| |
Main
Date: 01 Jul 2006 06:58:05
From: Scotty B
Subject: First brew ever.
|
Ok, so I started my first brew Thurs 22Jun06 (For details, visit my
blog at http://michaellasalle.blogspot.com/). It was a recipe kit (Hex
nut brown ale) from Midwest Supplies in MN. I will note right away that
I did not take an initial specific gravity reading because it was my
first time and I wanted to keep things as simple as possible.
Anyway, I started it on a Thursday. It was bubbling pretty good Fri and
Sat, but I never saw any foam (krausen?) is that normal? By Sun it was
scarcely bubbling at all and on Mon after I sat there for a while I
finally saw a bubble. I have seen no activity since then and it has now
been 9 days. Could it be safe to bottle (I realized I didn't have
enough caps, so I ordered more and they should be here today!), or
should I wait a bit longer? I'm sure you'll tell me that I should take
three consecutive days of specific gravity readings, but I just don't
want to mess with that yet.
One more thing, its not clear, should it be?
Regards,
Scotty B
"Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and
oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital
ingredient in beer." -Dave Barry
|
|
| |
Date: 01 Jul 2006 08:31:37
From: Scotty B
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
I should probably also note that the brew has been quite steady at
around 68-70 degrees.
Scotty B
|
| |
Date: 02 Jul 2006 04:44:51
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
On 1 Jul 2006 06:58:05 -0700, <michaellasalle@gmail.com > wrote:
> Ok, so I started my first brew Thurs 22Jun06 (For details, visit my
> blog at http://michaellasalle.blogspot.com/). It was a recipe kit (Hex
> nut brown ale) from Midwest Supplies in MN. I will note right away that
> I did not take an initial specific gravity reading because it was my
> first time and I wanted to keep things as simple as possible.
If you post the recipe, we can tell you what the OG was.
> Anyway, I started it on a Thursday. It was bubbling pretty good Fri and
> Sat, but I never saw any foam (krausen?) is that normal? By Sun it was
> scarcely bubbling at all and on Mon after I sat there for a while I
> finally saw a bubble. I have seen no activity since then and it has now
> been 9 days. Could it be safe to bottle (I realized I didn't have
> enough caps, so I ordered more and they should be here today!), or
> should I wait a bit longer? I'm sure you'll tell me that I should take
> three consecutive days of specific gravity readings, but I just don't
> want to mess with that yet.
Take gravity readings, that's the only way that you're going to know
when it is time to bottle. The bubbles don't mean anything. It's your
beer, so you can go ahead and just take a guess if you don't want to
mess with gravity readings, but if you guess wrong you'll end up
with carbonation problems or exploding bottles.
> One more thing, its not clear, should it be?
It will probably clear more if you give it more time.
John.
|
| |
Date: 01 Jul 2006 12:26:03
From: Karl S
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
Scotty B wrote:
> Ok, so I started my first brew Thurs 22Jun06 (For details, visit my
> blog at http://michaellasalle.blogspot.com/). It was a recipe kit (Hex
> nut brown ale) from Midwest Supplies in MN. I will note right away that
> I did not take an initial specific gravity reading because it was my
> first time and I wanted to keep things as simple as possible.
> Anyway, I started it on a Thursday. It was bubbling pretty good Fri and
> Sat, but I never saw any foam (krausen?) is that normal? By Sun it was
> scarcely bubbling at all and on Mon after I sat there for a while I
> finally saw a bubble. I have seen no activity since then and it has now
> been 9 days. Could it be safe to bottle (I realized I didn't have
> enough caps, so I ordered more and they should be here today!), or
> should I wait a bit longer? I'm sure you'll tell me that I should take
> three consecutive days of specific gravity readings, but I just don't
> want to mess with that yet.
> One more thing, its not clear, should it be?
I'll toss out a guess based on that last line. Your brew is not clear
because the solids (trub) haven't fully settled to the bottom of your
fermenter, which might indicate that fermentation is still going on. The
longer it rests, the clearer your beer will be. I find that a two-week
primary fermentation, followed by siphoning into a second fermenter to
leave most of the "trub" behind, and then two more weeks before priming
and bottling, seems to be pretty average for the kit beers I've made.
Taking specific gravity readings isn't difficult. You draw a sample of
your beer (a turkey baster with a piece of tubing attached to the tip
makes this even easier) and let the hydrometer float in a tall narrow
flask of it. The specific gravity can be read where the top of the
hydrometer emerges from the beer sample. A reading of 1.0 indicates
distilled water...
