Obligatory New Brewer Post

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Howdy all,

New brewer here, not a new drinker though!!

My Father in law has been brewing for 20+ years, so thought it was about time I jumped onto it too. Brought a starter kit, set it up and put a brew in. Pretty standard really and no issues.

‘Lucky Goat Pale Ale’
OG 1.046
Yeast pitched at 23 degC.

Luckily for me, I have access and know how to build stuff. So pick up a keg and associated equipment and while the ferment is happening I’ll through together a keezer.

Thread is pointless without pics, so here we go..



Cheers, Daniel.

 

[MaggieO]

Welcome aboard. Good you have someone to help mentor you along.

Care to share your recipe?

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Welcome aboard. Good you have someone to help mentor you along.

Care to share your recipe?

Hey bud.

It’s just an extract kit that came with the starter kit.
https://mangrovejacks.com/products/traditional-series-pale-ale

 

[Grmblz]

Welcome aboard. Good you have someone to help mentor you along.

Care to share your recipe?

It's a kit Maggie Mangrove Jack's Lucky Goat Pale Ale - Clever Brewing Home Brew Beer Supplies
Welcome Dan, grab a fridge off gumtree and use that temp controller to build a fermentation chamber, hope you get well soon, that looks like a nasty case of corona virus you have there.

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

It's a kit Maggie Mangrove Jack's Lucky Goat Pale Ale - Clever Brewing Home Brew Beer Supplies
Welcome Dan, grab a fridge off gumtree and use that temp controller to build a fermentation chamber, hope you get well soon, that looks like a nasty case of corona virus you have there.

Hahah, yeah I get that a lot... all jokes aside, I actually like corona beer. I’ve got my eye on a few cheap fridges etc. I also have another temp controller coming to hard wire in. So in the next week or two I’ll have taps and etc ready to go.

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Temp dropped to 19 overnight, but it was also a cooler night in general. But never fear, Father in law had a spare heat pad. So now sitting on that and getting back to the 23.5 degrees. It’s cool and quite a bonding exercise between us.

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Well, brew is just ticking along doing it’s this. Started on the kegerator. Got a upright freezer for nothing. So have started figuring all that out. Can get two 19l corny kegs in there. And about 20 750ml bottles. I’m happy with that. Have run gas lines and removed the thermostat wiring etc. Temp controller and taps should be here in the next few days, so will have this all assembled and running before the first brew is ready to be kegged. Didn’t take many photos, left my phone inside outta the shed (so I couldn’t be found)

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Bitta work done on the keezer tonight. Re-wired and fitted temp controller. Ran gas line. Taps etc will be here tomorrow.

Brew is not doing a lot. Didn’t notice any air lock activity, so took a sample 1.018. Wondering if keeping it at 23.5 degrees has finished it early, or maybe it’s just slowed right down. Had a wee look and it looks ok. And taste tested the sample, seems ok. Any thoughts?

 

[Blackman]

Not a good idea to be opening the top as you are more likely to get an infection from letting oxygen in. Ideally you want to be taking your gravity samples through the tap after letting the first bit go because solids can throw out your reading. Take a reading every two days once you think it is finished and when the gravity is stable she is done.

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Evening, so the first brew finished, it’s now sitting in the keg in my chiller, carbonated it, and it’s drinkable at present, although a little under carbed, left it on 20psi for the night and will check again tomorrow. Started a second brew, a Pilsner kit, with an enhancer ( to be somewhat of a Budweiser clone). Hopefully my taps etc arrive tomorrow and can be mounted through the door of the fridge.

 

[Grmblz]

to be somewhat of a Budweiser clone)

Wash yer mouth out with soap

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Wash yer mouth out with soap

Yeah I know it’s not everyone’s pick, but I like it, as I’m brewing for pretty much my own consumption, it will do just fine. ****, I love corona too, that’s the only beer we had at my wedding in January. What can I say, I’m a ‘basic *****’ .

Seriously though, I’m not one for massively hoppy beers, so I’m happy with my choices.

 

[Grmblz]

Fair call mate, horses for courses, I'm currently sat next to a roaring wood heater, sipping a barley wine 11% very malty almost no hops, not everyone's cup of tea but the funny thing is I can't feel the cold.

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Yeah mate that’s it. If I gotta drink it, then I’m going to do what tastes good to me. If others don’t like the taste, then sweet as, they can bring their own. Hahaha. You just gotta do you sometimes huh!

 

[Diesel_mechanic_nz]

Done a few extract brews. But things just got serious, fast,

 

[Vini2ton]

Nothing wrong with those new world lites. I've had a crack at alot of them with flaked corn/rice, all sorts of malts and yeasts. Made well they're wonderful beers. The brewing history of the US is a good read and I do love an ice cold Bud or Miller.