Wife got me a MR. Beer Kit. Now what?

[madman960]

Wife got me a MR. Beer Kit. Now what? It came with 2 mixes. Cowboy Golden Lager and American Classic Blonde Ale. They have 2 more of these kits at the store. $20 each. They are $60 for 1 from Mr. Beer. If I purchase the other kits; would doubling the HME and the boosters create a better result? Would use recommended water. Each kit comes with 1 each of the Cowboy and American plus 2 boosters. When do you take a Hygrometer reading? I am also debating another recipe from Mr. Beer. I have narrowed it down to 2 choices: Diablo IPA HME
A fiendishly hopped American IPA. Fiery amber in color with intense mouthfeel, displaying a blend of floral spice and stonefruit aromas with a firm and lingering bitter finish. For those not afraid of hops!

Or Beach Babe Blonde
A well-rounded golden blonde with a great fluffy head on her, and just enough tartness to really capture your attention.

Thanks for any info. I will post results of my first batch soon. I should have enough time and money to build a dedicated brew shop just after Thanksgiving. I will start buying/building an AG setup after that.

Bill

 

[Czm]

Brew it up and drink it. My first was brewers best American pale ale. It was uck.

 

[xmacro]

First, follow the directions for what you have - see if you even enjoy homebrewing before ordering more. Don't tinker with the recipes, just follow the directions - you don't know enough yet to be tinkering around and still get good beer.

Second, a hydrometer is used before you pitch your yeast, to determine OG, or Original Gravity; after that, it's used a few weeks later, to determine FG, Final Gravity, or rather, to tell when your beer is done fermenting.

Third, if you REALLY like homebrewing, you'll want to start buying equipment to continue your newfound hobby in 5 gallon or larger batches (kits for 5 gallon batches typically cost $30-$45 - so it's more economical to brew larger amounts if you like the hobby)

 

[Colorowdy]

Get some starsan the cleaner that comes with the kit is not a sanitizer.

 

[madman960]

Thanks for the quick replies. I will clean everything tomorrow and get started.

Bill

 

[Nubster]

I just did my very first brew. It's slightly nerve racking making sure you do things just right, but overall it was a lot of fun. I can't wait until I get to taste the fruits of my labor.

 

[JOE_R]

Before purchasing any brewing equipment I read a book on home brewing. Something like but not limited to "The Brewmaster's Bible" is a good start. This will give you an idea as to what equipment you will need and what steps to follow during your brewing process. Build your hobby slowly and learn from your mistakes. Every time you brew, you will get better. I personally write down every step in the brew process the night before. I brewed my second AG today, an Oktoberfest, and almost forgot the Ph stabilizer! There is a lot to remember so go slow. Master one aspect then move on to the next level. Pay attention to detail in every step of the brewing process. Buy the best equipment the first time. You'll end up buying it anyway. Most of all have fun.

 

[madman960]

Questions regarding sanitation: Once sanitizer is mixed with water, how long does it last? If I sanitize my bottles now, would I need to sanitize them again before bottling in 4-6 weeks? I believe I would, just confirming.

Thanks;

Bill

 

[msa8967]

The times for the surface to become sanitized will slightly depend on which chemical you use. If you are using a no rinse sanitizer like starsan you surface needs to be wet with this for about a minute but longer will be fine. If you are using plastic bottles I would give these more time than glass bottles.

 

[Colorowdy]

Sanitize your bottles on bottling day.

 

[Bithead]

The instructions probably say leave in fermenter 1 week. Ignore that and leave it in the LBK 2 weeks, then bottle.

 

[madman960]

Finally brewed first batch. Cowboy Golden Lager. Smells ok in the kitchen. I followed instructions as recommended. I do not have a hydrometer and there is not a local brew house so I am just going to let it sit for 2 weeks.

Bill

 

[madman960]

For the Cowboy Lager fermentation temps have been 68-74 F. Is that ok for a LBK? Should I dry hop to improve body or just try as is when ready? Should I leave in primary for 2 or 3 weeks? Sorry for all the questions, hoping to make better than ok beer. No worries if it is to late for that.

Recipe was 1 can 1.21 lbs HME 1 bag booster 2 grams yeast 2.5 gallons spring water. Washed then sanitized all pots and equipment. Not sure which yeast strain came in kit.

Thanks in advance,

Bill

 

[vetbrewer]

Everything sounds good to me, I'd leave it in primary 2&1/2 weeks than bottle

 

[gregfreemyer]

Sanitize your bottles on bottling day.

I'm a noob, but I've read you can sanitize the bottles in your dishwasher. The drying cycle should kill any germs.

Since the dishwasher is closed you should be able to do it the night before as long as you don't open the door until you're ready to bottle?

Greg

 

[kh54s10]

Follow the directions with the kits. Do not try to change anything until you have done some more brews and have read a lot of information. Without knowing what changes and additions will do you are more likely to make a good beer bad than to make a good beer better.

