My house smells like hops!

[Caleb1980]

learning the different flavors and aromas of different hops, grains, yeasts, etc has been one of the best parts of this new hobby of mine. It makes trying a new beer more enjoyable when you can pick out different flavors you know from experience. I'm lucky to work at a beer distributor and get to try lots of different beers regularly, and it has made a huge difference on how I taste beers.

Warning: this will quickly annoy your non homebrewing/beer-geek friends when you ramble on about the scent of certain hops, and the undertones of brett that will no doubt become more prevalent with some more age..... When you see that glazed over look in their eyes, it may be time to back it off a bit

 

[evolcoms]

Fermentation update:

After the first day of ACTIVE fermentation, I noticed my temps where between (72-74). I was aiming the high 60's. So I added a nice damp t shirt and put the carboy in container filled with ice water. The temps dropped to 66-68 with the changes. Now all I have to do is wait a few more days and transfer to my secondary for dry hopping!

 

[evolcoms]

Forgot to add a pic.

 

[unionrdr]

I'd wait more than just a few more days. A couple of weeks to get down to Fg & settle out clear before dry hopping.

 

[evolcoms]

The instructions say transfer to secondary after 7 days. Does that sound right?

 

[metanoia]

The instructions say transfer to secondary after 7 days. Does that sound right?

Ignore the instructions. If you haven't already, pick up How to Brew or The Complete Joy of Homebrewing. They'll give you much better and detailed instructions in the brew process.

Basically, take a SG reading, perhaps after 7 days. If it's near the FG, take a new reading every two days. When those SG readings level out and are the same across two days, fermentation is done and you're okay to rack to a secondary (mostly for dry hops and extra clearing), or bottle (I'd cold crash for a day or two).

 

[evolcoms]

Ok, so transfer to secondary once FG is reached? What's cold crashing?

Edit: Researched " Cold Crashing ".Figured it out. Thx

 

[evolcoms]

I took a gravity reading today after 8 days in the primary and I'm looking around 1.023. I'm still getting airlock activity every 15 secs. I'm going to leave it for another 4 days before I take another reading. I want the abv to be 6.0 so for that I need a fg of 1.014. We shall see!

 

[evolcoms]

Should I use a hop bag for dry hopping if the hops are in pellet form?

 

[metanoia]

Everyone will have a different opinion on the matter, in addition to the debate between leaf and pellets for dry hopping.

I think the general consensus is that if you don't use a hop bag for pellets, then put a hop bag or cheesecloth-like material over your racking cane when siphoning off to the bottling bucket.

 

[evolcoms]

I just want beer to be clear as possible

 

[metanoia]

I don't think your method of dry hopping will much effect the clarity of your beer as long as the hops are strained out one way of another before bottling.

Did you use irish moss at the end of boil? Or do you plan on cold crashing? (Sorry if you posted this info already, it's been quite a while). It seems like these two things will have the biggest impact on clarity, along with using a secondary (which I assume you'll be doing with dry hopping and all).

 

[evolcoms]

I used a clarity tab, and I haven't cold crashed.

 

[evolcoms]

I transfered to the secondary yesterday. I ended up not using any bags for dry hopping. It's currently sitting at 72*.

 

[evolcoms]

Bottling Day!!! I just bottled my Blind Pig IPA. I got 24 - 22oz. bottles filled. I had some beer left over to fill only half a 22oz. so I ended up just tossing it. I need to pick up some 12oz. bottles.

Forgot to add my FG was 1.014. So Stoked!

 

[beinert]

You tossed the half bottle?? Did you toss the gravity samples?? I always drink mine.

 

[evolcoms]

I had a feeling I was going to get some heat for that comment . My wife and I did taste it, but since all I had was the 22oz. bottles I decided to just toss the rest. It wasn't even half a 22oz.

 

[evolcoms]

After a little over a week of bottle conditioning I couldn't resist. Nice head and it held throughout drinking. Not as bitter as some IPAs, but still has that IPA bitterness. I'm going to give it another week and then throw in the fridge for another couple days.

 

[metanoia]

Nice head, man! Looks a bit cloudy. I'm worried I might get that with my Two Hearted clone I just transfered to secondary yesterday; it was the last batch before I started using whirlfloc. I'm thinking of using gelatin when bottling.

I like the label, I used the same one to take some pictures of my Gingerbread Brown. Did you use milk to adhere it to the bottle?

 

[jmuman703]

Hey evol

Would you be able to point me to that recipe? I have always wanted to brew a two hearted clone!

 

[metanoia]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f69/bells-two-hearted-ale-clone-close-they-come-91488/

 

[jmuman703]

Thanks Meta! I know what I'm brewing next!

 

[JuiceyJay]

I think every home brewer should take a trip to the Sam Adams brewery in Boston during their lifetime, it's like the mecca for home brewers. During the tour they pass around cups of different grains and hops, encouraging guests to taste the grains as well as rub the hop leafs in their hands to get some great aromas. Mmmm, hops.

Took a tour of bridgeport in Portland and got to visit the hop room and had us roll the hops in our hands and smell them, was cool....LOVE the smell of cascade.

 

[evolcoms]

Nice head, man! Looks a bit cloudy. I'm worried I might get that with my Two Hearted clone I just transfered to secondary yesterday; it was the last batch before I started using whirlfloc. I'm thinking of using gelatin when bottling.

I like the label, I used the same one to take some pictures of my Gingerbread Brown. Did you use milk to adhere it to the bottle?

Thanks man! It is still a little cloudy, but it was only in the fridge for a couple hours. Hopefully it well clear up more in the next week. As for the labels, I did use milk to adhere them to the bottle.

 

[metanoia]

Thanks Meta! I know what I'm brewing next!

No problem, the recipes on here are awesome, especially when there are 25+ pages of feedback. Mines been really tasty out of the primary samples, I'm itching to get it into bottles in about a week.

 

[metanoia]

Thanks man! It is still a little cloudy, but it was only in the fridge for a couple hours. Hopefully it well clear up more in the next week. As for the labels, I did use milk to adhere them to the bottle.

I tried wetting the back of my label, printed on regular paper, with some skim milk. It stayed on for a bit, but eventually fell off.

 

[evolcoms]

I used normal printing paper. I brushed on a thin layer of milk on the bottle and then laid the label on top of the milk. The milk creates a nice layer on the bottle.

 

[unionrdr]

I got some label paper at the lhbs that only needs to be dampened on the back to stick. Says it's easy to remove,but have yet to try it.

 

[evolcoms]

I got some label paper at the lhbs that only needs to be dampened on the back to stick. Says it's easy to remove,but have yet to try it.

Like a postal stamp?

 

[unionrdr]

Yup. Comes in different pastel colors too.