Of course. I used to use about 4.5 ounces per 5 gallons of beer being bottled. That's from memory since I don't bottle anymore. Verify!
Throwing in the towel
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Of course. I used to use about 4.5 ounces per 5 gallons of beer being bottled. That's from memory since I don't bottle anymore. Verify!
skraeling
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Ive never boiled longer than an hour, never done less than an hour either though to be honest
I'm glad you've decided to continue--it will get better, and as you keep at it, it will get great.
While some new brewers hit a decent brew right off the bat, I don't think the odds are great on that happening unless they do certain things.
1. Follow an established recipe, one that isn't overly complicated. The goal of a first brew should be to learn the process and produce decent drinkable beer. No experimenting, unless you want a lot of variables all vying for the main reason the beer didn't turn out.
2. Follow the instructions. Even go so far as to re-write them to be sure you have them down.
3. Find a local mentor if you can, someone who can either walk you through it the first time or whose brew day you can participate in. Brewing isn't rocket science but neither is it uncomplicated to some degree.
4. Everybody says this but it's true: clean and sanitize. I have four--count them, 4--small spray bottles full of Star San. Everything that comes in contact w/ the wort or beer post-boil is treated to a Star-San shower. I prepared gelatin finings last night for a fermenter; the glass cup in which I heated the water was sprayed, the thermemeter I used to stir and check temp was sprayed. I spray the quick-disconnects and posts on my kegs before I hook them up. It might sound like a pain, but once you get in the habit of doing it, it takes no more thought than scratching your nose.
5. Water matters. Early on I'd read that if your water tastes good, you can brew good beer. Well. Maybe certain kinds, but not necessarily all kinds, and it's certainly not true in my case. My first beer was drinkable, but not really all that good. I've since learned enough about water to know that was probably the reason. It's probably easiest and best to ask for advice on this at the start. Water can get very complicated, but if you can get a water profile (and help in producing it) for your local water and how to amend it from someone nearby, that would be very good. Then later you can figure out why it was the right thing to do.
And last but not least--though it's not advice for new brewers but a formula for getting better--practice continuous quality improvement. Each time try to do something better.
Good luck!
I've read that it needs 30 seconds. There are probably times when I don't get that, quite, but given that everything gets sprayed, all the time, there aren't many places left for those nasties to hide out from Star San.
Morrey
Well-Known Member
You may be right in quitting if this is a hobby that simply isn't suited for you. Not all folks are inclined to make beer since there is some level of science and chemistry involved.
Until you make the commitment for a more professional beer making set-up, you may be happier buying beer off the shelves. If you do stick with it as you indicated in a later post, you can easily do small batches of all grain which give great results. Just use a nylon bag (BIAB) for grains and follow a few simple guidelines not much more involved than you are doing now.
I doubt you'll get decent beer from the Bed Bath and Beyond style of kits. To brew better beer, you have to have the aspiration to advance beyond the level you started with.
You did mention you made a Pilsner you considered dumping. I have had batches I considered dumping but let them age out for a month or two and they turned out much better. Brewing your first few beers makes you want to hurry and try one of your creations out. Patience is the biggest shortfall of new brewers.
Mongoose33 made a good point for you to hookup with a LHBS brew group so you can tag along with experienced brewers. This is the way to go bro!
Until you make the commitment for a more professional beer making set-up, you may be happier buying beer off the shelves. If you do stick with it as you indicated in a later post, you can easily do small batches of all grain which give great results. Just use a nylon bag (BIAB) for grains and follow a few simple guidelines not much more involved than you are doing now.
I doubt you'll get decent beer from the Bed Bath and Beyond style of kits. To brew better beer, you have to have the aspiration to advance beyond the level you started with.
You did mention you made a Pilsner you considered dumping. I have had batches I considered dumping but let them age out for a month or two and they turned out much better. Brewing your first few beers makes you want to hurry and try one of your creations out. Patience is the biggest shortfall of new brewers.
Mongoose33 made a good point for you to hookup with a LHBS brew group so you can tag along with experienced brewers. This is the way to go bro!
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
WarEagleBrewer
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What made you try brewing initially? I mean, what did you hope to get out of the hobby? A lot of folks try it for the wrong reasons. The first I can think of is "cheap beer". If you are looking to be frugal, this hobby does NOT start that way. There are things you will need to buy up front in order to make good beer. If you are an impatient person in general, go ahead and quit. If you are easily frustrated, go ahead and quit. It the thought of pouring down the drain something you spent $40 on and waited 4 weeks for upsets you, go ahead and quit. I also started with a Mr. Beer kit. It made beer. It was not good beer, but hey....I'm not picky.....until I AM. I invested in 5 gallon all grain equipment and wow what a difference! One difference.....WAY MORE TIME INVESTED! So if you don't enjoy the process itself, quit. It is WAY easier to just DRINK good beer than try to make it. For me, the joy is in the making more than the drinking. If I make a beer I like, that's a bonus. If I make a beer my friends like, that is the ultimate reward for me. All of us are different. I HIGHLY recommend the idea of doing some 1 gallon all gain brews before you quit though. Cheers!
