home brew

[DolphinLVR]

ya dont need a chiller.... ice in a sink will work altho ive thought about it..

im gonna do the keg bucket with ice water

It just takes longer without the chiller is all. Sink, bathub or bucket of ice will work as well. The chiller just makes it quicker is all. :d

 

[tdgates10]

Ya, immersion chillers are really nice, but for smaller batches, you can totally get away with just using the sink with ice. I would also suggest doing all glass carboys. IMO they are way more sanitary. And I would also look into 6g glass carboys as well. With the 5g, you'll loose about 1/2g of beer when if blows off after pitching the yeast.

I think those kits can be a rip off sometimes. I put my own setup together for way cheaper just by looking around craigslist and good beer sites. Especially since we're reefers, don't need to waste money on hydrometer when more than likely we have about three sitting around. Also, we have extra hose lying around and 5g buckets that you can just sanitize if you don't want the glass carboys. The only stuff you should need is bottling equipment, racking cane, temp strips, stainless brew pot (walmart), nylon sacks and glass carboy(s). What makes good beer is sanitation...equipment just makes it easier.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Instead of bottling, you should set up a kegging system. Pretty cheap and no waiting for priming sugar to kick in.

I have a 1 gallon kegging set that is neat, but with bottles, can give them away as gifts. Nothing like some home brew from a friend. You can get free cappable bottles (no screw tops) from bars and such. A common one is Fat Tire...

 

[burning2nd]

ok cool.... so Ill just run by what i did yesterday..

i have a oktoberfest kit.. came with the barley, bittering hops and aromma hops, yeast, primming sugar, and malt extract.

so i steep the barley at 155 for 30 min, drain and disguard, then i come to a rolling boil take off the heat add the extract, mix that in good then return to the heat for 55min of boiling... i added the bittering hops as soon as it came back to a boil, and then the last little bit of hops at the last 10 min of the boil....

then i cooled as quick as i could, and poured in to the first primary fermenter... (the bucket with the little thingy on top)

i didnt take a reading cause i was afraid of adding anything... I think ill get my self a few more carboys, and a few more SS spones... and ill have to make something to hang things on while im brewing.....

it was cool, and it smelt pritty damn good... the barley tastes good the hops does not.

so ill wait a few days and then pour my "wort" (spelled wrong like normal) in to the carboy and there it should sit for a few weeks... I think im doing ok.... I hope its at least drinkabul,

wish me luck..

 

[DolphinLVR]

As in Reefing, Home brewing will take patience as well. Once you beer clears the Secondary, it will be time for bottling and you should let that sit as well for about 3 weeks to fully carbonate.

Let us know how it turns out!

 

[burning2nd]

the directions say 1 to 3 days in the primary and then doesnt really say how long in the carboy...
I have some reading to do

 

[DolphinLVR]

the directions say 1 to 3 days in the primary and then doesnt really say how long in the carboy...
I have some reading to do

I have always followed the 1 2 3 Method!

1 week Fermentor/Primary

2 weeks Secondary

3 weeks Bottle