I just bottled my first BBS recipe from their book -- the Spring Lager. It was in the fermenter for three weeks. My batch came up just slightly short of one gallon -- roughly 16 to 24 oz less than a full gallon. I used 3 tablespoons of honey for carbonation, which is the amount called for in the recipe. Checking some of the online priming calculators, this seems like more than the recommended amount of honey for a CO2 volume of 3.0, which is rather high. Taking that into consideration, plus the fact I bottled slightly less than 1 full gallon of beer, should I be concerned about potential bottle bombs from over-carbonation?
Rookie question. First batch with the Everyday IPA. How deep should I put the thermometer provided with the kit into the mash to take readings? If I put it all the way to the bottom, I get readings above 180. If I put just the tip in, it's closer to the range they call for. Any tips? Is exact temp at this stage crucial?
Thunder_Chicken said:Stir the mash up a bit and then take a reading near the center. Also, if your oven has a warm capability, just stick your entire mash pot in the oven at 145 or 150F. Holds mash temperature nicely without applying the burner. Much more uniform too.
Stir the mash up a bit and then take a reading near the center. Also, if your oven has a warm capability, just stick your entire mash pot in the oven at 145 or 150F. Holds mash temperature nicely without applying the burner. Much more uniform too.
This is the best way. I only have a warm setting (170) so preheat then turn it off when I stick the mash in. Holds amazing. Can't believe I used to check on the mash every minute or so...stir...heat...stir...off burner...stir....warm burner...etc. So much more time now and so much more relaxing
I find the BBS kits EXTREMELY expensive. The ingredient kit that came in the BBS kit turned out well.. but, you can replicate the ingredient portion for way less than half the price if you get the ingredients at a LHBS. The caveat there is that you split the hops needed out of the "bulk" packages to save for the next batches. Same with yeast. I only use about 1/3 of the yeast pack per batch. Another nice thing is that you know you are getting fresh ingredients and can crush the grains at the LHBS. If they don't have a crusher or you want to buy in more bulk w/o crushing.. just crush at home using a zip lock bag and a rolling pin. You don't want flour.. just crack the grains.
bford.. I'm only referring to the ingredient kits.. not the overall kit with jug, etc. That isn't bad.. but, the ingredient kits are, like.. $18 plus shipping.. That is close to what I pay to put my ingredients together to brew 5g of an APA all grain, of course. So, theoretically, you could buy a 5g AG kit and split it.. Five one gal kits for about $20.
That's what I meant Only the ingredient kit.. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.
I find the BBS kits EXTREMELY expensive. The ingredient kit that came in the BBS kit turned out well.. but, you can replicate the ingredient portion for way less than half the price if you get the ingredients at a LHBS. The caveat there is that you split the hops needed out of the "bulk" packages to save for the next batches. Same with yeast. I only use about 1/3 of the yeast pack per batch. Another nice thing is that you know you are getting fresh ingredients and can crush the grains at the LHBS. If they don't have a crusher or you want to buy in more bulk w/o crushing.. just crush at home using a zip lock bag and a rolling pin. You don't want flour.. just crack the grains.
Good evening all! I'm glad to join the forum!
I had some questions about my first brew and Id thought Id just add on to this post. I'm glad I found this thread, its already helped a bunch!
So anyways, My wife got me one of those "craft a brew" 1 gal kits for Christmas. However, I'm not a fan of the wheat beer ingredients that came with it, so I got the BBS Chesnut Ale 1 gal kit I found at bed Bath and Beyond.
I brewed the kit on New Years and I'm pretty sure it worked out just fine. I got the normal highly-active fermentation for the first day or two and then just some bubbling and I changed to the airlock from the blowoff tube.
I went about 2.5 weeks at around 65F, and not much else seemed to happen..just the small amount of bubbles around the edge. I was thinking it was time to bottle but I noticed some debris and stuff floating around, and found this thread in the Forum. I read somewhere in here to let the temp rise, so I let it get up to 70-72 or so, and now I'm seeing quite a bit of bubble activity. I'm going to let this go for a few days or until it subsides.
So what do you guys think? I did get a hydrometer in the mail today, but its one of the bigger test tubes and I don't want to waste too much out of the small batch. Ill wait until it subsides, and then maybe try. Also, do you recommend a cold crash and up here in the northern climes is it okay to cold crash it outside? Forecast is for high 20's - Low 30's, and ill cover it with a box to keep the light out.
Thanks!
Mike
I brewed and carboyed my EIPA late Tuesday evening and it took about 18 hours for the fermentation to get rocking and rolling (2 bubbles/second). I had to replenish the sanitizer that was connected to the blowoff because it got cloudy. However, the bubbling has subsided to where I'm not seeing it anymore. I've seen enough threads on here that pretty much say "Just because its not bubbling doesn't mean its not fermenting" and I can dig that. But considering that its not kicking up krausen anymore, should I switch to the airlock now?
I read somewhere in here to let the temp rise, so I let it get up to 70-72 or so, and now I'm seeing quite a bit of bubble activity. I'm going to let this go for a few days or until it subsides.
Mike
Just for reference, warmer beer is unable to keep as much CO2 in solution. Since you went for a cooler temp to a warmer one, you're likely seeing off-gassing as a side effect of that change in equilibrium. It doesn't necessarily mean you are done fermenting, but will contribute to the bubbles.
Hey everyone!
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Installed the airlock. I know it says to fill up the airlock to the line with sanitizer but there isn't a line shown on it. I just filled it up halfway and hope for the best. Still seeing some bubbles in the wort just no big bubbles gurgling in the airlock. Oh well. Its difficult being patient.
Anybody who has brewed the Everyday IPA: About how fast was the noticeable fermentation and does it finish its fermentation early? One week later the airlock isn't gurgling and there doesn't seem to be very much activity in the jug. The temperature had been around these last couple of days. I'd take a gravity reading but if its not done yet I don't want to waste potential beer.
Anybody who has brewed the Everyday IPA: About how fast was the noticeable fermentation and does it finish its fermentation early? One week later the airlock isn't gurgling and there doesn't seem to be very much activity in the jug. The temperature had been around these last couple of days. I'd take a gravity reading but if its not done yet I don't want to waste potential beer.
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