My first batch

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by drinkybanjo, Jul 13, 2015.

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  1. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    So after unsuccessfully trying to brew in the early 90s I'm finally giving it another shot. Picked up my equipment from Northern Brewer and have been reading/watching John Palmer's How to Brew. I selected the Brown Ale from Norther Brewer as I expect this to be ready by September and figured Brown Ale was the best option available.

    As far as I know everything went well. I brewed it yesterday per recipe and John's instructions. I put it in the primary yesterday afternoon and last night it was bubbling like crazy. I'm going right to a keg so hopefully that will not introduce any issues.

    I'll keep you posted as I go through the motions.
     
    #1 drinkybanjo, Jul 13, 2015
  2. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    No input other than I remember the avatar picture. Andre the Giant's hand holding a beer can.
     
    #2 hopfenunmaltz, Jul 13, 2015
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  3. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    No need to secondary a brown ale. Welcome back!
     
    #3 scottakelly, Jul 13, 2015
  4. vrbulldog22

    vrbulldog22 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2010 Ohio

    What makes you call the first attempt unsuccessful / what happened?
     
    #4 vrbulldog22, Jul 14, 2015
  5. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    I did my first batches with my brother and we didn't have the right equipment. Foremost was the cleaner we used at the time left a strong aroma in the beer. With the new sanitizers I see that problem going away. Other than that it was drinkable but not enjoyable.

    Are you saying I shouldn't secondary this batch? Why would a Brown Ale matter versus other styles? I think I can sanitize everything properly so what is the harm? I'm also aware that I should try to avoid as much air as possible and to keep the line 'in the beer' as I transfer from primary to secondary.
     
    #5 drinkybanjo, Jul 14, 2015
  6. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    If you want your beer crystal clear I would recommend you to use a scondary and finings agents otherwise if it doesn´t bother to you to brew a slightly hazy beer I would advise you to avoid it , the more transfers the more risk to picking up oxygen/contamination. I see you have a keg system so you could purge the vessel with Co2 prior to transfer beer, this way you preserve it to oxygen exposure.

    Welcome back Sir !
     
    #6 Tebuken, Jul 14, 2015
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  7. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    I brewed it on Sunday. It was bubbling like crazy by Sunday night and now as of last night things have calmed down. Should I just leave it in the primary for three weeks and go right to the keg? I can top it off with CO2 and let it sit for a couple of weeks before serving?
     
    #7 drinkybanjo, Jul 14, 2015
  8. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    Yes, leave it in primary for three weels, then purge the keg with Co2 prior to transfer your beer and cool it down to 40 f for a week, then force carb it to your desired carbonation level and let it it sit 2- 3 days more at 40 f before serving. The first pints will be a bit cloudy but it will be clearing itself while serving.
     
    #8 Tebuken, Jul 14, 2015
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  9. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    How did the op get a picture of @stealth holding a can of Molson Canadian? He only drinks top shelf beers.
     
    #9 Brew_Betty, Jul 14, 2015
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  10. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Don't forget to remember to forget everything you will remember you forgot after you're done. :grimacing:
     
    #10 AlCaponeJunior, Jul 14, 2015
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  11. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    leave it in primary and don't open it for any reason. It will have a nice coating of CO2 from the fermentation if you don't open it. No need to secondary.
     
    #11 AlCaponeJunior, Jul 14, 2015
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  12. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    Does this only remedy the issue of cloudy beer or does this enhance taste too? I don't know if I can let it sit that long without sampling!!!!
     
    #12 drinkybanjo, Jul 15, 2015
  13. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    Both, be patient , lol
     
    #13 Tebuken, Jul 15, 2015
  14. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    Okay, so this Sunday will be three weeks since I brewed this batch of Brown Ale. I was planning on kegging this weekend but today I noticed that the air lock started to bubble again, about once a minute or so.

    The beer has been sitting between 72-74 degrees since I brewed it. It bubbled like crazy for 24 hours and really hasn't done much since. I know 72-74 degrees is a bit warm and am remedying that for my next batch.

    Should I wait longer to keg? Any reason why it would start bubbling again?
     
    #14 drinkybanjo, Jul 29, 2015
  15. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    Did the temp decrease and then increase again? Any increase in temperature would cause gas to leave the carboy.
     
    #15 CurtFromHershey, Jul 29, 2015
  16. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    No, I think the temp is the same. If it did go up it would only have been a degree or two. It's in my basement and the temp is a bit on the high side but it is consistent.
     
    #16 drinkybanjo, Jul 29, 2015
  17. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    I have a hard time imagining it's not done fermenting if it's been at 72*+ for two and a half weeks. That said, unless you bumped the side of your carboy/bucket, I don't know what would cause a bubble per minute. Another day or two on the yeast won't hurt anything.
     
    #17 CurtFromHershey, Jul 29, 2015
  18. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    Great!
     
    #18 drinkybanjo, Jul 29, 2015
  19. drinkybanjo

    drinkybanjo Crusader (457) Sep 4, 2008 New Jersey

    Okay, the beer has been kegged! A couple of stumbles during my first transfer but everything made it in okay! Tomorrow night will be the first sample, cannot wait!
     
    #19 drinkybanjo, Aug 5, 2015
  20. Hop-Droppen-Roll

    Hop-Droppen-Roll Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Minnesota

    Watching? I just started reading it... Can you enlighten me as to how to watch?
     
    #20 Hop-Droppen-Roll, Aug 5, 2015
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