Comment

Comment by Steve DeMartin on March 26, 2012 at 11:15pm

I just ordered a homebrew kit, and it came in today. Now I just need to get a pot to boil the wort in and I can begin my homebrewing experience.

Comment by Seth Langford on December 15, 2011 at 10:43am

Awesome! Im pretty psyched to see a group like this on this forum. Ill return with pics when i get the chance... BTW goodluck with that.

Comment by Adam Dehner on December 14, 2011 at 6:01am

Seth, mead and wine are fine, though I have no experience with making either.  That being said, I've got two little ones at home right now and they have pushed me solidly into the baby bottle brewing camp, so I can't really be particular.

Comment by Seth Langford on December 13, 2011 at 11:31pm

Is this group dedicated to just beer? is mead and or wine acceptable?

Comment by Jared J. King on September 25, 2011 at 10:51am

Yeah, a 5 US gal batch of beer really needs at least 6 1/2 gal of room to ferment without issue. If you are using a strain of yeast that is particularly vigorous, something closer to 7 gal would be better. Now, if the reality is that you have a 6 gal carboy, and you just have to use that, rig up a blow-off tube. Instead of placing the airlock into the bung, place the end of a 3 to 4 foot long piece of food grade plastic tubing, available at about any homebrew shop, in the bung, and then place the other end down in a growler, jug or glass bottle (minimum of 22 oz) filled with sanitized water or vodka (I use water with StarSan).  That will allow the foam to escape without violating your airlock.

If you caught it quickly, chances are that fermentation was so vigorous that your IPA should be spared from infection. Remember, relax, don't worry and have a homebrew. It'll probably be just fine.

Comment by Michael D. Denny on September 25, 2011 at 10:17am

You just over filled the carboy is all, Plainsman

Comment by The Plainsman on August 1, 2011 at 10:36am

What Happened?

I recently made an IPA. More of the trub went into the primary fermenter (6 gallon, plastic carboy). The first two days of fermentation, my bubbler was going along nicely and I had some good activity. On the third day; however, the bubbling stopped and instead of vodka in the airlock, I had my beer. There wasn't a big bubble over, but there was some stickiness on the sides of the carboy.

So, what happened? Too much acitivity? This is only my second batch of homebrew ever, so I am fairly new.

Thanks, LAds.

Comment by John H. on April 25, 2011 at 5:40pm

I wish I had someone to brew with. A couple of my high school buddies are into it but one of them lives in Austin and the other in TX.

Comment by Adam Dehner on April 25, 2011 at 9:59am

Everything Jared says is right on. 

I would add that you use a kitchen timer for hops additions.  The first hops addition is generally 45 to 2 hrs from the second.  It is easy to drink away that time and forget the next addition.  The timer is a helpful reminder.

I would also recommend that you taste the ingredients before you add them.  When you do this, you can "find" them in the finished product.  

Keep lots of towels around.  There will be spills.

When your beer is ready, have a taste test.  Line up your beer along side other of the same style.  Have your friends taste them all and make comments.  You'll be surprised at how critical they are - of the commercial brews!  I was pleasantly surprised to find my beers stacking up favorably against commercial examples. 

Finally, do it with a friend or two, the more the merrier.  And if you're married, clean clean clean until your wife can find no evidence of home brewing having happened. 

Comment by John H. on April 25, 2011 at 9:47am

Thanks Jared.

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