New to HBB have questions!!

[Craftman86]

Okay I started with goose island starter kit from northern brew. I am wondering if I should get a wort chiller before I start my brew day? Also is there a way to help keep beer clear during bottling? Is there anything else I might need if I want to do all grain brewing? Also what one is better ?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Welcome to the forum!

Yes get a chiller a cheap Immersion chiller works fine...you could even make one. All it is coiled up copper tube.

Get a couple extracts under your belt before moving to all grain...just to learn the process

Goose Island is a great choice for a 1st beer. One of my favorite beers...Good luck...you wont need it its pretty easy to brew beer....Also if the directions tell you to use a secondary don't do it..keep it in the primary the whole time. The directions are outdated sometimes

Edit: If you really want to brew ASAP you could just stick the pot in ice water in the sink to cool it and get the chiller another time.
You didn't mention your fermentation process plan...the yeast need to stay within a set temp during fermentation....probably around 65 deg for that beer your making. If it gets to warm your beer will have off/bad flavors. Room temp this time of the year usually doesn't work

 

[mulletmaster]

Could also put the fermentation bucket in a cooler of water with ice packs to chill and hold fermentation temp.

 

[Craftman86]

I was wondering about that issue. Either I will keep house colder, or figure something else out. I will use just one fermentation, as I only have one bucket for that.

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

For ferm temp control, if the house is too warm do a search for "swamp cooler" - easy and fairly effective. If the house is too cool, put it in a closet with a small space heater and play with the temp control (check often) until it keeps the brew around 68-ish. Long term solution is to find a chest freezer on CL for a fermentation chamber and get a Johnson or Inkbird temp controller. I set up my ferm chamber for <$100. Temp control is one of the most important aspects of brewing.

 

[jodell]

I agree with @jonnyrotten

I always recommend a way to control fermentation temp to somebody as there first upgrade. It doesn't cosy to much and is easily the best thing you can improve your beer with

 

[ncbrewer]

I've always cooled the wort in the sink with plenty of ice. There's even an accepted practice of "no-chill" brewing where you just let it sit overnight before pitching the yeast. (I'm not crazy about that one - could let some bacteria get started.)

If you use an auto siphon with the inverted cap over the end, it will keep most of the trub out. Start the siphon with the end a few inches off bottom, and slowly lower it until it gets some trub - the pull up slightly.

Good luck.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Okay I started with goose island starter kit from northern brew. I am wondering if I should get a wort chiller before I start my brew day?
You don't need one doing extract, but you're going to need one eventually if you move to all grain.

For now you could boil your wort and top up with ice and water.

Also is there a way to help keep beer clear during bottling?
Keep it clear? The beer will clear over 2 - 3 weeks all on its own. All grain brewing requires some type of help such as Irish moss, campden tabs, or gelatin. Extract does not. Either way it will taste like beer.

Is there anything else I might need if I want to do all grain brewing?
Depends on if you go multi-vessel or BIAB. With BIAB all you would need is a bag. Multi-vessel requires a bit more of an investment.

Also what one is better?
A long debated question with no solid answer. As far as I'm concerned I will never extract a brown or porter. I could never have a one hour all grain brew day. So, you see, "better" is a loaded question. I've had amazing extract beers and superb all grain beers. I've also had beers from either method taste like road kill B-hole.

You're best bet is to get several brews under your belt and decide for yourself which method is best for you.

 

[Craftman86]

This kit has grains and also has extract. This is considered an extract brew?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Okay I started with goose island starter kit from northern brew. I am wondering if I should get a wort chiller before I start my brew day?
You don't need one doing extract, but you're going to need one eventually if you move to all grain.

What does extract vs all grain have to do with a chiller? Its all about stopping the hops from continuing bittering. Cold break makes no difference at all in the fermenter. It all settles out before racking

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

This kit has grains and also has extract. This is considered an extract brew?

Assuming the grains are a few ounces of crystal/roasted/carasomething, you have "extract with specialty grains". The fermentable wort is comprised solely of extract and you steep the specialty grains to help create additional flavor. These steeping grains don't add any fermentable sugar unless they are steeped with some base grains (2-row, pilsner, etc).

 

[Craftman86]

Thanks !!

 

[FloppyKnockers]

What does extract vs all grain have to do with a chiller? Its all about stopping the hops from continuing bittering. Cold break makes no difference at all in the fermenter. It all settles out before racking

Unless you're talking about full volume extract boils, the easiest way to chill an extract batch is to top up with ice water - no need for a chiller.