My first batch

[taa800]

Hi All,
I just got done brewing my first batch of beer. I'm doing a dark ale from a kit with liquid malt extract and dry hops.

I messed up a little bit after I cooled my wort down. I poured it in to a plastic primary that had 2 gallons of cold water. I then pitched my yeast, put the lid on and then put the airlock on. About half an hour later I realized I forgot to top off my bucket to 5 gallons. I went back and took off the lid and added more water.

Does anyone think I'll have a problem?

I also didn't notice my yeast bubbling too much when I hydrated it. I used water that was about 90 degrees and let it sit for 15 minutes. Any comments on that?

I'm a little nervous since it's my first batch. I've researched this a lot and really hope it turns out.

Thanks
Todd

 

[Vekta]

I can't comment on most of that...since I just bottled my first batch myself.

But There is a small chance that the cold water might do something you don't want if it wasn't clean, boiled water or bottled spring water. Other than that it'll probably be ok. Not ideal but not a fail either.

 

[Zalf]

I think any gravity readings might be suspect depending on when they were taken. Other then that I don't think anything involved would "ruin" the beer.

 

[taa800]

I just used tap water for all of the remaining water to add to the wort. Should I be boiling it first? The instructions I have didn't say to do that. My tap water is clean and good to drink.

 

[Yooper]

I just used tap water for all of the remaining water to add to the wort. Should I be boiling it first? The instructions I have didn't say to do that. My tap water is clean and good to drink.

If your tap water is clean and good to drink, you should be fine! I don't boil my tap water.

Sometimes tap water smells of chlorine or has other issues like sulfur. In that case, you won't want to brew with it. But generally, unless your water has a strong chlorine smell or your water company uses chloramines (which don't boil off), good tasting tap water is fine to brew with.