OK, I am a 1st time brewer that is itching to try it. I have been reading some books and as a new member here, I have been reading other peoples advice. Is there any advice that you have to share with me that I should watch out for? I would be interested in what you have to say.
-Dan[/size]
1st time brewer!
- Suthrncomfrt1884
- Double IPA
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:39 am
- Location: Rockford, Illinois
Start with a few brew kits instead of designing your own recipe first. This will help you understand the actual brew process before you go diving into it. It also saves you from making a horrible beer. I like the brewers best kits as far as taste goes, but the mouthfeel just isn't there. You could try adding maltodextrin or lactose to it to help that though.
Good luck and welcome to an exciting hobby.
Good luck and welcome to an exciting hobby.
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:07 am
new
Stick with ales for now, lagers require more knowledge and temperature control.
Try and keep even your ale fermentations on the cool side of the yeast range. Low to mid 60s seems to work well for a lot of yeasts, whereas 70s can give a beer a lot of off flavors.
Let it finish. Don't be in a rush to pull your beer off the yeast. Giving it a couple days or more after it's finished can allow the yeast to clean up some off-flavors. It'll probably take longer to carbonate than you expect, as well. My house is cool this time of year so my bottles rarely carbonate in 2 weeks. Also, most average beers seem to peak in flavor about 8 weeks from pitching the yeast, in my hands.
Be clean.
Boil as much volume as you can get away with for your malt extract kits, the flavor will be better. If you're only boiling about 2-3 gallons for a 5 gallon batch, add 1/4 to 1/2 of the extract in at the beginning of the 60 minute boil. Add the remainder about 15 minutes from the end (before the last hop additions is probably best). This will reduce the damage done to the extract from re-boiling it and help make the final beer smoother and less sweet.
Try and keep even your ale fermentations on the cool side of the yeast range. Low to mid 60s seems to work well for a lot of yeasts, whereas 70s can give a beer a lot of off flavors.
Let it finish. Don't be in a rush to pull your beer off the yeast. Giving it a couple days or more after it's finished can allow the yeast to clean up some off-flavors. It'll probably take longer to carbonate than you expect, as well. My house is cool this time of year so my bottles rarely carbonate in 2 weeks. Also, most average beers seem to peak in flavor about 8 weeks from pitching the yeast, in my hands.
Be clean.
Boil as much volume as you can get away with for your malt extract kits, the flavor will be better. If you're only boiling about 2-3 gallons for a 5 gallon batch, add 1/4 to 1/2 of the extract in at the beginning of the 60 minute boil. Add the remainder about 15 minutes from the end (before the last hop additions is probably best). This will reduce the damage done to the extract from re-boiling it and help make the final beer smoother and less sweet.
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