My First Brew

[sah]

Hi guys, reading this thread with interest being a kit brewer, when steeping/seeping grains,
do they need to be broken up/rolled with rolling pin, first, or do you use them straight out of the 1kg packet???

[post="117484"][/post]​

They need to be cracked open and ground to bits as small as you can manage without them escaping your grain bag.

Do you have a mortar and pestel?

Scott

 

[Snow Gun]

For something like Corona, for the adding of hops (I assume you mean a Morgans teabag), I would stay away from POR, MB89 (a derivative of POR I hear), Goldings, Fuggles, and go for something like Halletau or Saaz. These are German (give or take) noble hops, which are called noble for a reason - mild, herbal, delicate, beautiful aroma. Hersbrucker is in there too... that's about it from memory.

[post="116798"][/post]​

I'm on my 3rd brew at the moment, probably bottling tomorrow.

Supposedly also a Corona style given to me by my local HBS, but also in a BrewCellar news that I picked up.....

1.7kg Morgans Canadian Light,
1kg Dextrose
40og Maltodextrin
1 teabag Morgans Finishing Hops - Super Alpha

I pray it tastes Ok.....

 

[PistolPatch]

Hi there Snow/Dairymaid etc. As I am not forumming under the influence tonight, I have no immediate essay for you. Bad luck eh? LOL

I just noticed that in the pages above, I failed to mention the following two threads which should be interesting for anyone starting brewing or who wants to learn how to get the most out of AHB. The threads are

Frequently Asked Questions For The New Brewer, links and information
Outline To Using The Ahb Website

The above are still being worked on but there's already enough advice/info/links to keep anyone occupied for a while. These links may even be more valuable than whatever it was I've already said in this thread but probably not - LOL! Seriously, check them out.

How's your temperature control going Moon? No worries?

One more link for you to an online, 'How to Brew,' book that is highly recommended by many AHB brewers...

How to Brew by John Palmer

(See Section 2 Dairy for partials and steeping etc.)


Cheers
PP

 

[dairymaid]

thanks, have bookmarked the relevant pages, and shall be busy reading for awhile
cheers!

 

[moonwolf]

Hiya gents,

Well the verdict is in on my first brew,,,,,

Yuck!!!!!!!

The first bottle i opened was flat and had no head or bubbles.

It tasted worse than my ex wife`s cooking.

The first bottle was one of the old style, with the top that is attached to the bottle and flips off. The miss`s said it might not have been sealed properly and to try one of my plastic bottles.

This had head, but it didnt last very long ( stop laughing lol), it had bubbles up the side of the glass but it still tasted flat. And the flavour was rotten.

The colour was a beautiful amber, and it smelt ok.

When brewing i sterillised everything, and made sure i used the correct measures.

So does anyone have any idea why it tastes so off? I honestly cant think of anything i did wrong, when i did the gravity test on the 6th day it was 1008-10.

I put the right amount of carbonation cubes into the bottle and they were stored in a nice cool dark place.

So if anyone has any ideas please let`s hear them.

Thanks.
:super:

 

[Stuster]

Sorry to hear your first brew has come out badly.

It'll help in working out what's wrong if you can describe the bad flavour. How to brew - common off flavours should help you with that.

Carbonation should be good by this stage (2 weeks?). But how cool was the place you stored them?

Head retention is a tricky thing. How clean are your glasses? There are heaps of threads on this, although I find that well-rinsed glasses are fine.

 

[mika]

2 weeks is nothing ! Leave at least four before trying it out. Alot of brews I've done really don't come of age till at least 4-6 weeks, and if it's cold weather (not likely at the mo) could take much longer than that.

Had a left over Saaz hop packet that a friend thru into his Corona, just tasted it and reckons it's spot on. Maybe not tasting like Corona, but still a nice beer.

 

[macr]

It took one of my brews 6 months! Mind you it may have taken less but it tasted like $h!t, so I left 2 bottles and forgot about it. Then it was like the nicest beer. Just don't pour it down the drain until you have tried it after a couple of months.

 

[moonwolf]

Thanks guys,

I was going to let them sit for a while longer. It tastes a lot like Toohey`s new at the moment.

I have them stored in a cool cupboard that the temp sits at around 17-20`.

There is a strong bitter flavour at the front of the tongue and at the back of your throat.

Head retention has improved ( the miss`s is pissing herself at this comment), so i think your right about leaving it to sit longer. Like you said 2 weeks really is nothing.

I have a few new recipe`s that i will give a go and see how they turn out.

I am thinking at the moment it is more of experimenting and just seeing how different things turn out.

Thanks guys.
:super:

 

[Mr Bond]

Hiya gents,

Well the verdict is in on my first brew,,,,,

Yuck!!!!!!!

The first bottle i opened was flat and had no head or bubbles.

It tasted worse than my ex wife`s cooking.

The first bottle was one of the old style, with the top that is attached to the bottle and flips off. The miss`s said it might not have been sealed properly and to try one of my plastic bottles.

This had head, but it didnt last very long ( stop laughing lol), it had bubbles up the side of the glass but it still tasted flat. And the flavour was rotten.

