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[newbrewr4fun]

Well my first brew has been frementing for about 5 days now I am going to take a reading on Sunday and most likely rack to a secondary. I have been keeping the frementer in a rubbermaid tub filled with some water, with a t shirt and fan. The temp in my room is about 77 degrees. That should keep it at about 68 right? I don't have a thermometer yet but I am getting one shipped tomorrow from ebay. Also when I rack to secondary, should I keep the carboy cool as well or let it sit at room temperature. It is usually between 69 and 76 degrees in the house. I read that temps for a secondary are not as important as primary frementation.

Now what to brew next. I figure I will be bottling the beer I have now, a stout from my hbs, in about 2 weeks. That gives me a little time to buy a kit. I was thinking about going to morebeer.com and picking up one of their mini mash kits and getting the mini mash tun for 16 dollars as well. I only have one brew under my belt and it is still frementing. Maybe an extract kit from AHS would be a better option? I would like to try an IPA or a pale ale, or even a dark ale. Anything with a relativley high gravity. Does anyone recommend a particular kit they brewed or something else?

 

[TheFlatline]

Well my first brew has been frementing for about 5 days now I am going to take a reading on Sunday and most likely rack to a secondary. I have been keeping the frementer in a rubbermaid tub filled with some water, with a t shirt and fan. The temp in my room is about 77 degrees. That should keep it at about 68 right? I don't have a thermometer yet but I am getting one shipped tomorrow from ebay. Also when I rack to secondary, should I keep the carboy cool as well or let it sit at room temperature. It is usually between 69 and 76 degrees in the house. I read that temps for a secondary are not as important as primary frementation.

Now what to brew next. I figure I will be bottling the beer I have now, a stout from my hbs, in about 2 weeks. That gives me a little time to buy a kit. I was thinking about going to morebeer.com and picking up one of their mini mash kits and getting the mini mash tun for 16 dollars as well. I only have one brew under my belt and it is still frementing. Maybe an extract kit from AHS would be a better option? I would like to try an IPA or a pale ale, or even a dark ale. Anything with a relativley high gravity. Does anyone recommend a particular kit they brewed or something else?

You really, really need some way to tell temperature. The sticky thermometer strips rule for this. It's possible your beer is a bit warmer than you realize, but you should be okay.

I'd save my money on the mini mash tun and put that money towards either a dorm fridge that can fit a carboy or a fermentation chiller (I'm finishing up my fermentation chiller myself). The return on investment (at least in terms of quality of beer) would seem to be higher to me investing in temperature control right now than jumping to AG. I suspect I'll be seconded in that suspicion.

I say make something you'd like to drink.

 

[Catfish]

You really, really need some way to tell temperature. The sticky thermometer strips rule for this. It's possible your beer is a bit warmer than you realize, but you should be okay.

I'd save my money on the mini mash tun and put that money towards either a dorm fridge that can fit a carboy or a fermentation chiller (I'm finishing up my fermentation chiller myself). The return on investment (at least in terms of quality of beer) would seem to be higher to me investing in temperature control right now than jumping to AG. I suspect I'll be seconded in that suspicion.

I say make something you'd like to drink.

Yep, that sounds right. I think you save your 16 bucks and buy one more extract kit with it. Don't worry about doing partial mashes yet. If you want to worry about something spend your time and money on sanitation, it is 100% more important than AG vs PM vs Extract.

I would skip the secondary too. Take the time to brew another batch.

 

[chachi]

You might like to try their (morebeer's) Columbus IPA kit....always a crowd pleaser. Mix between a Steam Beer and an IPA. Tasty.