BadBeagleBrew
Well-Known Member
This is my very first and for the next few days the only beer I have brewed. Like most beginners I spent hours and hours reading and researching on this new and mysterious practice. During all this I found very few reviews and info on Morgans IPA. So I decided to do my own review on the way I assembled this simple kit so that anyone else that ends up with this kit as their first has a little more info to calm those first time HB nerves.
For sanitation I used the crappy white powder the HB store gives with their kit. Cleaned everything thoroughly and had no issues. (I even started my first syphon by sucking on the house, figured out how to start by filling hose with water since though lol).
Mixing the kit: I used the instructions that came on the back of the label on the can. It says use hot water, I boiled for 15 min to make sure water was free of nasties, dumped directly into primary plastic pail and immediately added kit and dextrose. Than topped up with tap water, stirred in yeast and left lid on loose.
Things I would have done in hind sight: 1. Put extract can in boil to make the thick syrup more runny. 2. Drill hole in lid of primary seal lid tight and add an air lock. 3. Take a gravity reading.
Other than that I followed directions fermentation was well under way within 2 days. ( I had to peak
Fermentation: I did 3 days primary, 7 days secondary, and I think I tried the first one 5 days later. Today its been in the bottle about 15 days, and from a first time brewers stand point who has never drank anything but commercial beer, this beer is on par with commercial beer and had really good reviews from friends ( hence why I only have now 11 left).
Note for fermentation: Do the 1 week primary, 2 week secondary, 3 week bottle rule ( my beer is slightly over carbonated prob due to the short fermentation time).no bottle bombs yet though.
Bottling: I boiled 3/4 cup dextrose with 2 cup water added to bottling bucket and racked on top of the dextrose. Coiling the hose up so that as the beer came out of the hose it swirls making it mix up with the sugar. ( maybe that's why beer is slightly over carbed, comments anyone).
Final results: even after 5 days in bottle it was good. Every day it gets better and if I can save some for a month I know it will be great.
I hope this helps settle some worries for a first time brewer out there. Just think KISS for your first brew, save the complicated yet amazing info on this forum for when you start to gain experience. That's my take on it, I have definitely found a new obsession and can't wait to start AG. For now it's a good kit that gives you a buzz that your friends will like. No complaints here for my first brew.
Cheers
For sanitation I used the crappy white powder the HB store gives with their kit. Cleaned everything thoroughly and had no issues. (I even started my first syphon by sucking on the house, figured out how to start by filling hose with water since though lol).
Mixing the kit: I used the instructions that came on the back of the label on the can. It says use hot water, I boiled for 15 min to make sure water was free of nasties, dumped directly into primary plastic pail and immediately added kit and dextrose. Than topped up with tap water, stirred in yeast and left lid on loose.
Things I would have done in hind sight: 1. Put extract can in boil to make the thick syrup more runny. 2. Drill hole in lid of primary seal lid tight and add an air lock. 3. Take a gravity reading.
Other than that I followed directions fermentation was well under way within 2 days. ( I had to peak
Fermentation: I did 3 days primary, 7 days secondary, and I think I tried the first one 5 days later. Today its been in the bottle about 15 days, and from a first time brewers stand point who has never drank anything but commercial beer, this beer is on par with commercial beer and had really good reviews from friends ( hence why I only have now 11 left).
Note for fermentation: Do the 1 week primary, 2 week secondary, 3 week bottle rule ( my beer is slightly over carbonated prob due to the short fermentation time).no bottle bombs yet though
.Bottling: I boiled 3/4 cup dextrose with 2 cup water added to bottling bucket and racked on top of the dextrose. Coiling the hose up so that as the beer came out of the hose it swirls making it mix up with the sugar. ( maybe that's why beer is slightly over carbed, comments anyone).
Final results: even after 5 days in bottle it was good. Every day it gets better and if I can save some for a month I know it will be great.
I hope this helps settle some worries for a first time brewer out there. Just think KISS for your first brew, save the complicated yet amazing info on this forum for when you start to gain experience. That's my take on it, I have definitely found a new obsession and can't wait to start AG. For now it's a good kit that gives you a buzz that your friends will like. No complaints here for my first brew.
Cheers
