Just brewed my first non Mr. Beer batch.... Yesterday

[BonzoAPD]

Agree on the Sam Adams as well, just got through with a few myself tonight. I have to be pretty hard up for new bottles anymore to mess with other brands.

What did you soak the bottles in to get the labels to come off on their own like that?

 

[Rys06Tbss]

Mine came off really nice when I soaked it in hot hot water and C Brite. I removed the labels under water and all the adhesive came off with it. The Sierra Nevada bottles are AWFUL! I have to scrape the glue off mine with a razor blade. Sam Adams bottles are nice though

 

[501irishred]

What did you soak the bottles in to get the labels to come off on their own like that?

Yes. My process for any new bottles (pretty much the same for my reuse bottles too) - rinse bottles to get big floaties out, add PBW or Oxiclean to bottle (one scoop to about 6 bottles), fill bottles with water then place in ice chest, fill chest with Hot tap water and add about 3 gal boiling water (for me it brings it up to about 140), after about 2 hours all Sam Adams labels will be off (Knox labels are off by the time you fill it with the hot tap water) and bottles are clean - just rinse by shaking about 2inches of hot water and pour out slowly to avoid splash back into the bottle about 3 times and wallah- label free crystal clean bottles.......................

I like using the cooler because it holds the heat (unlike bathtub or sink), bottles fit better, and easier clean up.

 

[rodwha]

I had been told how Oxy Clean will remove the labels and glue. I'd soak them in a bucket, but found, with the hard water, it would makes the minerals stick to the bottles on the inside requiring a soak in vinegar.

Now I fill the bottle with water and stand them up in a bucket so the interior doesn't get it inside. After a few days the glue will easily wipe off as I rinse them under the bath tub faucet.

 

[501irishred]

The reason I use Oxy Clean has more to do with cleaning the bottles than removing labels. I've had bottles that were NASTY that were crystal clean after a good soak in Oxy Clean or PBW in very hot water. Have you tried using PBW instead? You still need to use hot water, but not nearly as hot as Oxy Clean to make sure you don't leave deposits.

 

[rodwha]

No. But I have lots of Oxy Clean that I don't really use for anything else.
For cleaning I just use dish soap and a scrub brush. But it's mainly for the crud ring I've seen. I've thrown out plenty of bottles that were returned not well rinsed with stuff growing in it before I got my brush.

 

[501irishred]

Yep, I've thrown them away because I just hated to use the brush I do have. You might give your Oxy Clean one more chance. Just make sure you keep it plenty hot (I still need to use tongs to remove the bottles from the cooler even after 2 hours or more), and rinse with hot tap water. Once they cool a bit, its much harder to rinse well enough.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

Fermentation appears to be slowing down. The hiccups from the blow off are a lot less frequent. At what point in time do I transfer over to my secondary? After it completely stops burping.? It'll be 7 days tomorrow.

 

[SavoryChef]

Give it at least another week. I do at least two weeks in primary then transfer to age or clarify.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

So it should be fine sitting in a secondary with no CO2 keeping it from oxidizing? Im tempted to bottle on Sunday which would be 2 weeks. I have a India Black Ale that I brewed on Sunday thats sitting in another primary.

 

[SavoryChef]

You should check your gravity before bottling to make sure fermentation is complete.

 

[RM-MN]

So it should be fine sitting in a secondary with no CO2 keeping it from oxidizing? Im tempted to bottle on Sunday which would be 2 weeks. I have a India Black Ale that I brewed on Sunday thats sitting in another primary.

Your beer still has CO2 dissolved in it and when you transfer it (disturb it) there will be some CO2 released to protect your beer. Since CO2 is heavier than air it won't escape and will make a blanket over the surface of your beer.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

Ok so i took a reading and Im at 1.010. FG is supposed to be 1.012 to 1.015. I have a little bit of time still i guess. I did try it and it was pretty tasty. Now that I look at it, it looks to be about where it needs to be. It is still pretty cloudy though. Will bottle conditioning take care of this?

 

[SavoryChef]

Yes. Don't worry, have a homebrew.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

So gravity is at 1.012? right now. Im guessing its time to bottle ... It actually looks about the same as it did 2 days ago. I think I just read it wrong.

 

[501irishred]

yes, from your picture it looked like it would have been about 1.012 at that time. Try floating the hydrometer in the middle of the tube, it will be easier to read.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

Its at the same level that it was from the first picture. How fast should SG change?

