Noob from NH

[thepinkfloydfan]

Hi all,

New to brewing as of last Saturday. Glad to be on the forums with you all. The environment seems friendly, unlike some of the forums I have been at. I have already gathered a lot of extremely helpful information from you all and am sure there will be plenty more to come.

Can't wait to brew up some Apfelwein!

 

[tbulger]

welcome, where bouts in NH

 

[Vermicous]

Welcome, always good to see some more people from New Hampshire.

 

[Zymurgrafi]

Welcome from Northeast VT.

What was your first brew? Tell us about it.

 

[thepinkfloydfan]

Living in Milford NH actually.

My first recipe was a Red Ale with 4lbs amber LME and 1lbs wheat DME. I also added 1oz Willamette at hot break and another oz 58 minutes in. Irish moss used at 45 minutes in. The recipe is going well thus far. My fermentation started a little high, around 85 degrees or so. Not enough ice for my ice bath!

Checked the gravity yesterday (5 days in fermenter) and it smelled and looked like beer already. The taste was also like beer, but not good beer! I know time will change that, as many people here push the 1-2-3 system. Don't have a secondary yet, but will probably buy one soon. 20 bucks for the fermenter is a lot cheaper than I expected which is nice!

OG was 1.041 and is now down to 1.014. Need it to drop a few more points and I should hopefully be able to bottle next week sometime. I plan to sanitize the bottles in the dishwasher with the heated dry, hopefully that works well.

I believe I sanitized all the other equipment very well. Used C-Brite for everything, but the stuff is a little to bleachy for me. Is Star-San really that awesome? A lot of people seem to think it is the best. Since it is no rinse, environmentally friendly and re-usable it seems like a great way to go.

Thanks!

 

[tbulger]

yes star san is great. At northern brewer they sell the 32 ounce for 12 dollars i think, even with shipping its cheaper than anywhere else youll find it. MY star san goes back and forth between carboys fermenters bottling bucket and i store it in another buket i use one five gallon batch for the longevity of a brew from fermenter to bottles then i change it, i could use it longer but my bottles make it dirty. IT works out to be cheaper than most other sanitizers this way.

Do you get yout stuff online or locally? theres a place in pembroke i go nice guy, good prices.

 

[LouT]

Welcome!
I like Iodophor, and it's pretty cheap, too. But it doesn't clean, just sanitizes.
Where's the LHBS in Pembroke? I go to Pembroke for work once in a while, Sheep Davis Rd. area.

 

[tbulger]

www.kettletokeg.com its in the little center of town they have there, on main street. Hes got a small shop but good prices, and cornys for 20 or 25,or something I forget. IF you comming up from mass on 93 and take exit 11 you prolly go right by it.