. Are you using recipe kits or are you creating your own recipes? All of the kits I've made have been pretty good.

I took a 3 year hiatus and I have made 4 batches since Jan 1st and the 2nd was good, the 3rd will hopefully be better, and the 4th will be better than that one. Just got to wait it out for bottle conditioning.