Hi all I just got my first brewing kit a few months ago and made my first batch. I'm located in eastern va and I'm totally new to this but sounds like a great hobby. I made an oatmeal stout from Brewers Best and I just tried my first one and I'm in need of a little help. Not sure if this is the place for this if its not pleas tell me I'll remove it. So I did 2 weeks in primary fermenter, 2 weeks in second carboy, and 4 in bottles. When I open the first one and tried to pour it o got abot one inch of beer in the glass it filled to the top with foam. When I can get the foam down it doesn't taste to bad any help here would be greatly appreciated. On a side note I used one step sanitizer and I feel like I can taste it but maybe it's just me I am a rookie at this.
Sounds like you need to go here:http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/forums/homebrewing.8/ And welcome!
Two ways to reduce foam in the glass; 1) Tilt the glass at a 45° angle and pour s-l-o-w-l-y down the side 2) Wet the inside on the glass 3) 1 and 2
No experience with Brewers Best, but my first kit I used the whole 5 oz of sugar provided to bottle carb and had similar results to what you are describing. Did you do the same? Most 5 gallon batches would only need about 3-4 oz. Look up a priming calculator (I use the one on Northern Brewer) for how much sugar you need based on style. Also, most people around here will tell you there's no need for secondary. Another week or so in primary will be fine.
A glass full of foam with a careful pour can mean a few different things - too much priming sugar - incomplete fermentation prior to bottling - infection - combination of the above
Brew_betty gave you the most common causes. Here are the common solutions Measure your priming sugar by weight, not volume i.e. grams, not cups or tablespoons etc. And use a priming calculator (this is the one I usually use): http://www.tastybrew.com/calculators/priming.html Did you by any chance check your original gravity against your final gravity? that would tell you fermentation was either done or not and eliminate the chance of "Bottle bombs" or the beer continuing to ferment in the bottle and thus creating excessive carbonation at best and bottle literally exploding at worst. One step sanitizer? Which one was it, how did you use it, where did you use it? I think most folks here, myself included use StarSan or iodophor. Both are no-rinse sanitizers and are very effective when used properly...let me say that again...when used properly.
