First Timer...Milk Stout

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Droncz87, Mar 31, 2014.

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  1. Droncz87

    Droncz87 Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2014 Illinois

    Hey folks!


    My buddy and I recently bought a 5 gallon Brewers Best kit and chose a Milk Stout as our first brew. It was a pretty fun time and we followed the instructions to a T.

    My only issue was when it came time to take the "gravity"? reading right before throwing the yeast in. Any tips on figuring that part of it?

    24 hours later thought the brew is bubbling in the airlock like crazy.

    I am also reading things about 2nd fermetation in my glass carboy and I don't fully know if need to to that?

    Thanks!


    Daniel
     
    #1 Droncz87, Mar 31, 2014
  2. checktherhyme

    checktherhyme Savant (1,036) Apr 8, 2008 Washington

    Sounds like it went well. Yes, you take your first gravity (Original Gravity) right before adding the yeast and after topping the carboy up with water. Give it a shake/stir after topping up with water too so it all mixes together.

    Secondary fermentation is sort of the wrong term becasue you are not actually fermenting again the the secondary. It is also not needed unless you are adding adjunts or dry hopping.

    I would let it sit in the carboy for two weeks (maybe longer) and then check the gravity again. It should be done fermenting and 2 weeks should be enough time to clean up any off flavors that may have developed. Check it a couple days in a row after 2 weeks and if the readings are the same, you are ready to bottle/keg.
     
    #2 checktherhyme, Mar 31, 2014
  3. Droncz87

    Droncz87 Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2014 Illinois

    I am reading on the forms that people are mentiong a "yeast cake" and someone even says he lets it sit and uses it next time? what is that about. Thankyou.
     
    #3 Droncz87, Mar 31, 2014
  4. Droncz87

    Droncz87 Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2014 Illinois

    I want to bump this up.

    I didn't read the gravity the right way before throwing the yeast in, should I wait to check it and will it harm things if I pop the cap off the bucket?
     
    #4 Droncz87, Apr 1, 2014
  5. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Assuming this was an extract/steeped grains kit, I wouldn't bother. If you got the right total volume into the fermenter, you're going to be very close to the expected Original Gravity. However, you'll want to make sure the Final Gravity (FG) is steady (unchanged 3 days apart, and in the neighborhood of the expected FG) before bottling.
     
    #5 VikeMan, Apr 2, 2014
    PapaGoose03 likes this.
  6. Droncz87

    Droncz87 Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2014 Illinois

    Update!


    So I broke open a bottle last night finally and....i LOVED it. Everything turned out perfectly. The next time I make a milk stout, I want to try to enhance it and maybe add some chocolate nibs.
     
    #6 Droncz87, Apr 29, 2014
  7. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    Glad it turned out well. It sounds like this is roughly 1 month after brewing. Good news, your beer will probably improve over the next month or so, right now it is a little young. You should make a point to save a couple bottles (at a minimum) for at least a couple more weeks so you can see how it changes over time.
     
    #7 wspscott, Apr 30, 2014
    Droncz87 likes this.
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