They offer a class in basic brewing once a month at www.craftbrewednashville.com If you're in the area, you really need to go there. It's a great store. I took the class in March 2014.
I took the advice of 2bluewagons. I followed the recipe instead of deviating. The first brew is now in the bottles. We sampled during bottling...very good. Will wait at least two weeks in the bottles before tasting again.
I just got done bottling...the sample tasted great.
My snafu: after I put the lid on my fermenting bucket, i pushed in the airlock...and the rubber airlock gasket fell into the wort. I had to sanitize my hand and arm really good...pull off the lid and fish my airlock gasket out. Thought I...
I appreciate the reply. Thank you. I've seen other recipes where the vanilla is added at bottling phase. I'm gonna give it a shot. I'll update this thread after taste testing.
Ive got BSG's American Brown Ale kit in the primary. I would like something close to a vanillacream ale. Would there be any problem with adding some lactose and pure vanilla at bottling phase? This is my first brew.