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Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:34 pm
by GORDON
Bought the Brewer's Best kit today. Plan to brew it within a week.
Edited By GORDON on 1313541339
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:32 pm
by Paul
I've made a few amber ales, and none of them were my favorite.
None were bad, but none seemed special, and the point of home brewing is to make something special (IMO).
I don't make them anymore.
I wish you the best of luck though.
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:17 am
by GORDON
I still don't even know what the first batch tastes like.... I am opening the first bottle this weekend. And, I suspect I panicked on the fermentation times and went too quick and it isn't going to be an optimal batch.
I'm in the steep part of the learning curve right now. Got to get the basics down before I move onto the fancy stuff. Already thinking about the lager with the dedicated refrigerator and external thermal control unit..... and, I plan on kegging by next summer. Maybe.
But anyway, American Amber seemed like a basic sort of thing, and I am going to walk before I run.
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:33 pm
by Paul
Yeah but the darker/stronger stuff is harder to mess up.
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:58 pm
by GORDON
Happy brew day!
Grains are steeping, stable at 158 degrees. About 11 minutes to go.
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 9:53 pm
by GORDON
Wort is, like, totally chillin.
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:30 am
by GORDON
Primary fermentation was quick again, all the bubbling was done within about 24 hours. Moved to the secondary on day 3. It smelled and tasted fine.
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 5:39 pm
by GORDON
Bottling day!
Been in the secondary for 2 weeks, everything is washed and standing by. Bottling this evening after dinner.
Yay!
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:46 pm
by GORDON
Whew, putting beer into 45 bottles is way less fun the second time.
I took a gravity reading the day I brewed, that was 1.0454.
I took a gravity reading 3 days later when I transferred to the secondary fermenter, it was 1.0114.
I took another reading tonight, after 2 weeks in the secondary: 1.0114.
That suggests to me that no fermentation at all happened for 2 weeks in the secondary fermenter. FAIRLY sure I noticed the water level in the water lock going up and down, which suggests gas was still being produced, which suggests that there was some activity happening. Correct me if I am incorrect.
Hmmm.
Anyway, those numbers tell me that my alcohol content is 4.46%. Yahoo. I can't wait to get back from the cruise on October 2 to crack one open.
Edited By GORDON on 1316047653
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:35 pm
by GORDON
After being bottled for 2 weeks, I was a little unhappy because it had this brash, sourish taste right up front (compared to the Scottish Ale), but now, 3 or 4 weeks after bottling, that taste is working its way out and this is turning out really good.
Happy with the outcome.
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 6:10 pm
by Paul
Time mellows them out.
I made a double-IPA and it took about 6 months to mellow out.
Edited By Paul on 1318803220