Morrey
Well-Known Member
WarEagle, you made a heck of a lot of good points. The primary point is...DO YOU ENJOY THE BREWING PROCESS? If so, stick with it, take your lumps and bruises as we all do, and keep brewing til you get it down pat.
I jumped into brewing when Mich Ultra in the keg got so expensive. My plan was to make beer and save big bucks.....wrong answer. I have over $3,000 easily in equipment so that translates into 50 1/6 barrels of beer. Then I have to buy grains, yeasts, CO2, supplies, etc. Long story short, I ain't savin' money. BUT I am loving the process, making awesome beers and forget that Mich Ultra crap. Bottom line...I love what I am doing.
I jumped into brewing when Mich Ultra in the keg got so expensive. My plan was to make beer and save big bucks.....wrong answer. I have over $3,000 easily in equipment so that translates into 50 1/6 barrels of beer. Then I have to buy grains, yeasts, CO2, supplies, etc. Long story short, I ain't savin' money. BUT I am loving the process, making awesome beers and forget that Mich Ultra crap. Bottom line...I love what I am doing.
skraeling
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I've read that it needs 30 seconds. There are probably times when I don't get that, quite, but given that everything gets sprayed, all the time, there aren't many places left for those nasties to hide out from Star San.
Straight off the MSDS for it they provide.
granted by the time we use stuff its probably sat for a few minutes anyway.
OP are you following instructions of the kits or the advice someone is giving you? I see that you are boiling hopped malt extract. As far as I know this is usually not the way these are done. If boiled at all it is only long enough to sanitize things.
As previously stated, if you are into this to save money, it will take a long time to recoup the initial investment. I have progressed to all grain. I kept a spreadsheet and it took at least 3 years to get all the equipment paid for by buying in bulk to save money. Even still you can buy cheap beer for less than I can make it.
Again, buy a decent equipment kit and a quality ingredient kit, use good water and give it another go.
Also, ignore those that say you must go to all grain to make good beer. I do extracts with quality ingredients and they are just as good as my all grain. Side by side you could probably tell the difference, if not side by side you wouldn't tell the difference.
As previously stated, if you are into this to save money, it will take a long time to recoup the initial investment. I have progressed to all grain. I kept a spreadsheet and it took at least 3 years to get all the equipment paid for by buying in bulk to save money. Even still you can buy cheap beer for less than I can make it.
Again, buy a decent equipment kit and a quality ingredient kit, use good water and give it another go.
Also, ignore those that say you must go to all grain to make good beer. I do extracts with quality ingredients and they are just as good as my all grain. Side by side you could probably tell the difference, if not side by side you wouldn't tell the difference.
WarEagleBrewer
Well-Known Member
I don't want to be misinterpreted as saying you must go all-grain. I did one quality extract kit between Mr. Beer and All grain and it was great. MUCH better than Mr. Beer, but because I wanted to totally understand and control (or at least be a part of) the entire processes, all-grain was the logical step. Also, keep a DETAILED brewing journal! This will help you see where you might have made a mistake. Another thing to remember, beer isn't the only thing you can make. For a simple, almost ALWAYS successful experiment, make some Edworts Apfelwein (do a search here on HBT). If you manage to screw that up (which you won't) then definitely take that as a sign of what you should do....
ReaperOnefour
Well-Known Member
I was thinking of going over to northern Brewer if this brew demon kit doesn't work out for me. I saw some beginner kits that I liked. I've read some good reviews about their kits. Any thoughts?
WarEagleBrewer
Well-Known Member
Do you have the 2 gallon or 6 gallon brew demon kit? And do you like to make things yourself? If so, I can give you a few ideas on getting some basic equipment locally for a good price. If you have a 2 gallon brew demon kit, you are set to do 1 gallon all grain brews. Likewise with the 6 doing 5 gallon. They basically provide you with the fermentation vessel. Depending on your size, I'll recommend the other things you might want (without spending a small fortune).
Chiller_ale
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Northern Brewer is where I started. They have some great kits. I would recommend clicking on the learn tab and checking out the video section. Also, their youTube channel. After watching a ton of vids and reading alot, my first batch turned out great. I am a few extract batches in and am going to start an all grain this weekend.
Good starter extract vid:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaDQ6S6p6Wk[/ame]
GHBWNY
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By all means, try a good quality kit. My LHBS carried only True Brew kits when I started and they made a good beer every time. And the LHBS guy was a successful home brewer, who helped me over some bumps in the road. I have also tried Northern Brewer, Brewer's Best and Brooklyn Brew Shop kits, again with great results. I've gone all-grain since then, but starting with a good-quality kit gave me a lot of confidence to keep pursuing the next level. If I'd had the experience kit after kit that you had, I think I might have considered quitting also. Some of the basic beginning aspects of successful brewing are: hydrometer, sanitation and ferm temp control. And patience. Lots of patience.
swampbrewcrew
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I've been brewing for a year and a half. I've done about 20 batches. I started with a mr beer someone gave me for Christmas and it was terrible. I'm doing all grain now which made a big difference but no where near as big as these three things. Fermentation temperature control, yeast starters for liquid yeasts, and a brew log. The first good beer I brewed is lost to history. I didn't write anything down and I can't replicate it. My beers are better now than that one, but I learned to keep track of things better.
swampbrewcrew
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Just as a footnote. I know just enough about brewing to start really screwing stuff up. I'm in no way experienced.
