What did I do to my first brew?

[Jawnskie]

Hello all,

As of yesterday, I finally brewed my first batch of beer. I used a 1 gallon kit from Brooklyn Brew shop that I got for the holidays. The kit was for their 'American Pale Ale'. However, I ran into a couple of problems and I am not sure if I screwed it all up.

Before I continue, I'd like to let you know that I attempted to BIAB with this batch instead of the straining method they wanted you to use for the kit.

The first problem I ran into, was when I put my grains in the pot for the mash. I monitored my water temp for a while before I put my muslin bag in, the water was sitting nicely at 160 degrees. However, after I put the bag into the pot, the temp shot up to 170-180. It was only at this temperature for 2 mins before I took it off the heat and put the pot in a quick cold water bath. The temp went down after that and I managed to keep it under control for the rest of the hour. I was wondering, could that have really messed up the process for the sugars since, I basically had it at mash out range at the start?

The second issue I ran into (and what feels like the biggest problem) was that I only ended up with about 1/2 gallon of wort. I think this was because I didn't get enough liquid out of the bag in the sparge. So I filled up the rest with spring water. By adding that much water to it, is it just going to be a watered down mess?

Of course I am going to drink this no matter what it turns out like but... I am not sure what I did to this batch exactly

 

[dwhite60]

You have a hydrometer? You measured the gravity of what went into the fermenter? You may have 1/2 gallon of pretty concentrated wort. SHould probably have been topped off with more water.

Get yourself a refractometer. For those small batches you'll use a lot less wort testing your gravity. These only work pre-fermentation though. You can get them off Amazon for less than $30.

I doubt your short immersion in the 170 degree water hurt anything.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[sixwinds]

One thing that was not obvious to me when I started was the amount of water absorbed by the grains. I was ending up with less wort than I expected because I was not accounting for this water loss.

Now I add about 0.09 extra gallons per pound of grains used. Much better results, hope this helps!

 

[normonster]

You have a hydrometer? You measured the gravity of what went into the fermenter? You may have 1/2 gallon of pretty concentrated wort. SHould probably have been topped off with more water.

Get yourself a refractometer. For those small batches you'll use a lot less wort testing your gravity. These only work pre-fermentation though. You can get them off Amazon for less than $30.

I doubt your short immersion in the 170 degree water hurt anything.

All the Best,
D. White

Dana, is that you? Aldo better get his friggin immediate title rematch!!!

 

[Jawnskie]

You have a hydrometer? You measured the gravity of what went into the fermenter? You may have 1/2 gallon of pretty concentrated wort. SHould probably have been topped off with more water.

Get yourself a refractometer. For those small batches you'll use a lot less wort testing your gravity. These only work pre-fermentation though. You can get them off Amazon for less than $30.

I doubt your short immersion in the 170 degree water hurt anything.

All the Best,
D. White

First off, thanks for the response!

I sadly dont have a hydrometer, i was basically using what i had in with the kit. I didnt boil the brew too hard though, so i am guessing i ended up with such low wort because i didnt rinse my bag enough? I read up that some people squeeze the grains to get more out of them but, i was worried that would let unwanted pieces of grain to come out and spill into the pot. Ill look into a refractometer for my next brew for sure

 

[dwhite60]

My first batch of beer, the guy at the homebrew store did not tell me to take the kettle off the burner before adding extract. Poured it in on a hot burner and withing minutes had little puffs of smoke rising to the surface. Scorched the crap out of it and had a horrible tasting five gallons of beer.

I drank all that beer too. Drank might not be the correct word. I didn't have a lot of money at the time. It did have alcohol in it.

I should have known better than to pour something thick and sticky into the pot on the burner.

We learn. Life goes on. Beer gets better.

You'll do better your next batch. You know what you're up against. You learned about your equipment.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[johnsant]

Sorry about your mishap. First thing I would recommend that you do is read about making beer from grains, it seems you may be lacking in the some areas of water to grain ratio and water absortion , also if you are going to do a all grain beer I would recommend a beer making program it would help to hit your numbers for fermentation there is a lot involved to all grain and New brewers can do it and make very good beer, however it dose take some reading and understanding of all grain brewing.
This is not to put you down its only meant to point you in the right direction to help you on your way to a true and good brewing experience.

PS read posts on here about all grain and ask question as needed to help you understand what's involved.