1st batch ever, problems or at least questions

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Duxnrow, Nov 10, 2013.

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  1. Duxnrow

    Duxnrow Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2013 California

    Got the kit & equip yesterday, to make first beer, a strong scotch ale. Checked everything out except the car boy plug. The plug doesn't fit (upgraded to glass). Late last night, as beer cooled, Only practical alternative seemed to be to pour entire into bucket & add yeast. Plugged it, but the lid was not as tightly sealed as expected. Kit included hop pellets. Was not able to filter anything. Any advice? I may not be able to get a cork for another 6-7 hrs.
     
  2. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    I'm confused by what you've written.

    Is the beer in a bucket with a lid, but no air-lock?
    How did you cool the beer, and how long did it take?
    What temperature did you pitch the yeast?
    What do you need a cork for?
     
  3. Duxnrow

    Duxnrow Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2013 California

    Bucket has lid and air lock.

    Cooled with kettle chiller, took 15 minutes or so. To about 65 70'

    Thru in the yeast at that temp. Pre mixed at 95 with some wort on side though.

    Cork needed for carboy. Had planned to use carboy with siphon to minimize transfer of turb (?). It is all in bucket.
     
  4. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Alright, well at this point I would just leave the wort in the bucket to ferment.

    I don't advocate transferring to a secondary vessel at all, but some people do. In a Scotch Ale, I wouldn't worry too much about transferring. I would leave it in the bucket until it's done fermenting (about 3 weeks) then transfer to bottling bucket. If you're overly concerned about the seal on the bucket lid, transfer to secondary after two weeks.

    The kettle trub (including) hops, won't affect your finished beer.
     
    JrGtr likes this.
  5. Duxnrow

    Duxnrow Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2013 California

    Thank you very much.
     
  6. stella77artois

    stella77artois Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2010 New York

    What JohnSnowNW said is spot on. Good luck with, and enjoy the rest of your first brew process!
     
  7. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I always use a bucket for primary fermentations. Just easier to use, both putting the beer-to-be in and cleaning out afterwards. I don't leave it in there long enough to worry about oxygen migrating thorugh, and I never touch it (by which I mean opening the lid) until almost 3 weeks after brewing.
    Just make sure you have a decent seal, and keep the airlock full to the line.
    Advantage again to bucket, is that I use a strainer (just a regular kitchen one, I do dedicate it to brewing, and make sure it's sanitized) over the top, I pour the cooled wort through it. This both aerates it and strains out the majority of trub. Some still gets in but I don't worry about it.

    The other thing I wonder about, OP, is are you using the bottling bucket for fermentation? Or did you get the standard 2 buckets plus a carboy set?
     
  8. Duxnrow

    Duxnrow Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2013 California

    Update - the bucket lid was simply laying on top of the bucket. The bucket had some plastic that needed to be torn off before it would seal. I have torn it off and sealed it. It was on there loose for about 15 hours. What are the chances of not having a problem with it? Clean environment Basically.
     
  9. Duxnrow

    Duxnrow Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2013 California

    Thank you. It's the Bottling bucket.
     
  10. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    You can just siphon from the bucket into the carboy and bottle from the carboy...if you don't have time to run to the brew store.
     
  11. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Should be fine, assuming the yeast are doing their thing. Even then, there are breweries that do open air primary fermentation. It's not recommended...but it just goes to show there's no reason to be overly concerned about stuff like this...you'll be fine.
     
  12. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    What about if you want to rack onto a pie? Secondary or no?












    I still can't get over the pie thing...
     
  13. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    What's the "pie thing?"
     
  14. Duxnrow

    Duxnrow Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2013 California

    Sounds good.

    Don't know about the pie thing, but it sounds good too.
     
  15. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Around the same times there was a guy brewing lambics in his turkey pan and another guy trying to do a pumkin. Beer by mashing in with a whole pumpkin pie in his mash tun.
     
  16. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    LOL...now I do remember that.
     
  17. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well, then myquestion still stands. Would you use a secondary for dry-pieing your beer? :grinning:
     
  18. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Absolutely not, I'd just throw that bad boy right in primary! :wink:
     
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