You can use a sanitize cycle on a dishwasher but do not use any detergent on the bottles. It will leave enough residue to cause problems. I would still use Starsan or Iodaphor to sanitize.

Make these kits as they are supposed to go. Read a lot and collect more equipment so you can do bigger batches. I suggest kits from Northern Brewer, Midwest Supplies or Austin Homebrew Supply. They have a lot of selection and are a step up from prehopped extract kits.

 

[stevehardt]

A couple of tips on Mr Beer....

1. Learn all you can from it. A lot of us here started with Mr Beer, and speaking for myself, I learned a ton about the process from it. Had some fun and made some pretty respectable beer.

2. There's an excellent Mr. Beer thread on this forum. Check it out.

3. As others have said, patience is key. The best beers I made with Mr. Beer were 3 weeks in the fermenter, 3 in the bottle, then a week in thr fridge. Waiting is hard, but if you do, you'll get noticably better beer.

4. If and when you step up to 5 gals, save the little brown kegs. They're great for making Apfelwein. There's a very good recipe on this forum, just search apfelwein

5. If you are adding carbing sugar bottle by bottle as directed in the Mr Beer directions, pay close attention to the correct measurements. Very easy mistake to make, and I still have a stain on my ceiling from the time I lost focus and added priming sugar to the same bottle twice.

6. Relax, and have fun with it!

 

[Yooper]

I'm a noob, but I've read you can sanitize the bottles in your dishwasher. The drying cycle should kill any germs.

Since the dishwasher is closed you should be able to do it the night before as long as you don't open the door until you're ready to bottle?

Greg

SOME people can sanitize in the dishwasher by putting clean bottles in the dishwasher and running it without soap or rinse agents on "sanitize". My dishwasher does not have a sanitize setting, nor does it get hot enough to sanitize since I don't have a heating element in mine. So, yes, it's possible that some people can sanitize in the dishwasher (or oven) but for some it's not possible.

It's easier to use a no-rinse sanitizer, which takes less than 10 minutes if you have a vinator and bottling tree, than to use the dishwasher which can take 45 minutes or the oven which can take several hours.

 

[madman960]

I have read quite a bit of the Mr. Beer thread. I am doing 3 weeks primary 2 weeks carbing and 2 weeks conditioning followed by 1 week in the fridge. Could i mix the priming sugar with hot water and pour into the keg just before bottling?

I am not sanitizing my bottles in the dishwasher.

Bill

 

[Yooper]

I have read quite a bit of the Mr. Beer thread. I am doing 3 weeks primary 2 weeks carbing and 2 weeks conditioning followed by 1 week in the fridge. Could i mix the priming sugar with hot water and pour into the keg just before bottling?

I am not sanitizing my bottles in the dishwasher.

Bill

No, I wouldn't. If you put the priming sugar in the Mr. Beer container, and stir it up well, you'd be stirring up all the sediment that spend three weeks falling out.

 

[stonebrewer]

Mr Beer is a gateway drug to harder vices! My wife gave me one for Christmas one year, now I am a hard core all grain brewer. Welcome to the club!

 

[madman960]

Thanks. I already ordered a brew shed. Should be up 1st weekend in November. Plan equipment upgrade mid November early December.

Bill

 

[madman960]

I just bottled my first batch. Directions say to clean keg with unscented mild soap but not dish soap. What do I wash it with?

Bill

 

[metanoia]

I just bottled my first batch. Directions say to clean keg with unscented mild soap but not dish soap. What do I wash it with?

Bill

Unscented dish soaps are perfectly fine to use in cleaning brewing equipment. Or you could buy some PBW, though I've only used dish soap because we don't use scented soap on dishes anyway.

 

[vetbrewer]

I believe Ivory dishsoap is un-scented.

 

[Soldevi]

Mr. Beer and then straight to AG. I love it. You go!

 

[Nova5]

1. Ignore any haters totally raggin on Mr Beer. Its just extract brewing.
2. Avoid the basic recipes, and even the deluxes are underwhelming. Stick to their advanced recipes that include Hops, spices, etc.
3. One-Step WAS considered a sanitizer until the FDA changed the rules. I used it every time and never had a problem.
4. Put Money away.. 5gallon equipment is incoming! I think I did around a dozen Mr Beer batches before I got my 5gal gear, however don't make the goof I did, but 6gal BB's instead of 5. I don't end up with much headspace.. Hopefully will fix that this christmas.

 

[Nova5]

I just bottled my first batch. Directions say to clean keg with unscented mild soap but not dish soap. What do I wash it with?

Bill

Basic blue dawn should work, however i've always used Oxiclean Free.

 

[madman960]

Here is my 1st attempt with the kit. 2 weeks primary, 2 weeks carb, 3 hours in freezer. Cowboy golden lager kit.

Bill