Then you taste the sample. If it tastes like flat beer, you're doing
reasonably well.
Don't pour the sample back into the fermenter though. It's a sanitation
thing. You generally don't want bacteria or wild yeasts in your beer.
|
| |
Date: 01 Jul 2006 17:33:21
From: Scott Sellers
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
Scotty B <michaellasalle@gmail.com >:
>Ok, so I started my first brew Thurs 22Jun06 (For details, visit
>my blog at http://michaellasalle.blogspot.com/). It was a recipe
>kit (Hex nut brown ale) from Midwest Supplies in MN. I will note
>right away that I did not take an initial specific gravity
>reading because it was my first time and I wanted to keep things
>as simple as possible. Anyway, I started it on a Thursday. It
>was bubbling pretty good Fri and Sat, but I never saw any foam
>(krausen?) is that normal? By Sun it was scarcely bubbling at
>all and on Mon after I sat there for a while I finally saw a
>bubble. I have seen no activity since then and it has now been 9
>days. Could it be safe to bottle (I realized I didn't have
>enough caps, so I ordered more and they should be here today!),
>or should I wait a bit longer? I'm sure you'll tell me that I
>should take three consecutive days of specific gravity readings,
>but I just don't want to mess with that yet. One more thing,
>its not clear, should it be?
Since you didn't seem to get an active ferment, it raises the
possibility that you didn't get a complete ferment. If you had
more experience, you might be able to make a seat-of-pants
judgement. Lacking that, you really ought to take a hygrometer
reading -- it's a tool that makes your job easier, not harder.
It would also give us something to go by. Anyone advising you to
bottle based on what you report above would be negligent at best.
Scott S
--
Scott Sellers
|
| |
Date: 02 Jul 2006 10:14:15
From: Scotty B
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> If you post the recipe, we can tell you what the OG was.
Here's what came in the recipe kit (copied from the website
midwestsupplies.com):
Hex Nut Brown Ale: This brown ale recipe has a sweet, nutty, and
caramel flavor. Cloned from Goose Island's recipe, the color is dark
amber and light to medium in body. This recipe will deliver consistent
results. Our ingredients for this recipe include 6 lbs of Amber malt
extract, 8 oz. Brown malt, 8 oz. Caramel 40 L., 8 oz. Chocolate malt,
1.5 oz. Williamette bittering hops, 1/2 oz. Williamette aroma hops,
grain bag, priming sugar and yeast. Hex Nut Brown Ale w/ Munton's 6 gm
dry yeast
> Take gravity readings, that's the only way that you're going to know
> when it is time to bottle. The bubbles don't mean anything. It's your
> beer, so you can go ahead and just take a guess if you don't want to
> mess with gravity readings, but if you guess wrong you'll end up
> with carbonation problems or exploding bottles.
I took my first gravity reading today (Sun, 02Jul06) and it came out to
1.016.
> > One more thing, its not clear, should it be?
> It will probably clear more if you give it more time.
It may be clearing, but I cannot tell as it is pretty dark, but it did
look a bit cloudy yet in the tube I used for the SG reading.
Thanks for all your input,
Scotty B
|
| | |
Date: 03 Jul 2006 04:04:34
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
On 2 Jul 2006 10:14:15 -0700, <michaellasalle@gmail.com > wrote:
> John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
>
>> If you post the recipe, we can tell you what the OG was.
>
> Here's what came in the recipe kit (copied from the website
> midwestsupplies.com):
>
> Hex Nut Brown Ale: This brown ale recipe has a sweet, nutty, and
> caramel flavor. Cloned from Goose Island's recipe, the color is dark
> amber and light to medium in body. This recipe will deliver consistent
> results. Our ingredients for this recipe include 6 lbs of Amber malt
> extract, 8 oz. Brown malt, 8 oz. Caramel 40 L., 8 oz. Chocolate malt,
> 1.5 oz. Williamette bittering hops, 1/2 oz. Williamette aroma hops,
> grain bag, priming sugar and yeast. Hex Nut Brown Ale w/ Munton's 6 gm
> dry yeast
Assuming it was liquid extract and that you made a 5 gallon batch, then
your OG was around 1.043 (give or take a few points).
