I did it

sloshed · Posted: Mon - Sep, 19 2011 - 2:23 pm Post subject: I did it

I finally brewed again and this time I think its going to work out. It made a lot more sense this time. I made an IPA from a kit, but I didn't follow the directions completely - added some of the hops a little earlier than the recipe said to get more hop flavor. We'll see what happens.
_________________
I drink to forget my blackouts.

beerlover420 · Posted: Tue - Sep, 20 2011 - 4:07 am Post subject:

Good luck, I hope it works out. I have a simple kit that I may get around to eventually, but I'll probably have to get some fresh ingredients first. If you brew it, I guess you get to name it, right? What will you call your brew, sloshed?
Beer

_________________
Beer Is Bread

The Joker · Posted: Tue - Sep, 20 2011 - 6:56 am Post subject:

Remember depending on when you added the hops you might get more bitter rather than flavor. Later for flaver and even later yet for aroma. Beer

_________________
Let the obsession begin.

sloshed · Posted: Tue - Sep, 20 2011 - 1:45 pm Post subject:

ricka182 · Posted: Tue - Sep, 20 2011 - 1:48 pm Post subject:

Finally! Good job J.. I know you're a hop head being from the NW, so adding the hops a bit earlier will suit you fine. But as mentioned, early hops are generally bittering, then flavor, then aroma.

The exception is with FWH, or first wort hopping, something you can't really do with extract kits. Well, maybe you could..but I don't think it would produce the same profile.

Now remember....LEAVE IT ALONE! Throw away the instructions, just wait. Seriously, let it go for 2 weeks. Then check it. If you keep the temp steady around 70 degrees, it will be ready on time in 2 weeks. Then bottle them, and again, LEAVE THEM ALONE! Bottle carbonation takes times, and for those who keep checking, karma sends a bottle bomb to blow up in your face..

cheers! Beer

_________________
.
*
If a llama crosses the River Thames, can a monkey in Madagascar traverse the Indian ocean on the back of a whale, while tapdancing to a seagull playing the accordian?
*
.

sloshed · Posted: Tue - Sep, 20 2011 - 3:20 pm Post subject:

Don't I need to move this to the secondary fermenter after 1 week? So far it looks like everything is going well and I haven't touched anything.. Smile

_________________
I drink to forget my blackouts.

ricka182 · Posted: Wed - Sep, 21 2011 - 1:45 pm Post subject:

No need for a secondary fermentation, especially after only a week. There only 2 reason to use a 2ndary; to add an additional fermentable such as fruit or table sugar, and to allow for better clearing of the final product. My advice is get a quality tasting brew first, then work on more advanced techniques like clearing the beer. There are fining agents you can add during various points in the process to aid in clearing, but most kits don't include that stuff.

If you're hell bent on using a 2ndary, at least wait 2 weeks, then rack it over and keep it at around 50 degrees if you can. The colder temps will help stop fermentation and allow the yeast to drop, thus producing a more clear beer. Keep in mind though, that as you rack from one vessel to another including your bottling bucket, you don't want to disturb the trub..if you do, you're beer will be cloudy no matter what.

Once it's ready to bottle, set the bucket on the table, and let it sit for 10 minutes to allow disturbance to subside, leaving more trub behind.
_________________
.
*
If a llama crosses the River Thames, can a monkey in Madagascar traverse the Indian ocean on the back of a whale, while tapdancing to a seagull playing the accordian?
*
.

ricka182 · Posted: Tue - Oct, 04 2011 - 1:50 pm Post subject:

Status of the new batch? Did you use a 2ndary, or go straight to bottles?
_________________
.
*
If a llama crosses the River Thames, can a monkey in Madagascar traverse the Indian ocean on the back of a whale, while tapdancing to a seagull playing the accordian?
*
.

sloshed · Posted: Sun - Oct, 16 2011 - 7:30 pm Post subject:

I took your advice and went straight to bottles. It was probably in the fermenter too long (28 days) because I was on vacation. It tasted fine and I added priming sugar and bottled on Saturday. Bottling sucked and was a huge mess. Gotta get some scratch together to get a keg system of some sort. I don't ever want to do that again.. Beer

_________________
I drink to forget my blackouts.

sloshed · Posted: Wed - Oct, 19 2011 - 6:37 pm Post subject:

I tried one of my beers yesterday and the flavor was surprisingly good, but I've got no carbonation. The beer I drank had only been in the bottle for only 3 days (at room temperature), but there was almost 0 carbonation. Is there anything I can do at this point or should I just give them a few more days?
_________________
I drink to forget my blackouts.

ricka182 · Posted: Sat - Oct, 22 2011 - 8:42 am Post subject:

How much sugar did you add? I usually make a sugar solution with 3/4c corn sugar boiled with 2-3 cups water. Add 2c cold water, pour into bucket. Then rack the beer from fermenter, and that way you have a perfect equal distribution of sugar in each bottle.

Right now, the only thing you can do is wait. Don't open anymore, wait until next weekend. If you can keep them in a room, off the floor, around 75 degrees, that is prime. It takes a while to bottle carb, one of the biggest reason I moved to kegs. Everything you need for under $400 probably, maybe cheaper.

I probably should have mentioned this earlier.... Embarrassed

_________________
.
*
If a llama crosses the River Thames, can a monkey in Madagascar traverse the Indian ocean on the back of a whale, while tapdancing to a seagull playing the accordian?
*
.

sloshed · Posted: Sat - Oct, 22 2011 - 10:24 pm Post subject:

Thanks Rick.. I actually did try a few last night and they are now carbonated.. Woohoo..

I pretty much did everything you said - guess I just didn't wait long enough. I definitely want to get a kegging system when I have some money.
_________________
I drink to forget my blackouts.

The Joker · Posted: Tue - Oct, 25 2011 - 1:36 pm Post subject:

Way to go. Bottle carb'ing is typically a couple week process to be sure you have good bubbles.

Back to your other post you really can't leave it in the fermenter to long, within reason. If you go months you will want to transfer to a secondary to get it off the trub, and you might have to swizel a bit to get yeast back into suspension to carbonate the bottles.

Keg Connection has good prices on kegging equipment. My order is on the truck on its way towards me currently. Beer

_________________
Let the obsession begin.

sloshed · Posted: Wed - Oct, 26 2011 - 3:08 pm Post subject:

I looked through their site and everything looked reasonable.. Its the kegerator itself that is a problem at the moment. I should just get an old mini fridge and turn it into one...
_________________
I drink to forget my blackouts.

The Joker · Posted: Thu - Oct, 27 2011 - 6:22 am Post subject:

Get a chest freezer and do a Keezer instead.

_________________
Let the obsession begin.