My First Brew

[mjking77]

I brewed my very first homebrew yesterday!

As far as I can tell, everything went well.

I pitched my yeast at 5:45 pm and when I checked on it this morning before I went to work (6 am) there was a bubble coming out of my airlock at about once every 8 seconds. So it seems to be on the right track.

Now I just have to be patient and wait until I can rack to my secondary.

I'll keep you up to date on my progress for my first brew.

Thanks for all your help so far.

 

[david_42]

Now I just have to be patient and wait until I can rack to my secondary.

And have to be patient and wait until you can bottle.

And have to be patient and wait until it's conditioned.

Lots of homebrewer mess up on the patient.

 

[SOB]

Congrats on your first brew!

About the same time you were pitching your yeast, I was sanatizing my equipment. I too brewed my first beer last night.

Everything went pretty smooth. I even got my fiance to do ALL of the cleaning afterwards! With no begging involved! Damn I love her!

Also checked the airlock this morning, and though I didn't time it, I get a bubble about every 10 seconds or so.

Now we wait...

 

[DrugCoder]

Congrats to both of you! I agree that the hardest part of your first batch is the patience. I'm going to rack my first batch to the secondary here in a day or two.

 

[rjester]

I brewed my first batch last night as well. I don't have any bubbles yet. I guess that is where I need patience.

 

[the_bird]

The easiest way of acquiring patience, I have found, is to start planning the NEXT brew. That, and get a good supply of different beers on hand, ideally styles that you've never had, or things that you've been meaning to try. Having a well-stocked fridge of interesting brews, plus trying to figure out what the next recipe will look like, helps you let the fermenting brew sit and do its thing.

 

[Markusface]

The easiest way of acquiring patience, I have found, is to start planning the NEXT brew.

So true, plus I find having an expendable supply of alcohol in your home is helpful so you don't pounce on the homebrew. Although it doesn't really hurt to have a taster every couple of days or so, just to see how your beer is coming along

 

[Orfy]

I have 4 brews in kegs now and one in secondary. I should have a chance of getting some aged beer now.

 

[cweston]

The easiest way of acquiring patience, I have found, is to start planning the NEXT brew. That, and get a good supply of different beers on hand, ideally styles that you've never had, or things that you've been meaning to try. Having a well-stocked fridge of interesting brews, plus trying to figure out what the next recipe will look like, helps you let the fermenting brew sit and do its thing.

This is so true.

I didn't find much time to brew this fall, plus I have a couple of batches in bottles right now that aren't my favorites. (A berry beer that was mostly for SWMBO, and a Munich Dunkel that's pretty good but just isn't my favorite style.) So it's really hard to be patient about the batch that has only been in the bottles 2.5 weeks. I'm hoping to brew a couple times in the next week or two, so hopefully things will get better.

I bought some commercial beers this weekend (which I don't do very often) for exactly this reason.

 

[newguy]

yup I did the same. Bought a few specialty beers that I have been meaning to try. Definitely going to do up some clones for sure.

Another good thing on being patient is getting some brewing books! The joy of brewing being the best and the "bible" of every home brewer. There is a ton of very interesting and useful books on this hobbie. I recommend getting your hands on quite a few of them and having a beer and reading!

 

[Cool Hand]

My first brew has been in the primary since sat. nite. The bubbles appeared out of the airlock by sun. a.m. and have since slowed a bit but none the less still bubbling. I'm thinking about purchasing a 2nd secondary so after emptying the primary I can get right back at it this weekend! That shouldn't pose any problems as long as I clean and sanitize the primary well enough, right?

 

[mjking77]

UPDATE

When I got home from work today (3:30 pm) my airlock was releasing a bubble every second or so.

So I am happy to see that everything seems to be going well!

Can't wait to get it bottled and then to try one!

 

[SOB]

UPDATE

When I got home from work today (3:30 pm) my airlock was releasing a bubble every second or so.

So I am happy to see that everything seems to be going well!

Can't wait to get it bottled and then to try one!

Good to hear, looks like we're one the same schedule! I checked mine at lunch time and it was around 1 bubble per second.

I need to get out and buy me a secondary soon so I have something to put it into in a week or so. Is this a good guess? That I will want to transfer it to the secondary in about 1 week?

 

[the_bird]

Yup, that's the general rule. If it's still bubbling, leave it be. If you can't get to it next weekend for whatever reason, it's OK if it sits in primary for a couple weeks as well (the natural next question).

 

[SOB]

So when I do end up putting it into the secondary, it won't be bubbling any more.

How do I know when to take it out of the secondary if I don't have the airlock bubble as a go by?

Do I just wait two weeks and then bottle it?

Thanks for the help!

 

[the_bird]

Yup again.

General rule is 1 week in primary, 2 in secondary, 3 in bottles. Some exceptions; some beers don't need secondaries (like hefeweizens), others need longer conditioning periods (lots of lagers, barleywines), but if you stick to that schedule (and make sure to take a gravity reading before bottling), you should generally be fine.

 

[boo boo]

Congrats on your first brew!

About the same time you were pitching your yeast, I was sanatizing my equipment. I too brewed my first beer last night.

Everything went pretty smooth. I even got my fiance to do ALL of the cleaning afterwards! With no begging involved! Damn I love her!

Also checked the airlock this morning, and though I didn't time it, I get a bubble about every 10 seconds or so.

Now we wait...

Wait until you are married, lol, then brag about who does the cleaning.

 

[SOB]

Wait until you are married, lol, then brag about who does the cleaning.

I keep hearing great stuff about this whole "marriage" thing...I keep asking myself if it is worth it! LOL!

Luckilly I couldn't ask for a better woman, she lets me play videogames (bought me a Xbox360 for Christmas even!) brew my own beer, she does all the cleaning...what more is there?

 

[boo boo]

she lets me play videogames ...what more is there?

Speaking from 29 years of mariage I can say it is a 50/50 relationship that lasts along with respect. She no more Tells me what to do any more than I Tell her what to do. There is so much to a great mariage that you really have to grow into it as sometimes it takes a little work.

Mix that with making home brew and if she helps you do it , well all I can say is you are on your way.

 

[LouisianaVince]

Congrats to both of you on your first brew. My first is nearly gone :-( and I tasted my second last night. It's not quite ready...gonna taste again next Sunday.

I'm planning an Irish Red for my third, but I have to wait for another pay check before I order my supplies. I do wish we had a HBS in Baton Rouge!

 

[mjking77]

Yesterday I transfered my beer to a secondary carboy.

When I opened up the primary I was amazed at the smell of my beer. It smelled really good!

The transfer when really good. I am sure that with more pratice that I will be able to not transfer as much hops and I will be able to transfer more liquid at the bottom.

My FG reading was right on the one given with my receipe.

And the best part was when I tasted the sample!! I was amazed at how good it is already!!

I can't believe that it is going to get better with time.

Patience, patience, patience.