>> Take gravity readings, that's the only way that you're going to know
>> when it is time to bottle. The bubbles don't mean anything. It's your
>> beer, so you can go ahead and just take a guess if you don't want to
>> mess with gravity readings, but if you guess wrong you'll end up
>> with carbonation problems or exploding bottles.
>
> I took my first gravity reading today (Sun, 02Jul06) and it came out to
> 1.016.
Assuming that my OG was right, you're at 62%. Not bad, but it might
have a little bit left to go. IMO, give it a couple days and then measure
the gravity again. If it's still 1.016 then you're ready to bottle anytime
you want (or leave it alone longer to clear some more). If the gravity
is lower than 1.016 after a couple days, then wait a couple more days
and measure it again. Keep waiting until you get the same gravity reading
a few days spread apart.
John.
|
| |
Date: 03 Jul 2006 06:17:35
From: Scotty B
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
>
> Assuming it was liquid extract and that you made a 5 gallon batch, then
> your OG was around 1.043 (give or take a few points).
>
> Assuming that my OG was right, you're at 62%. Not bad, but it might
> have a little bit left to go. IMO, give it a couple days and then measure
> the gravity again. If it's still 1.016 then you're ready to bottle anytime
> you want (or leave it alone longer to clear some more). If the gravity
> is lower than 1.016 after a couple days, then wait a couple more days
> and measure it again. Keep waiting until you get the same gravity reading
> a few days spread apart.
>
> John.
Thanks John,
I was anxious and wanted to start bottling asap, so I was shooting for
the 4th since I don't have to work, but I found out a buddy of mine
(and an experienced homebrewer) is going to be in town this weekend.
So, I think I'll take SG readings Tues, Thurs and Sat (unless, of
course, it remains unchanged) and get him to help me bottle! Hope he
brings some brews ;)
Thanks again. I enjoy reading these threads, there's lots of useful
information for whatever you may be doing, and its great to have the
help of veteran brewers for a first-timer like myself.
Scotty B
p.s. I tasted the sample left from my SG reading... very good. I
really think I'm going to enjoy this hobby.
|
| |
Date: 03 Jul 2006 12:12:28
From: RodneyG
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
On the original poster's blog, it says:
"By this time it was getting pretty late and the water for my yeast was
only down to 50=B0F (the package suggested a narrow 38=B0 to 40=B0F)
despite being in the fridge, so I just went with it. "
I'm thinking he got Lager yeast with his Ale kit.
I've never done a Lager, so I'll ask you all, does Lager yeast create
foam? No, right? (The original poster said he got bubbling out of his
airlock, but no foam.)
He also said he fermented around 68 degrees, and his gravity is around
1=2E016 (and other posters estimate it started at 1.043).
So what are the consequences? Sounds like it fermented just fine. Did
he unintentionally make an experimental Steam beer? No harm no foul?
|
| | |
Date: 03 Jul 2006 19:30:04
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
On 3 Jul 2006 12:12:28 -0700, <rodney.gardner@gmail.com > wrote:
> On the original poster's blog, it says:
> "By this time it was getting pretty late and the water for my yeast was
> only down to 50°F (the package suggested a narrow 38° to 40°F)
> despite being in the fridge, so I just went with it. "
>
> I'm thinking he got Lager yeast with his Ale kit.
It's possible, but doubtful. Many mainstream "lager" kits really contain
ale yeast, it would be pretty surprising for the manufacturer to include
lager yeast with an ale kit.
I'm pretty sure from Midwestsupplies' website that it's an ale yeast though.
> I've never done a Lager, so I'll ask you all, does Lager yeast create
> foam? No, right? (The original poster said he got bubbling out of his
> airlock, but no foam.)
True lagers don't tend to be as active as ales, but it's due to the low
fermentation temp. If they fermented around 68F then that's not going
to be a factor.
> He also said he fermented around 68 degrees, and his gravity is around
> 1.016 (and other posters estimate it started at 1.043).
>
> So what are the consequences? Sounds like it fermented just fine. Did
> he unintentionally make an experimental Steam beer? No harm no foul?
I think everything is fine. It either wasn't quite as active during
primary fermentation as other beers (for whatever reason) or else it
did create foam during fermentation, but the poster just missed it (IE
overnight or something).
John.
|
| |
Date: 07 Jul 2006 06:13:24
From: CarlJF
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
> Once bottled, it seems from what I've read that two weeks should be a
> sufficient amount of time before cracking the first cap and having a
> drink, does this sound about right?