ReaperOnefour
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I have the brew demon 2 gallon kit. I've already brewed the Vienna lager. ( Which came out cidery.) I have the one evil pilsner conditioning right now. I also have a replacement Vienna lager recipe in the box that brew demon send me.
applescrap
Be the ball!
I'm going to edit my real response to this. The short version, I disagree with you. Please keep in mind that we all brew for different reasons. If I was to follow your advice I would have quit a long long time ago.
To reaper please pm me and I can help you get started cheaply and quickly if you would like to know more about those things. There are 99 ways to skin a cat and 93 of them work. You will find many want to tell you exactly how to do it, I hope you find your own way and what is best for you in this fascinating and varied hobby.
Btw did you watch the 15 minute pale ale video. Those two guys are famous Homebrew writers and podcasters.
ReaperOnefour
Well-Known Member
I saw two beginner kits from northern Brewer that I like. I can't remember the name, but it's the one that has the two big mouth bubblers for primary & secondary. The other one I like is the go pro 1 gal kit. The thing is I'm kind of limited space wise, & I was also thinking that maybe I should stay small until I really get the hang of brewing before I start doing big batches.
applescrap
Be the ball!
What size is your kettle and what other gear if any do you have? You need starsan and for now you can ferment up to two-and-a-half gallons in those mr. Beer kegs, I used to. I'm not familiar with those kits but if they are extract keep in mind, that they have already been boiled that's how they became extract.
ReaperOnefour
Well-Known Member
What's up kh54? The instructions that brew demon provides says to boil the hme & the brewing enhancer ( which is pretty much corn syrup) until completely dissolved. Then pour into the conical fermenter. They say ferment for 1 week then bottle. I ferment for two weeks, then bottle.
ReaperOnefour
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Apple scrap. I have the mr beer lbk( little brown keg) & the brew demon plastic conical fermenter. I also have 24 of the 1 liter pet bottles, a bottling wand, some funnels, air lock, & that's about it.
applescrap
Be the ball!
You need a kettle. Cheapest for the most part is a 12 dollar ss 4 g for 2.5 gallon batches and 20 dollar 8 gallon tamale pot for 5 gallon batches. From there its like a ball of string, how long do you want it. For all grain the options are either the grains move out from the water in a bag or the water moves through the grain in a drain valve. Denny Conn home brew master, writer, and journalist of all things brewing has said he is still using his cooler mash tun for 19 years. Other option the bag pulled and lifted by hand or pulley and drained over kettle, squeezed in bucket, dunk sparged, and so on. A ten gallon kettle makes a great option. Affordable and versatile. I went with 15 gallon 65 dollar aluminum kettle because experience led me to wanting plenty of head space and room for high gravity brews. But I started with 20 gallon 8 kettle pot to see how my stove would do. Key here......how are you going to boil batches and heat water? Excited to see how you do with real products.
applescrap
Be the ball!
Brewing has 2 sides. A hot side and a cold side. From the end of the boil to your gut everything, umm every little thing clean and sanitized. See mongoose suggestions on sanitization procedures.
The real reality so far for you is simple. The quality of what you are putting in your kettle is the quality coming out. Fix that and your beer will improve. Cheers
The real reality so far for you is simple. The quality of what you are putting in your kettle is the quality coming out. Fix that and your beer will improve. Cheers
ReaperOnefour
Well-Known Member
Apple scrap. Lol, me too. Well, like I said I do like the northern Brewer kit with the two big mouth bubblers. However....space is a little limited at my house. I also like the go pro 1 gal kit too. I was thinking maybe I should stay small until I get the hang of brewing. Hey. So the northern Brewer kit with a lme....is that considered an all grain recipe?
applescrap
Be the ball!
If you can afford the fermenters and have room they sound nice. Otherwise use good ingredients and start with your lbk to ferment. I use buckets and wish I had nice fermentors like those. Just now got 2nd fermenter bucket. I keep stuff at way minimum. As for extract I have only used hme mr beer. Others will be more able to anwer extract questions.
skraeling
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If it has extract its not all grain. All grain really is literally just grains.
https://www.friartuckonline.com/Products/OFallon-MO/5001038/Brewing/LDC-1038-SCOTCH-ALE-KIT/
Was the last kit I did. You dont need much room to even do 5 gallon batches. I do mine in my kitchen even.
More like 2.5 ounces/5 Gallons if your using table sugar. Even that's been too much occasionally.
ReaperOnefour
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys for all the advice. Hopefully this pilsner turns out good. If it don't....my guess is brew demon is handing out bad yeast. Because I followed their brewing instructions to a "T".