 

[501irishred]

When fermentation first starts it changes very fast, hour to hour. Towards the end it slows to a crawl, thats why it's recommended to take two measurements several days apart. Remember also that it wont hurt, and can help, to leave it be for a while longer even after you are convinced fermentation is done. All the technical aspects aside, patients remains the hardest part of brewing.......

 

[Ogri]

All the technical aspects aside, patients remains the hardest part of brewing.......

Especially if you're a popular doctor:fro:

 

[Ogri]

It is still pretty cloudy though. Will bottle conditioning take care of this?

Most of the batches I've made had a similar haziness going into the bottle, always prefer to have plenty yeast in there to help with the next phase so not hyper paranoid about clarity at that point, but after three weeks of carbonation/conditioning and a few days in the fridge they pretty much all came out Crystal clear. That one looks like it will be clear as a bell by the time it's ready for drinking.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

Im all bottled up right now. That wasnt as bad as I thought. I was only able to get 4.5 gallons though. There was to much crap at the bottom. Next time Ill be sure to add a little more water to compensate. I got 4 cases and a 22 oz bottle out of it. and there was enough left for about 8 oz to sample once more. Now its time for clean up...

Thank for all the help. Now I have a problem. I need to rearrange my pantry so I can do three batches at once. The India Black Ale I have is about a week away from going into the secondary and Ill 2 extra carboys. I think Ill drink 50 beers then brew another batch so Ill have a steady flow of home brew and eliminate the need to go to the booze store once a week. I kinda want to do a Zombie Dust clone next. Or maybe a cider.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

So this batch has an odd taste. I cant quite place it though. My buddy was like its an American Pale right. I have had a case of it so far. This first case was put into the fridge at the 10 day bottle mark. The second case was put in at the two week mark. I drank the whole first case by myself and thought it was good. The second is kinda odd... I dont know if its just yeast that Im tasting or what. I have the other two cases sitting in my garage right now (60 degrees) I let those sit till Im done with this one. Im hoping it juts needs to be bottle conditioned more

 

[rodwha]

3 weeks is the minimum time you'd want to give your beer to condition at room temp. I have given mine that until recently when I've had some taste a bit different a week later.

As a matter of fact I have added a week to both my fermentation time, as well as to my conditioning time. And I try to add a little time to fridge time as well, from 3 to 7 days.

For blondes and wheats, if I don't add honey a week after fermentation began, I give now 3 weeks, standard ales I now give 4 weeks, and IPA's I give 5 weeks. And all of them now get 4 weeks conditioning.

 

[rodwha]

I typically try to leave the bulk of the yeast behind. It changes the taste, which isn't necessarily bad, but different. And I have a problem with things floating around in there, unless it's a wheat where I can't see it.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

When I transferred, I left it about an inch off the bottom then slowly moved down till it started sucking up the junk on the bottom. Then I bottled. Most of the crap didn't get in the beer. I'll let these other bottles go a bit longer then. I'm going to brew another batch in two weeks. Hopefully this will clear up by then. I'll have my India black ale to drink at that time. Then apfelwein that'll need to get bottled as well. I've been bit pretty bad by the brewing bug. If I had more space I could easily have 4 batches going at a time. My wife was already complaining how bad the pantry smelled after 2 batches of beer and apfelwein farts. I think I'd have to find a new place to live if I had 4 batches going at once.

 

[rodwha]

Nah. She'll get used to it. Keep on keeping on.
I meant the sediment in the bottle. Sorry.

 

[Rys06Tbss]

I finished the last bottle about a week ago... It was much better. I just needed more time bottle conditioning im guessing. Im on my third batch of beer now

 

[rodwha]

I figure allowing it to sit a little while longer only helps if you can wait.
And so I now give 4 weeks conditioning for most brews and 1 week in the fridge. Also give most 4 weeks fermentation time.
And I just found how true the saying that time heals bad beer to be very true.
I had a honey blonde that the gravity was way too high on so I watered it down without considering it would change my IBU's which were quite low (15), and so it was too sweet.
And a honey wheat that I added too much honey to (3 3/4 lbs) which made it thin and weird.
Both are fairly good now. I was considering dumping them as they just weren't good enough to kick back and drink. Glad I hung on to them!