That's what I do. However, note that the beer will continue to improve
for next few weeks to months, depending on the style. For brown ale,
similar like the one you brewed, I usually find that they improve for
at least 3 months. After that, they're somewhat at their best, but some
recipes will continue to improve for another 3 months. So, the idea is,
don't rush to drink all your bottles the first week! Just open a bottle
frome time to time to see if the beer show any improvement. When you
see no important change, the beer is at its peak.
|
| |
Date: 07 Jul 2006 04:52:46
From: Scotty B
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> Assuming that my OG was right, you're at 62%. Not bad, but it might
> have a little bit left to go. IMO, give it a couple days and then measure
> the gravity again. If it's still 1.016 then you're ready to bottle anytime
> you want (or leave it alone longer to clear some more). If the gravity
> is lower than 1.016 after a couple days, then wait a couple more days
> and measure it again. Keep waiting until you get the same gravity reading
> a few days spread apart.
>
I took another SG reading on Tues, 04Jul06 and the reading came out at
1.017. I'm guessing that one of the days I was a little off when
reading, but I plan to bottle on Saturday and I'll probably take
another SG reading then to be sure (unless someone says this is
completely uneccessary).
Once bottled, it seems from what I've read that two weeks should be a
sufficient amount of time before cracking the first cap and having a
drink, does this sound about right?
Regards,
Scotty B
|
| |
Date: 07 Jul 2006 12:38:40
From: CarlJF
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
I agree with Scotty, not need to wait the peak to start drinking and
sharing it. As soon as the beer is to your likintg, you can start
drinking it. Most of my beers are quite good 3 weeks after bottling and
I start sharing some bottles at this time, but I tell people that beer
is still very young and will likely improve over the next few weeks or
months.
However, it's certainly better to wait at least three weeks. Before
that, beer can be undercarbonated, have little or no head retention,
taste "green" and somewhat lacking body. All characteristics of a too
young beer.
> Scotty B wrote:
> > CarlJF wrote:
> > > That's what I do. However, note that the beer will continue to improve
> > > for next few weeks to months, depending on the style. For brown ale,
> > > similar like the one you brewed, I usually find that they improve for
> > > at least 3 months. After that, they're somewhat at their best, but some
> > > recipes will continue to improve for another 3 months. So, the idea is,
> > > don't rush to drink all your bottles the first week! Just open a bottle
> > > frome time to time to see if the beer show any improvement. When you
> > > see no important change, the beer is at its peak.
> >
> > Ok, how about this question... if I want to share it with my friends
> > (pretty much all of whom drink [insert cheap 'beer' here, e.g. bud,
> > bush, coors, etc.]) and I would like them to get into better beers,
> > should I give them some after the two weeks, or should I hold out until
> > the beer is at its 'peak'?
> >
> > Scotty B
>
> I would suggest trying it yourself and deciding when it tastes best.
> Only then share it with your friends. Along the lines of 'You only get
> one chance at a first impression', If you give a person homebrew for
> the first time and its not good (at least in their opinion) they will
> always think of homebrew as bad beer. I wouldn't say to sit on it for
> 3 months or more for it to peak, but wait untill you feel it is a good
> beer. Be proud of your creation and serve it as soone as you feel its
> ready, but not before then.
>
> The other obstacle you'll be going up against is the public conception
> that Bud/Miller/Coors is how beer is supposed to taste. I suggest you
> buy your friends a few good nut browns to get the accustomed to the
> taste before havign them taste yours. Start them off with Newcastle as
> its probably the easiest drinking Brown Ale that i know of and could be
> a gateway to the goodness that is real beer. Then move on to a Sam
> Smith's Nut Brown (my favorite nut brown) or something else. Maybe
> then move on to a hoppier american brown like Brooklyn Brown. Drinking
> good beer and different styles is an acquired taste. Start them off
> with baby steps and get them used to the style before hammering them
> with the best beer they've ever had.
|
| |
Date: 07 Jul 2006 11:42:55
From: brian@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
Scotty B wrote:
> CarlJF wrote:
> > That's what I do. However, note that the beer will continue to improve
> > for next few weeks to months, depending on the style. For brown ale,
> > similar like the one you brewed, I usually find that they improve for
> > at least 3 months. After that, they're somewhat at their best, but some
> > recipes will continue to improve for another 3 months. So, the idea is,
> > don't rush to drink all your bottles the first week! Just open a bottle
> > frome time to time to see if the beer show any improvement. When you
> > see no important change, the beer is at its peak.
