How to get better 101??? Yeast?

[eric513]

Hey guys...

I just got into homebrewing... my first copper ale was pretty good, and I've got an IPA waiting to get bottled now...

I was wondering, does anyone know what the first step in improving would be?

For instance, I want to continue to brew both the copper and the IPA until I get them right where I like them... so I was thinking, maybe if I change just one thing each time... but what would the first thing be?

Do different types of yeast do different things to the flavor or just ferment slower or faster? I've been using kits, and I'm guessing the yeast in a kit isn't as good as a premium one? Is that true?

Thanks in advance
Eric

 

[mxwrench]

Changing the yeast makes a HUGE difference, take a look on the Wyeast website to see all the different varieties they make. Almost every style of beer has a different yeast to suit it and sometimes there are a few yeasts for each style. The site will show you which ones would be suited to your beer.

 

[Six_O_Turbo]

Yeast is the cornerstone of good beer, IMO. Different yeasts can dramatically change the flavor of your beer. Even the same yeast can dramatically change the flavor of your beer if fermented at different temperatures.

The best advice I think to give a newcomer is temperature control of your fermentation. This will help make your beer consistent, and consistency is the first thing you want to master.

 

[KingKegII]

Are you doing extract or all-grain batches? If you're still on extract, several good tips are to do full wort boils, use high quality & fresh extract, don't scorch your extract, try to use as light an extract as possible (dry is better b/c it tends to be lighter and fresher than liquid), & know which grains can be steeped and which require mashing.

Besides those tips, I would recommend always doing a yeast starter, ensure you have strict temperature control over your fermentation, and don't rush your beer...patience is a virtue.

And yes, different yeasts can impart different flavors, and the temperature at which you ferment can also impart different flavors.

I recommend reading John Palmer's "How to Brew". You can read it online here (http://www.howtobrew.com/), but I suggest picking up a copy at your local homebrew store or bookstore.

Good idea to brew the same recipe over and over until you get it right, but as you said, just change one thing at a time so you can see what effect it has on your beer.

That said, read all you can, come to this site often, and relax and have a homebrew.

 

[SumnerH]

The best advice I think to give a newcomer is temperature control of your fermentation. This will help make your beer consistent, and consistency is the first thing you want to master.

That's it, for me. Assuming your sanitation is good, controlling fermentation temperature is #1 on the list of things to improve, maybe #1a with having a good yeast strain (which most people already have).

 

[sjbeerman]

As others have said, it's all about the yeast. In addition to Palmer's book on How to Brew, I would also recommend getting Chris White's/Jamil Z. book on Yeast. The two main factors in my opinion would be to pitch the correct amount of healthy yeast and temperature control. However, I would place pitching rate over temperature control because you can control your temperatures all day long, but if you don't pitch the correct number healthy cells then your beer won't attenuate correctly. In either case, both are really important factors in making good beer.

 

[rescuedogrr2010]

Second on white and zainasheff's book on yeast. The book compliments palmers really well in that it provides more detail on what is actually happening during fermentation, what controls we have as brewers and how that affects the quality/style of the finished product.

 

[eric513]

Thanks guys! I will be upping the ante with liquid yeast starter this time...

 

[Clonefarmer]

There are allot of good tips in this thread.

Focusing on technique has helped me a great deal. So has Repeat brewing the same recipes. You can change things like yeast to get different results. However, if you want to become a better brewer you need to look at all the aspects of brewing.

 

[sjbeerman]

To the OP, it was an excellent question BTW..

It's something I wish I would of asked before I started this addiction...ummm..hobby..

 

[cobbler]

From one new brewer to another definitely check out all of the great info on this site. The biggest thing that I think has affected my brews has been the length of time I leave my beer in the primary. I've been letting most brews go 3-4 weeks which gives the yeast plenty of time to do their thing.

 

[Hang Glider]

That's it, for me. Assuming your sanitation is good, controlling fermentation temperature is #1 on the list of things to improve, maybe #1a with having a good yeast strain (which most people already have).

that may be a lot to assume - but I certainly have to agree. #1 on my list too.

I didn't pay attention to temp control for the first few years, and I THOUGHT my beers were pretty good...

but that is probably the single most important change I've made.