Ordered a MRB, but got some extras! Help ID them PLZ?

[GotPushrods]

So... here's a question...

Temperature is apparently a big deal. Normally, here where I live (In Southern Alabama) It gets really hot.

I keep my house in the high 60's. Should I wrap the fermentor?

I just got my MRB in the mail today, and plan on pitching the yeast tomorrow.

I need to buy a small thermometer to find out what the temp is in a few dark spots in my house... closets, cabinets, etc...

Think it will be safe to go ahead and brew tomorrow, and pick up a thermometer later on? What thermometer do you guys recommend (Without breaking the bank!)

<--- Budget Brewer!

There are ways to rig up fermentation coolers on the cheap... I've been there.

But a small fermentation fridge is not out of reach on a budget. Scour the classifieds near any university at the end of a semester for a dorm fridge. Many will have all the cooling coils in the freezer shelf. Just bend that freezer piece (carefully) down against the back wall of the fridge. You might need to build a small wooden shelf to smooth out the compressor hump. A temperature controller can be had for 20 bucks on eBay or Amazon (the STC-1000 has been discussed to death here). In the end you're talking less than 100 bucks. Maybe 75. Small price to pay for set-it-and-forget it.

 

[S2005]

I did NOT know about the free shipping on orders over $59!!!

Morebeer is about to get a bunch of my money... hahaha.

rodwha:
Any idea as to what type of yeast you'll be buying? No idea yet... All I have so far, is what came in a small packet with my Mr. Beer. I don't really know much about the different types of yeast... g

What kind of beer are you making? My personal flavor choices are Lagers. Yueingling is one my favorites. I like an occasional Blue Moon, and I enjoy a good stout. I do have to say IPA wins my heart though. I will drink those all day long... which explains the beer gut.

I haven't actually brewed a drop yet. I haven't bought anything except the Mr. Beer, and it came with Mexican Cerveza and some Czech Republic thing... Not too excited about those flavors

Probably won't be ordering anything else from Mr. Beer. I'll be going with the PET Better Bottles... or MAYBE the glass ones... but I will most likely grab plastic.

I need 2 right? a 5 Gallon, and a 6 or a 6.5?

As for the mini fridge... well... I HAD one... Read HERE.

I'll get a new one on Craigs List soon. Unless mine is fixable... which I highly doubt... I'll have to hunt down this temperature controller though.


PS. SUCKS even in the WINTER time here, its too hot to brew lol.
On another note, I just got a small thermometer, and my house is 70 on the dot. My garage FEELS colder, but I'm betting the temps out there fluxuate too much?
Funny, when I was doing some reading pre ordering anything, I was worried it would be too COLD in my house lol.

 

[Medicbrewer]

Sounds like you're on the right track to great obsession/hobby. I live in South Alabama, too, so if you need anything, just shoot me a pm. BTW, the best HBS I've found in 'Bama is The Wine Smith in Mobile. They have a pretty good selection and they're reasonably priced. I haven't tried any of the ones in B'ham but TWS has everything I've needed.

Roll Tide!

 

[HopZombie99]

Ok, so I may drive over to Pensacola (only 45 minutes away) and find a LHBS there.

So far, my grocery list to complete this set-up is:
Auto-siphon (which takes care of the racking cane too right?)
Lids for the buckets. I'm guessing they are 6.5Gal? Do I need ones with holes drilled in them or not?
Thermometer
Hydrometer test vial/jar

You'll need fresh extract mate. There's no sense in using ingredients which are no longer suitable for consumption. All you will do is spend time bottling it, then realizing it is not drinkable. You will also waste money by putting the other ingredients in that brew which you will only pour down the drain. If you are going to the HBS, do yourself a favor and pick up some fresh ingredients.

 

[S2005]

Thanks guys for the posts!!! RTR Medic! Where abouts are ya in AL? I'm in Daphne.

HopZombie, I agree. I will be buying new ingredients. That shopping list was just the equipment I'd need to brew stuff. I still haven't made up my mind on if I want to go All-Grain, or stick to the premixed LME. I think I'll stay with the premix for now, until I get much more comfortable with the process, and then attempt an All-Grain batch

****

On a related note! I just pitched my first batch! I got my MRB in the mail on Friday, and put it all together tonight. I'm crossing my fingers that it turns out well! The closet I put it in was about 64°F. After about an hour, it raised to about 67°F. I'm guessing that is normal due to the fermenting taking place? I could be wrong...

The MRB directions say that 67°-75° is ideal...

I also have a Hydrometer... took a reading right before I put it in the closet. It read 1.027... isn't that a bit low?

****

I'm hunting for a cheap mini fridge on Craigslist now, so that when my better bottles get here, I'll be ready to have them the perfect temp the whole time. I read that the darker the beer, the lower the fermenting temperature?