>
> Ok, how about this question... if I want to share it with my friends
> (pretty much all of whom drink [insert cheap 'beer' here, e.g. bud,
> bush, coors, etc.]) and I would like them to get into better beers,
> should I give them some after the two weeks, or should I hold out until
> the beer is at its 'peak'?
>
> Scotty B
I would suggest trying it yourself and deciding when it tastes best.
Only then share it with your friends. Along the lines of 'You only get
one chance at a first impression', If you give a person homebrew for
the first time and its not good (at least in their opinion) they will
always think of homebrew as bad beer. I wouldn't say to sit on it for
3 months or more for it to peak, but wait untill you feel it is a good
beer. Be proud of your creation and serve it as soone as you feel its
ready, but not before then.
The other obstacle you'll be going up against is the public conception
that Bud/Miller/Coors is how beer is supposed to taste. I suggest you
buy your friends a few good nut browns to get the accustomed to the
taste before havign them taste yours. Start them off with Newcastle as
its probably the easiest drinking Brown Ale that i know of and could be
a gateway to the goodness that is real beer. Then move on to a Sam
Smith's Nut Brown (my favorite nut brown) or something else. Maybe
then move on to a hoppier american brown like Brooklyn Brown. Drinking
good beer and different styles is an acquired taste. Start them off
with baby steps and get them used to the style before hammering them
with the best beer they've ever had.
|
| |
Date: 07 Jul 2006 11:42:49
From: brian@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
Scotty B wrote:
> CarlJF wrote:
> > That's what I do. However, note that the beer will continue to improve
> > for next few weeks to months, depending on the style. For brown ale,
> > similar like the one you brewed, I usually find that they improve for
> > at least 3 months. After that, they're somewhat at their best, but some
> > recipes will continue to improve for another 3 months. So, the idea is,
> > don't rush to drink all your bottles the first week! Just open a bottle
> > frome time to time to see if the beer show any improvement. When you
> > see no important change, the beer is at its peak.
>
> Ok, how about this question... if I want to share it with my friends
> (pretty much all of whom drink [insert cheap 'beer' here, e.g. bud,
> bush, coors, etc.]) and I would like them to get into better beers,
> should I give them some after the two weeks, or should I hold out until
> the beer is at its 'peak'?
>
> Scotty B
I would suggest trying it yourself and deciding when it tastes best.
Only then share it with your friends. Along the lines of 'You only get
one chance at a first impression', If you give a person homebrew for
the first time and its not good (at least in their opinion) they will
always think of homebrew as bad beer. I wouldn't say to sit on it for
3 months or more for it to peak, but wait untill you feel it is a good
beer. Be proud of your creation and serve it as soone as you feel its
ready, but not before then.
The other obstacle you'll be going up against is the public conception
that Bud/Miller/Coors is how beer is supposed to taste. I suggest you
buy your friends a few good nut browns to get the accustomed to the
taste before havign them taste yours. Start them off with Newcastle as
its probably the easiest drinking Brown Ale that i know of and could be
a gateway to the goodness that is real beer. Then move on to a Sam
Smith's Nut Brown (my favorite nut brown) or something else. Maybe
then move on to a hoppier american brown like Brooklyn Brown. Drinking
good beer and different styles is an acquired taste. Start them off
with baby steps and get them used to the style before hammering them
with the best beer they've ever had.
|
| |
Date: 07 Jul 2006 11:26:16
From: Scotty B
Subject: Re: First brew ever.
|
CarlJF wrote:
> That's what I do. However, note that the beer will continue to improve
> for next few weeks to months, depending on the style. For brown ale,
> similar like the one you brewed, I usually find that they improve for
> at least 3 months. After that, they're somewhat at their best, but some
> recipes will continue to improve for another 3 months. So, the idea is,
> don't rush to drink all your bottles the first week! Just open a bottle
> frome time to time to see if the beer show any improvement. When you
> see no important change, the beer is at its peak.
Ok, how about this question... if I want to share it with my friends
(pretty much all of whom drink [insert cheap 'beer' here, e.g. bud,
bush, coors, etc.]) and I would like them to get into better beers,
should I give them some after the two weeks, or should I hold out until
the beer is at its 'peak'?
Scotty B
|
|
