My First Week of Homebrewing

[HopHeadGrady]

The past week was a busy one. Thanks everyone here who has helped me learn the ABC's of this amazing hobby. I wanted to start out simple before moving to AG batches. I am thinking about investing in an AG system for the spring.

Here is what I brewed the past week (all are 23L batches).

1) Coopers Lager (Dec 28th) My first batch ever.

- Partial mash of 1/2 lb of Pale Malt for flavor (and just to play.. ).
- Added Hallertauer Hops (pellet) to pale malt water above and boiled 1/4 oz for 30 min, and another 1/4 oz for 5 min.
- Added the coopers mix to this, and a tiny bit of boiling water
- Pitched at 24 degrees with Coopers Ale Yeast. I thought my wort was at 21 as that is what the thermometer read, but the temp rose to 24 once I brought the wort back in off the covered deck.
- Coopers Brew Enhancer 1
- Water topped to 23L
- Fermenting at 16C
OG was 1042. Going to take another reading today. Fermented perfectly with a nice Kraeusen (sp) ring and is now settling fine. Fingers crossed but it certainly looks like beer.


2) Coopers European Lager (spring beer).

- Created a hop tea which consisted of a 1/2 oz of Saaz boiled for 30 min and a 1/4Oz Hallertauer boiled for 5 min.
- Coopers Lager Yeast.
- Pitched at 12C, currently fermenting at 12. Slight smell of egg coming from the fermenter. Its bubbling away fine.
- 1KG DME
- 1 can of Coopers Euro Lager
- 1/4 cup of dextrose
- Water topped to 23L
- OG 1041

(12 weeks in the bottle is going to be tough...)

3) Muntons Yorkshire Bitter

- 3/4 lb of vienna malt mash
- Hop tea consisting of 1/2 of Gelena hops boiled for 45 min, 1/4 oz of Gelena for 15, 1/4 of Saaz for 5
- 1KG of Muntons light LME.
- Muntons Ale Yeast
- 1/4 cup of Dextrose.
- 1 can of muntons Yorshire Bitter.
- Already super bubbly and fermenting great at 16C. Smells like liquid bread and beer... haha.
- OG was 1047 which bumps it up to an ESB (Extra Strong Bitter) according to Papazians books. I am hoping my gelena hops will bring this up in IBU.


Next:

- Muntons Smugglers Ale
- Muntons International Pilsener.
- Oatmeal Stout (specialty grain extract kit).

I hope my beer turns out good!! I plan on filming the taste tests, first openings...

 

[Pappers_]

Wow, three batches in one week! Congratulations on your first brews!

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Would also like to try Muntons Yorkshire. Let me know how it goes , best of luck!

 

[HopHeadGrady]

Wow, three batches in one week! Congratulations on your first brews!

Thanks, it doesn't even feel like work in the slightest. I figured I would get a few batches on the go just in case the unfortunate happens and one takes a turn for the worst. So far though things seem to be going as planned.

I cant wait to start my next batch!

 

[HopHeadGrady]

Would also like to try Muntons Yorkshire. Let me know how it goes , best of luck!

For sure. I will post some vids etc.

 

[RM-MN]

I am thinking about investing in an AG system for the spring.

While you make those plans, take time to search out BIAB on this forum. You can also use the term "brew in a bag" in the search. You may not have to wait as long as you think to start all grain. Does this week seem to soon to you?

 

[HopHeadGrady]

While you make those plans, take time to search out BIAB on this forum. You can also use the term "brew in a bag" in the search. You may not have to wait as long as you think to start all grain. Does this week seem to soon to you?

Wow. This is very doable.
This kinda turns things upside down as far as what I want to brew next.

 

[RM-MN]

Yes, it really opened my eyes as to what I could brew when I read about BIAB. Sky's the limit as far as beers you can brew now. If you like a dark stout with plenty of chocolate and coffee notes, you can do that. Maybe an American Pale Ale? I made one using Citra hops that confuses everyone that tastes it as they can't figure out the fruit I used when I used no fruit at all.