Any home-brewers?

[MaddogOIF]

My wife bought me a home brewing kit for christmas. And this is my first time attempting. Anybody else a home brewing hobbyist that I can discuss the process with. Would like to get it right the first time so that I have a control for when I want to play around with it.

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[Mike1234567]

I'm sure you'll find members here who share your brewing interests but you'll probably do far better finding forums dedicated to the topic. I drink to damn much so I'm more likely to get into distilling vodka from home-grown potatoes.

 

[mitchntx]

Brewed for a while a long time ago.

Tip ...
Make sure you adequately dissolve and mix the sugar before bottling.
Otherwise you are creating 12oz mini-bombs.

Don't ask how I know this.

 

[MaddogOIF]

I'm sure you'll find members here who share your brewing interests but you'll probably do far better finding forums dedicated to the topic. I drink to damn much so I'm more likely to get into distilling vodka from home-grown potatoes.

Yeah I know but I hate the idea of going through the introduction process and then pleading for help right off the bat. I thought reading a recipe would be easier.

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[MaddogOIF]

Brewed for a while a long time ago.

Tip ...
Make sure you adequately dissolve and mix the sugar before bottling.
Otherwise you are creating 12oz mini-bombs.

Don't ask how I know this.

Okay well the simple things are confusing me sadly. Do you have a clearer definition of steeping and when they add specialty grains, are they talking about just the grains...

Or a mixture of ingredients?

Like I said, I'm worse off than I thought...

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[mitchntx]

Oh man ... I'm trying to recall the specifics.
Timing is everything to prevent the brew from becoming "vinegary" tasting.

This is all from memory ...

Bring the water up to temp ... 180* IIRC

Stir in the extracts, maintain temp and keep stirring for 20 minutes.

Throw in the grain bag and SLOWLY bring to a boil.

Then cool it as quickly as possible.

Mix in the sugars and bottle.

Again, that's from a shady memory.

Brewing ale is not easy ... and I didn't brew that much.

I did, however, ferment some bad-ass prickly pear mead that would make you knicker and run the fence.

 

[Mike1234567]

Oh man ... I'm trying to recall the specifics.
Timing is everything to prevent the brew from becoming "vinegary" tasting.

This is all from memory ...

Bring the water up to temp ... 180* IIRC

Stir in the extracts, maintain temp and keep stirring for 20 minutes.

Throw in the grain bag and SLOWLY bring to a boil.

Then cool it as quickly as possible.

Mix in the sugars and bottle.

Again, that's from a shady memory.

Brewing ale is not easy ... and I didn't brew that much.

I did, however, ferment some bad-ass prickly pear mead that would make you knicker and run the fence.

Share share share share!!!

 

[mitchntx]

LOL ... the PP and milk mead are long since gone.
Drank the last of it at my oldest daughter's wedding.

I harvested that purple fruit from cactus on the roadside for about two weeks in late July and August
Fermented for over a year.
The mead had a fantastic pink tint to it, drank smooth and kicked your ass.
I bottled it in 8oz Dr. Pepper bottles.

 

[shortround]

Sanitize/disinfect everything before you even get started.

Just like the most important rule of gun safety: Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

 

[Koinonia]

I stepped into it for the first time a couple weeks back. Been in bottles for a week biw. Going to let them sit for another week before trying first bottle. Hoping they carbed right.

 

[MaddogOIF]

I'm hoping I did the process right. Pots were kinda small. And I used bucket before jar. Opposite of what I saw on YouTube.

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[navyguy]

No city in your profile so I don't know where you are. If in DFW, especially mid cities, there is a home brew seller that gives classes.

Classes & Events

 

[RickLovesBacon]

Best advice I can give is, Sanitize sanitize sanitize

 

[mitchntx]

Best advice I can give is, Sanitize sanitize sanitize

This ...

And if you aren't using stainless, make sure its food grade plastic.

I'm also remembering that we used filtered water and not tap.