The colour was a beautiful amber, and it smelt ok.

When brewing i sterillised everything, and made sure i used the correct measures.

So does anyone have any idea why it tastes so off? I honestly cant think of anything i did wrong, when i did the gravity test on the 6th day it was 1008-10.

I put the right amount of carbonation cubes into the bottle and they were stored in a nice cool dark place.

So if anyone has any ideas please let`s hear them.

Thanks.
:super:

[post="119232"][/post]​

If it was a coopers can plus dex with the yeast under the lid you probably shouldnt expect too much more this early.Leave it 6/12 weeks and it will get marginally better.

 

[mika]

It tastes a lot like Toohey`s new at the moment.

[post="119320"][/post]​

Oooh. There's worse beers around... but not many

 

[moonwolf]

Thanks guys,

I`m going to investigate a better quality yeast from my HB guy.

I am planning on leaving them in the bottles a bit longer.

6-12 weeks sounds pretty good.

Thanks for the help, sorry for being a pain.

:super:

 

[Trough Lolly]

If it was a coopers can plus dex with the yeast under the lid you probably shouldnt expect too much more this early.Leave it 6/12 weeks and it will get marginally better.

[post="119327"][/post]​

Agreed - and welcome, Moonwolf, to the brewing fraternity...
If you can let us know what ingredients you used, we might be able to help you out with what happened...
And yes, you need to leave these quite a bit longer to get anything resembling body and flavour. You only get back what you put in. A tab of aspro clear and some metho does not make Dom Perignon if you catch my drift!!

Cheers,
TL

 

[Paleman]

Moonwolf, as Brauluver and others mentioned. With basic kit ingredients, you have to let the beer bottle condition. Give it more than two months. You'll be impressed. Patience my boy ! patience.

You should have a very drinkable beer after two or so months, but not great. Dont be hard on yourself. Thats brewing life.

Ive always been a kit brewer, have brewed on and off for 20 years. I now brew Grumpys Extrabrews.( which are a ready supplied extract brew ). Which are no harder to brew than kits, just take a bit longer. The difference in taste is amazing....amazing !!

Give your beer time, and when you have confidence, step up to the next level...its all good. :beer:

 

[moonwolf]

:super:
Well guys, i cracked a couple of bottles open last night and popped my lemon slice in.

:beer: Absolutely bloody wicked. It is quiete good.

So as normal you lads were right.... Time!!!

I am still going to leave it a little bit longer and hopefully it just gets better.

I`ll keep you all posted .

:beerbang:

 

[moonwolf]

Well guys just did the maths, and yes it did strain my limited brain power.
Moonbrew has a alocohol content of 5.85%....

yeah good stuff. :chug:

The second batch is coming along lovely, this one i used a finishing hops in, and it`s a little darker but just a nice.

My brews are maturing nicely now.

I have been to brewcraft and they have a nice brew mix i`m gonna try next time.

And when i move home to newcastle later this year my cousin and i are going to brew together.

Our plan is to get my uncle legless...

 

[Stuster]

Good stuff Moonwolf. 5.8% moonshine will keep you off the streets.

I agree with Paleman. The Grumpys kits are good. Give them a go while you are over that side of the world. You may just want to bring a few back east with you. :chug:

 

[Bizarre]

Good stuff Moonwolf. 5.8% moonshine will keep you off the streets.

I agree with Paleman. The Grumpys kits are good. Give them a go while you are over that side of the world. You may just want to bring a few back east with you. :chug:

[post="122323"][/post]​

The Grumpy's kit r definately worth a go Moonwolf - the Czecmate pilsner comes out really nice, Red Stag, Red Irish and Boston Cream are pretty good too mate - I am lucky enough to be able to walk into my LHBS and buy 'em off the shelf. I am currently sittin sippin on a chilli beer I made a 5 weeks ago - my biggest problem is leavin' 'em to let 'em mature long enough - hehehe - Oh well! :chug:

 

[cheapdrunk]

Moon I'm only relativley new to brewing I did my first batch 10 years ago, did a bunch of batches but got bored quickly waiting (like you had to) to drink the beers.. which I didn't end up liking too much..

So just something for thought, I bit the bullet got the trading post in January I think, looked and found an old fridge, taps, 3 kegs, lines, regulator etc... for $300, which is not overly uncommon, all I had to do was get a bottle of gas and some beer glasses that I "borrowed" from the local pub and I was drinking wicked beer in 14 days.. it was the coopers mexican cervesa, with nothin fancy added and my mates and I all love it, I haven't looked back.

It paid for itself too, I have an honesty box on the door, everyone wacks a dollar a schooner in and they have a great night for 10 bucks, and I get to upgrade my stuff...

Just thought I'd pass on some experience from one amature to another.

Oh and I forgot to mention I personally think kegging is 100 times easier than bottling.... I was daunted about all the lines, taps, pouring, racking... but it's a snap...

good luck
CD

 

[moonwolf]

:chug:
Thats a good idea.

My Uncle drinks VB, but i have noticed my brew is getting better the longer i leave it.

It`s great with a pizza late at night.