new to extract brewing

[jthomasbutcher]

I am new to the process and "patiently" awaiting my new setup but before i get it i wanted to see if there are any things i should pay extra attention to or tricks that have worked well in the past.

 

[chrishanson]

Don't drink and brew. You're more likely to miss a step in the instructions.

 

[Derrminator]

I watched as many youtube videos of other people brewing as I could to see the process in action.

 

[soccerdad]

Drink and brew - it's more fun ! J/K

Be sure to control fermentation temp as best you can. Lots of inexpensive methods in these pages.

 

[alby44]

1. Plenty of reading on these forums and video watching before brewing...its helps immensely to see how its done before proceeding yourself
2. Have your process thought ahead of time...preferably a step-by-step print out to follow
3. Depending on if you're stove top or burner brewing, know and learn to control temps to prevent boil overs
4. Depending on the size of your kettle, have a water bottle at-the-ready and spray like crazy if you're about to boil over.
5. Have FUN, and know that beer is VERY, VERY forgiving!!

Welcome to the obsession:rockin:

 

[unionrdr]

Also, depending on the maker of the beer kit, the times in the instructions are wack. Read up on here in the stickies for beginning brewers for more help with times. Patience is the single most important thing to learn in home brewing. Not to mention learning to use a hydrometer.

 

[KeninMN]

Which setup did you buy?

 

[stevehardt]

First of all, congrats on the step up! Extract brewing is awesome.

I'd suggest a few things

1. Dont scorch the wort on the bottom of the pan. Scorched wart tastes terrible!
2. Heat the extract in the can or plastic bottle by running warm water over the can/jug. You'll get more of the extract out of the container and into the boil if you do this
3. Watch your sanitation
4. Have fun.

Congrats again

 

[unionrdr]

I always sanitize a soup ladle to ladle some hot wort into the LME container to rinse it out. I want every bit of it where it belongs!

 

[CBXBob]

Fermentation temperature control is the most important lesson I've learned. Cleanliness, and sanitation (not sterilization) are important too but don't get crazy.
And follow directions, but don't get crazy. I've been extract brewing for 3 years, my only fail so far was ferment temp that went above 80 degrees. The more you do it (brew) the easier it gets, Relax, enjoy the process, try different styles, different company's kits, work your way up to the big brews (Pliney the Elder), be patient with your self, and learn from mistakes, keep good notes, but don't get crazy Did I mention have fun?

 

[paperairplane]

Once you pitch yeast, close it up and don't mess with it for 3 weeks.

 

[beekeeperman]

When you get to your 1st "brew day" you will see why its called brew day.
Give yourself plenty of time. It doesn't take all day but it does take a few hours
from getting everything ready to brewing to fermenter to cleaning up.
Figure on a couple more hours for bottling day. Same thing, getting everything ready, bottling and cleaning up.
I'm only 6 extract batches into it so far and i figure each 5 gal batch takes 5-6 hours total from brew to bottle.
Have fun, enjoy your tasty brew.

 

[MonsterBrew]

If you are using liquid yeast, make sure to take it out of the fridge a few hours beforehand to let it warm up to room temperature before you pitch into the 80 degree wort. There have been times where I went through the whole process then only remembered to take the yeast out of the fridge when it was ready. Luckily it started fermenting but it could be one less headache when you're waiting for that airlock to start bubbling.

-Jeff