VirginiaHops1
Well-Known Member
Hey guys. I'm obsessed with craft beer and for a long time wanted to get into homebrewing but just couldn't find the time thx to my kids, but FINALLY took the plunge last weekend. First batch is fermenting and I hear bubbling from the airlock so it seems I didn't totally screw it up! I won't get too cocky until I taste it but looking forward to hanging out in this forum more as I get into it. This first batch I used a kit from Northern Homebrewer, an IPA recipe.
I don't have much right now as I wait but I was wondering how involved you guys were on your first batch, in terms of your gravity readings? I do have a hydrometer but haven't used it yet and didn't take an OG reading, just had enough going on trying to follow directions and pull off my first brew day and didn't think much about it. So I figured I'd let this thing ferment for 4 weeks or so before bottling. I'm not using a secondary. I guess the proper thing to do is take gravity readings towards the end and make sure it's not moving? The recipe calls for dry hopping the last 5 days before bottling.
I don't have much right now as I wait but I was wondering how involved you guys were on your first batch, in terms of your gravity readings? I do have a hydrometer but haven't used it yet and didn't take an OG reading, just had enough going on trying to follow directions and pull off my first brew day and didn't think much about it. So I figured I'd let this thing ferment for 4 weeks or so before bottling. I'm not using a secondary. I guess the proper thing to do is take gravity readings towards the end and make sure it's not moving? The recipe calls for dry hopping the last 5 days before bottling.