Thoughts on this mini fridge? http://mobile.craigslist.org/app/3514631559.html
Here is another neat looking one. http://mobile.craigslist.org/app/3486912362.html

Also, when I buy them, I need a 6 and a 5 gallon Carboy/Better Bucket right?

 

[rodwha]

A quality cheap yeast (ale) is Fermentis US-05. I understand it to be the same strain as White Labs 001 California Ale, which is good (I use it), and Wyeast 1056 American Ale.

A lager will require much colder temps (fermenting in high 40's-mid 50's or so, and then lagering near freezing. They also take longer.

You don't need two unless you plan on doing a secondary, which many don't believe is necessary. That is unless you are adding fruit or something. If you do use a secondary it'll need to be a smaller volume as you don't want much headspace. If your batch is 5.5 gallons you'll want a 5 gal carboy. Marbles can be added to help alter the volume to rid yourself of the headspace issue.

Fluctuating temps are bad. You want to keep it as steady as you can (within reason). Mine stays within 2* I'd guess most of the time. I've had some get closer to 5-6* as I was away too long.

I'd stick with a kit/extract ingredients as all grain is much more involved and much less forgiving. I'm moving slowly in that direction by doing a mini mash once in a while.

Your brew will likely be 10* above room temp without it sitting in a bucket of water, and 4* in a chilled bucket of water. I'm not sure how you are measuring your temp.

Your hydrometer reading is quite low. 1.027 would likely be about a 3% ABV beer, but it's quite likely it wasn't all stirred well. If it was a kit and you followed the directions well it ought to be close enough to what the kit claimed.

"The MRB directions say that 67°-75° is ideal..."

When they say this they mean the beer itself.

 

[S2005]

The Ale Yeast you mentioned, I found, for $5.75 on Morebeer. Is it a liquid yeast? If so, it recommends 2 day shipping... I should probably just find it at my LHBS right?

As much as I love Lagers, I don't yet have the equipment to cold ferment. I'll have to stick to Ale brewing for now. I really want to try to brew a Cherry Stout, and a fruit flavored wheat beer.

As for the Better Bottle/Carboy sizes, I plan on 5 Gallon batches, and some will have fruit... so should I just buy a 6 and a 5? or a 6.5 and a 5?

"Fluctuating temps are bad." I figured as much. I'm working on finding a mini fridge to be able to ferment in to keep it a constant temp.

I agree with sticking to kits/extracts. Seems a lot easier.

I'm measuring my temp with a cheap little thermometer I got from walmart. It isn't the temp of the brew, its the temp in the closet near the MRB keg.

 

[unionrdr]

At least get a stick on thermomenter for the fermenter. You can goto petsmart & get one for an aquarium,same thing. Also,get a set of three lift tube brushes while you're there. They're great for cleaning tubes,spigots,& the like. Both should cost no more than about $5.

 

[S2005]

Yeah I'm ordering a couple now. Gonna grab a stick on thermometer, and a floating thermometer too.

 

[rodwha]

The US-05 is dry yeast. The other two are liquid.

I've had them send me liquid yeast during the summer with an ice pack with the free shipping (~5 days) without a problem. During the winter there's less problem as it's cold...

The liquid yeast are better if you make a yeast starter (~4 oz of DME in 1qt of water). This is a mini beer (~1.040 gravity or ~4% ABV) to get the yeast active and numerous that you'll make the day before or so. The dry yeast doesn't need this.

You won't necessarily need a fridge with a temp controller, though it's no doubt better and easier. You can take a plastic storage bin and fill it ~1/2 way with water and use old soda/water bottles and freeze them with water inside. I keep my water between 60-64* this way. I rotate bottles about 3 times a day and use everything from 1/2 liter to 2 liter bottles. It takes up a lot of freezer space though. But we have 2 refrigerators.

Have you looked into washing yeast or making larger starters so as to save some yeast for reuse? Saves money. I'm going to make my starters larger as washing yeast is a bit of work. Been doing it though...

 

[rodwha]

If you may be adding things such as fruit you may want a carboy that's about a gallon larger than you r batch size. You can take up any additional space with marbles.

If you make a 5 gallon batch you'll lose ~ 1/2 gallon to "trub", which is sediment from yeast, grains, etc. So when transferring your 5 gallon batch will become a 4.5 gallon batch. But extra space is better than not enough when it comes to adding stuff. Better to get a 6-6.5 gallon carboy I'd guess.

My secondaries have been to another bucket for 7-10 days for dry hopping IPA's. I probably should have taken up the extra space, but didn't. I don't secondary anything else, yet... I'll be making a barleywine eventually.

I've never done such, but will be soon as SWMBO just bought (3) 3 gal carboys to begin making wine/mead. It was suggested to her that she could also use fish tank rocks to take up the space.

 

[S2005]

I will probably stick to dry yeast then. Is this the correct stuff? How many packs do I need for a 5 gallon batch?

