Brew Date: 6/6/2008
Recipe: Brewer's Best American Light Kit
OG: 1.046*
6/16: 1.021
6/20: 1.016
6/26: 1.013
7/01: 1.013 (FG)
ABV: 4.3%
Notes: Yes, they were Sterling hops (6.0% AA) as the recipe indicates, and the yeast is Muntons dry yeast.
*The OG may be off as I read later that you really need to mix the partial boil and the top off well before you will get a good reading. Doh.
This was the first time I have gone through the entire boil and not felt like a tee-pee and a wigwam. I definately feel like I have this part of the sanitation dance down as things went very smoothly.
I added Irish Moss to this recipe (15 minutes before flame-off) to see if it will clear the beer up some.
I also cooled the wort in an ice bath down to 80 degrees F. It took about 10 minutes. I can probably get it done faster, but I need more ice next time. My cold water comes out of the faucet at 60 degrees F, so once I topped off the primary the wort was right at 70. I pitched the yeast, capped it, shook it around a little, and put it down in the basement with a blow-off tube. Easy-peasy.
Lessons Learned:
- Buy a bag of ice 'cause now there is none for my cocktails.
- Stir well before taking OG.
- Continue to not panic.
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7 comments:
I feel a wort chiller coming on...
I went out yesterday and picked up a compact refridgerator that will hold one soda keg (I was hoping it would hold two, but it is 1/4 inch too small). I am looking for a tower to put on top, but they seem to only sell the towers with taps and I have my own tap. Never used a wort chiller and I have never cooled my beer. But it has always turned out good.
At week five I put my batch in the refridg and pumped it to 40 psi. Should be ready to go in a few days. In the past I have used the emergency method of force carbonating by shaking and rolling the keg under 20 psi and it has worked well.
Rod - Awesome. I can't wait to get down there and have some.
I didn't chill my first two batches, and they came out fine as well. I just wanted to see if there was any difference if I did do it. I can say that fermentation was the most violent I have seen so far. I was actually worried I might pop the top on the bucket!
Rod I looked for a tower w/o tap and couldn't find one either. Is the kegerator for upstairs?
I am ebaying a tower now ten bucks if I get it...
Rod - found plans for a DIY Tower in this thread. Not sure how pretty it would be...
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