First beer brew

[oldwhiskers]

I started with two NB kits, Dry Irish Stout and Nut Brown. I did both yesterday and I seriously think they should rename brew day to cleaning day, LOL. Anyway, I checked them this morning and here's what I had, happy happy:

 

[freisste]

Happy, happy is right, but you're going to be sad, sad if you have a blowoff on your right fermenter. Watch the krausen level.

And congrats on your first brews.

 

[kh54s10]

Looking good.

I would take a folded up washcloth and place it over the temperature probe(s) to insulate some from the ambient air. That way it will be making more of a measurement of the wort temperature. Also get another blow off tube ASAP. If your luck is like mine either the one with the airlock, or both will be blowing.

 

[Calder]

I'm impressed, first brew, and you have temp control and blow-off.

 

[oldwhiskers]

Happy, happy is right, but you're going to be sad, sad if you have a blowoff on your right fermenter. Watch the krausen level.

And congrats on your first brews.

Yep, the one on the right has been busy today. I have the hose, I just need to order another plug and fittings to do the second blow-off. I'll get that done this week, at least I'll have it for the next brew.

 

[oldwhiskers]

Looking good.

I would take a folded up washcloth and place it over the temperature probe(s) to insulate some from the ambient air. That way it will be making more of a measurement of the wort temperature. Also get another blow off tube ASAP. If your luck is like mine either the one with the airlock, or both will be blowing.

I was trying to determine how I could cover the sensor to better detect the carboy temp, I will give that a try. I will be getting another blow-off plug on order this week, my local brew house does not carry the one for Better-Bottles.

 

[oldwhiskers]

I'm impressed, first brew, and you have temp control and blow-off.

I have been lurking for awhile and patiently collecting all of the equipment needed. The impatient part was after ordering the blow-off plug to make sure that it was what was needed, I made the two batches before ordering the second blow-off plug.

 

[oldwhiskers]

Got my second blow-off plug ordered, to late for this round but now I will be covered for the next batches.

 

[oldwhiskers]

I bottled the Nut Brown last weekend and racked the Dry Irish Stout to secondary. When I bottled the NB I bottled a couple in Newcastle bottles just to be able to peek at the progress of carbonating. I put one of the NB in the fridge yesterday and tried it last night, it's a pretty good beer. When I racked the DIS I sampled it and it tasted pretty good too. I will probably bottle it in a couple of weeks.

 

[itchygomey]

If you like the nut brown, I have something you can try to get an idea of what late additions and hopbursting (this isn't quite what i would call hopbursted, but will give you an idea of what it will do to a beer. It's that recipe (extract), but tweaked to get a good strong smooth hop flavor and it's very balanced. Check this out:

Steep Grains (4oz English Chocolate Malt, 4oz Belgian Special B, 4oz Belgian Biscuit, 4oz Briess Special Roast) in 2.5 Gals water @ 155 Degrees for 30 mins
Add 2 Gallons water previously mixed with 1 Lb Pale LME
Bring to boil
When you see the first bubble, start 30 minute timer
With 25 Minutes Remaining, add 1.5oz Fuggles Hops
With 15 Minutes Remaining, add 1 Whirlfloc Tablet
At flameout, add 6Lbs Pale LME already dissolved in 1 gallon of water

Cool to pitch temperature, aerate, and pitch.

I apologize for the odd recipe format but it's all I can do at the moment. Looks like you're off to a a Great start, just wanted to toss an idea your way to experiment with. Good luck!