You're describing a swamp bucket right? I can do that. I have a few huge 50 gallon storage bins I could put it into. I think the temp in my house is good though... its mid to high 60s. In the summer though, it gets up the low 80s, so I'll definitely need to invest in something for brewing then.

I haven't looked into washing yeast. I was actually about to start a thread asking what could I do with the used yeast. I read about someone making pretzels out of it!!! I'd love to try that haha!

I didn't even really know you COULD reuse yeast. I was gonna just get new yeast each batch. It's only $3 per pack...

If it saves money though, I'll learn how to wash yeast.

 

[unionrdr]

I've never lost half a gallon to trub. Maybe .5L or less usually. Straining into the FV will do that. You need only one packet of dry yeast for the average gravity 5 gallon batch.

 

[S2005]

Delete this one ... : \

 

[rodwha]

That is the right yeast.

i'm not really sure how much volume I lose. But I've certainly left a little beer behind as it had trubby stuff floating in it.

I'll see if I can find a good link to washing yeast and the one I found on making a larger starter and saving a portion.

 

[unionrdr]

Gary from Homebrewer TV has one of his episodes on yeast washing on youtube. He's a mamber here. I think he shows it pretty well.

 

[S2005]

Ok, so the shopping list thus far is:

Auto-siphon $9.95
5 Gallon Plastic Carboy $24.00
Carboy Handle $5.50
Carboy Lid $2.75
2 Foodgrade Bucket Lids $3.90
Fermometer $3.50
2 US-05 Yeast Packs $5.98 ($2.99ea)
Blueberry Flavoring $4.95
American Wheat Extract $25.75

Totaling $86.28

Considering what items I already own, does this sound good?

 

[rodwha]

Washing yeast:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/yeast-washing-illustrated-41768/

Making a larger starter just requires similar steps, but instead of using 4 oz of DME for a starter you use 6 oz. Do your best to get about 1/3 into another jar for saving.

For a 1 qt starter I use 2 qt juice bottles that I cleaned and sanitized.

I chill the 1 qt of water/4 oz of DME and put in the juice bottle. Decant most of the liquid saving just a little to stir up the yeast and pour into the jug. Shake vigorously several times a day. After I shake it I unscrew the cap about 1/4 turn to allow the CO2 to escape. Cheap n easy.

For washing the yeast I use (2) 1 gal vinegar bottles, and (3) 2 qt juice bottles along with a large funnel.

 

[dcocch]

I live in Eastern Alabama and you shouldn't need a swamp cooler in January. I brewed and New Years Eve and my fermenting bucket is sitting in a closet in the guest room. It's stable at 65 degrees (I don't set my furnace above 68). Once we get into Mar/April and the temps start to rocket up, then I'll be using a swamp cooler.

Luckily, I'm moving back to Minnesota at the end of the summer so this will be my first and last summer brewing in the south!

 

[rodwha]

Do you have enough airlocks?

Are you making 2 wheat beers? Lots of wheat extract and no other type...

May need another fermometer.

You'll need a hose for the auto-siphon.

The carboy size may be small. 6 gal may be better if you are making 5 gal batches.

Don't forget that you'll need marbles or something on hand.

 

[S2005]

I have 1 airlock. Only going to be brewing 1 batch at a time for now.

Just 1 wheat beer for now. Will make more in the future I think. (is this the correct yeast for the wheat beer)

I have hose for the auto-siphon already

I'll switch it to a 6gal

I have tons of marbles around. I have kids...

I'll go ahead and toss in another airlock and another fermometer just to have em

 

[rodwha]

You can make a wheat beer with that yeast. It's been suggested to me, but I've used the liquid wheat yeast WLP 320 American Hefeweizen.

How many lbs of wheat extract is that? It is their Bavarian wheat DME, correct?

 

[rodwha]

Should have clicked on the link...sorry.

 

[rodwha]

You'll also need muslin bags or hop bags for the hops.

 

[rodwha]

Not sure what kind of alcohol level you are looking for, but this will be a min of 3.8%, and more likely about 4.3% ABV. They left room for you to add fermentables if you desire.

If you want to increase the alcohol you ought to buy 1 lb of DME or add honey or something.

 

[S2005]

I already placed the order : \

Did not know I needed hop bags...

I'll add some honey most likely. We have a lot of it here. My wife loves the stuff.

 

[rodwha]

You can call them and have them change your order. If calling won't work an email might. I've had to call the next day...

Hop bags may not be a necessity though. Many seem to brew without them. It just keeps more of the hop mess out of the trub/beer.

 

[rodwha]

Have you checked out hopville.com's brew calculator (calculus)?

I'll run the ingredients through it and give you the low down along with how honey will effect it.

 

[rodwha]

You did us US-05, correct?

 

[rodwha]

It's also been suggested to me to use panty hose for muslin bags. Seems odd, but I suppose it would work.