Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message
locked post

Home Brewing: First brew complete, on to the tasting and next brew!

Posted on 6/2/11 at 8:29 am
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52734 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 8:29 am
Well, 1 month has passed as of yesterday since i made my first brew. I made a Cincinnati Pale Ale. So i got home, put it in the fridge, and started on my next brew.

I opened the beer. Sounds like beer!
I poured the beer. Looks like beer!
I tasted the beer. Tastes like beer!

It had a really good head on it when i poured. The clarity is what i expect for a pale ale. A good amber color, not too hazy. It had a slightly hoppy aroma and it taste great. According to the recipe, it should have resembled Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Well, it kind of did. It was hoppy but had a clean taste to it. The only thing i noticed from first taste, was that it lacked a bit of a bite after. I was afraid when i carb'd it that i wouldn't have enough carbonation. Though when i poured i had bubbles coming up through the whole beer. But by the time i was finishing my 2nd beer, i didn't notice any off flavors at all.

So overall, i think i did a pretty damn good job.

I also brewed a porter last night. Steeped the grains, then added the extract and started boiling. Well, i didn't pay attention because i was getting stuff in the house. Came back out, and my fire on my burner was out. So i looked around. I had a boilover. My heat was up way too high, and it boiled over, so i relit. Let it go, then the burner started catching on fire. I killed the heat took off the pot, and had to scrape gunk off the burner. Put pot back on. And continued brewing as normal.

I realized this brew, that the heat did not need to be fully cranked, i had it set pretty low, and had a nice rolling boil all the way through and had no boil overs from hop additions.

Once i was done i started cooling, well... i had a Wyeast london ale slap pack, i slapped the pack and then read the back, didn't know i was supposed to wait 3 hours.
So i just continued on, and pitched an hour later.

My porter is fermenting now. Last night i had a good head going on, but i look this morning, and the foam is starting to subside. I'm using my freezer with my johnson digital temp controller. I'm having problems.

I have my setpoint at 65 (suggested fermentation temperature) and my differential on 3 degrees. Well, after i checked it again, the temp last night, it was at 59. Apparently the freezer is kicking on and when it shuts off the temp drops too low. How do i set my temp controller right? Should i set my differential lower, to 1 degree? I don't believe i quite understand what the differential does.
Posted by Rex
Here, there, and nowhere
Member since Sep 2004
66001 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 8:34 am to
My brother brews a lot of beer. Most of it is outstanding.
Posted by Fratastic423
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2007
5990 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:13 am to
Nice work on the beer.

quote:

I have my setpoint at 65 (suggested fermentation temperature) and my differential on 3 degrees. Well, after i checked it again, the temp last night, it was at 59. Apparently the freezer is kicking on and when it shuts off the temp drops too low. How do i set my temp controller right? Should i set my differential lower, to 1 degree? I don't believe i quite understand what the differential does.



The reason that it has a 3 degree span is so the freezer motor doesnt burn up by turning on and off really quickly. Most likely your beer did not get to 59. I would be content with setting the temp maybe a little higher if you notice this problem again with the next beer. Or you could just slowly have the temp increase to ensure that the porter finishes fermenting.
Posted by tetu
Ascension Parish
Member since Jan 2011
12269 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:17 am to
Congrats on finishing your first batch. I'm not sure how to use the temp controller, but I knoew a few people on here have been using them for some time. Hopefully they chime in soon.

Side note: You still have that cube icechest with the cutout? I need one and haven't had the time to make one. I'll take it off your hands if interested.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52734 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:35 am to
quote:

Side note: You still have that cube icechest with the cutout? I need one and haven't had the time to make one. I'll take it off your hands if interested.


Yeah i still have it. But i'm going to keep it in case i want to ferment a lager in my freezer and an ale at the same time. But Academy has them for 30 bucks.
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21397 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:42 am to
Whooooooooooooooooo! Home brew talk!

quote:

i slapped the pack and then read the back, didn't know i was supposed to wait 3 hours.


I have never waited that long. I usually take it out as I kill the fire. By the time I'm ready to pitch, thetemp has risen a good bit in the pack.

quote:

Last night i had a good head going on, but i look this morning, and the foam is starting to subside


I assume you still have an airlock on the carboy, right? Is it still bubbling?
This post was edited on 6/2/11 at 9:43 am
Posted by tetu
Ascension Parish
Member since Jan 2011
12269 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:49 am to
Had to ask. I have one at home already, just havent had the time to cut the hole.
This post was edited on 6/2/11 at 9:54 am
Posted by s14suspense
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
14687 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:57 am to
Congrats on your first batch. Just bottled my second batch on Sunday. I thought mine tasted pretty good warm and flat. So I'm really looking forward to popping a cap soon.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52734 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 10:11 am to
quote:



I assume you still have an airlock on the carboy, right? Is it still bubbling?


well i have a blowoff tube attached to the airlock right now
Posted by thebhamdawgfan
The Magic City
Member since Mar 2011
660 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 11:28 am to
Posted by Dallas Tiger
Dallas
Member since Mar 2006
15080 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 11:32 am to
quote:

The only thing i noticed from first taste, was that it lacked a bit of a bite after.


Try adding 2 Tsp of gypsum salt to the boil. It will brighten up the hops.
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21397 posts
Posted on 6/2/11 at 11:45 am to
quote:

well i have a blowoff tube attached to the airlock right now


End of the tube submerged in water, right? Hoping it's not just exposed to air.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram