My first brew (with questions)

[dkziemann]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and new to homebrewing. In addition to reading Charlie Papazian's book, I've been browsing for a little while and have found lots of great advice, but have a few questions that I couldn't find the answer to.

Firstly, I documented my first brew and was hoping for any critique before I start my second one. I did make one mistake (very, very stupid) so I'll ask first if I ruined it. I forgot (missed in the instructions) to top off the carboy before fermentation. I had about a gallon or so of wort plus 3 gallons of cold water that I mixed together, and then pitched the yeast. I didn't add any extra water, though, and when I bottled my beer last night (after adding the sugar) I had 37 bottles.

Is the fact that I didn't add any extra water going to ruin the beer? Or will it just be stronger in terms of flavor and alcohol content? I used this kit http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BTZZ7G/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20.

Now, here's everything I documented-- hopefully it'll make sense!

1) Boiled Malt extract syrup/malt extracts in water for 45 minutes
2) Added hops with 15 minutes left
3) Took wort off heat, siphoned into the carboy and added 3.5 gallons of tap water.
4) Put the carboy into an ice bath, cooled it down to 72 degrees and pitched the yeast.

The specific gravity (adjusted for temperature) was 1.042.

I let it ferment for 7 days (vigorous fermentation occurred for about 40 hours), and then bottled it last night. The final gravity was about 1.015.


From what I've read and my little experience, next time I will most likely by purified water and I will DEFINITELY top off the carboy! I was very clean about everything, and have been trying to follow Charlie's advice to the T.


So, to sum up, will my beer taste like rubbing alcohol or should it be okay? What can I do to improve for next time? What's a good next beer to try brewing? I was thinking Irish Red Ale but am open to anything.

Thanks a ton!

 

[dkziemann]

Bump! (Sorry if this violates any forum rules...)

 

[tre9er]

It could be stonger depending on what kind of attenuation the yeast gives you, but it probably will just have more mouthfeel, be a bigger, darker beer.

Next time put the extracts in later in the boil, like near the end. You'll get a clearer beer with less chance of carmelization of the extract and less chance for "twang". Also, ferment longer than that. Screw the instructions...you want at LEAST two weeks. Even if fermentation is done, the yeast cleans up byproducts and improves the beer over time (within reason).

now that they're in bottles, leave them around 70* for at least three weeks. You can sample one from time to time, but they won't be as good as they'll be later...maybe even by far.

 

[msujack]

The specific gravity would be lower with more water added to dilute the wort before fermentation (adding the yeast).

Next time, make sure your FG (final gravity) is constant for a couple days and then its safe to bottle. I usually wait about 3 weeks in the fermenter so I know its done fermenting and the yeast has time to do a little cleaning up.

All in all, congrats! you made beer. There may be some "off flavors" or things that you will change in the future, but nothing to worry about. As long as things are sanitized you don't have to worry about things going sideways too much. It probably isn't perfect beer, but that's for the eye of the beer holder anyhow.

Welcome to the hobby!

 

[phuff7129]

So you approxiately had 4 to 4.5 gallons in the carboy if I read it right. If anything I would think that your gravity would be higher because there is less water than called for. As it stands your gravity seems a bit low for an Amber Ale. Had you added the water it would have been very low.

I also think you may have bottled it too soon. Your final gravity seems a little high.

Now, the good news is, you will have beer and it will probably be just fine if not a little light.

Did your recipe tell you what the expected OG and FG should be? If not, let me know exactly how many pounds of malt extract you used, grains if any, sugars if any, and the hops type and amount and I can run it through Beersmith and I might be able to give you a better idea of what is going on.

 

[rhamilton]

Try a mini-mash kit from Austin Home Brew. You'll get very detailed instructions and you'll get to work with actual grains instead of just extract.

From your process, it looks like you made beer! Congrats. The only thing that bothers me is the gravity readings. Looks like without topping off you'll have a 3% beer -- if you would have topped off it would be in the very very low abv range....

 

[WhiteEagle1]

Pretty sure you aren't read it right when it says to "top off the carboy". It doesn't mean fill it to the top with water (if that is what you are thinking). It means (I'm guessing) to add water to your cooked wort to make the full 5 gallon volume. In this case it was good that you didn't being you had kind of a low OG. Cheers!

 

[mpenn35]

I'm new as well, so I could be off, but did you take into account the fact that there was less beer than there should have been when you added priming sugar? If you added the amount of priming sugar per whatever the directions said but your volume of beer is off, there could be some over-carbonating problems. If you used the tablets you drop in the bottles, disregard this...

 

[dkziemann]

In terms of stats from the brew instructions, this is what I'm supposed to have...

Beginning Gravity- 1.042-1.044
Final Gravity- 1.010-1.012
Hop Bittering Units- 13.0

I wasn't that far off, I don't think. I also opened a bottle yesterday just to test and a) it tasted like beer, and b) it was carbonated.

Leads me to my next question-- Anything else to try differently next time? And what's a good beer to try after the Amber Ale? Ultimate (dream) goal is to brew IPA's (think 60 minute or 90 minute DFH) or any kind of dark stouts. Thanks a ton, you all have been more than helpful!

 

[tre9er]

Ferment for 3 weeks. Take gravity reading when you put in fermenter and when you think it's time to bottle and make sure you've hit FG (best to take it 3 days in a row for stable reading). Leave in bottle for 3 weeks at 70*.

If you're eventually going IPA and stouts...maybe do an APA or a porter for now.

 

[Frankiesurf]

Just search HBT for some extract recipes. The sky is the limit when you brew your own.