Escape Goat
All VOL !!!
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2009
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The two steps I took that improved my beer the most dramatically were: A) going to an all-glass, two stage fermentation (Lots of folks believe in a quick fermentation in plastic followed by aging it in a carboy; all I know is I had a lot less disappointment once I moved to all glass. Maybe my plastic bucket just sucked.) and B) and more importantly, going to liquid yeast. Liquid yeast is expensive. But it was night and day compared to the packets of the dry stuff.
I would seriously consider telling a new brewer not to bother bottling at all. Bottling is a nightmare. Saving the bottles, washing the bottles, sanitizing the bottles, filling the bottles. It's awful. I think for the new brewer I'd recommend starting with the Party Pig, which I had good success with. It's basically two big bottles per five gallon batch that you then get semi-draft beer from. The Grolsch-style bottles are way easier, but seriously: consider not bottling. If I ever start up again I'm going kegging-only.
I would strongly recommend all glass fermenting vessels and liquid yeasts. Glass is much easier to keep sanitized. Liquid yeasts are more expensive, but the quality and dependability of liquid yeasts outweigh the cost IMO.
I will never bottle another beer. Years ago, my brewing buddies and I found about 150 5 gallon aluminum kegs in a recycling yard. These kegs had been used by Coca Cola distributors and had been replaced by cheaper plastic kegs. We bought them all for $5 a pop. Best money we ever spent. I would suggest anything but bottles. They are just too much trouble.
Brew on!!
Edit: Sorry about butchering the quote!!!
Think it's a brandy? Fwiw, doesn't smell, or taste like apple cinnamon. Sorry for all the questions, this is my first ever jar of shine
Ok. I was wrong. Does taste like apple cinnamon, very smooth, but burns going down if that makes sense. Tastes like no other alcohol I have ever had before. I'm in love with this crap.
Have a nut brown ale wort boiling right now, 20 minutes left before I cool and ferment. I am new to this, but of course I love beer. These kits are amazingly simple to brew.
OK, had to go with the blowoff. Good thing I was checking on it. Caught it before it got out of control.
Reading alot and it says there is nothing wrong with it. Just makes me nervous, dont want to screw up my first batch.
What kind of yeast did you use that time? I used wyeast smack pack and it went crazy. I need to video it. That thing is angry lol
Should I use the full 5oz package of priming sugar when it comes bottling time? I have read a lot of variance regarding priming. What do you all think? I still have time, but just wondering.
Don't know bout quantity but my dad who has brewed since the late '70's makes a big deal about making sure the priming sugar is evenly mixed. When we transfer we have the hose create a circular motion and also stir with sterilized big wiffle spoon. We pour small amounts in as it fills up in the bottling bucket. The intention is to have the sugar water distributed as equally as possible.
Have no idea if this is important or not but my dad swears by it. He claims the carbonation will not be equal if you don't and some bottles will pop and others will have little carbonation. If anything, it sounds good and makes you feel like you're doing something important.
Just opened my first bottle to try and its awesome. Ready to try a Stout now
Post a photo, how well does it form a head (no homo)? Did you notice the freshness compared to store bought?
The first is always the best or at least the most memorable.
Read that it is good to mix the priming solution. Avoid bubbles when you bottle. So mixing at different levels woul make sense.
Does not help with my quantity problem
I love dark beer, Stouts my obvious favorite. No idea what prompted me to go with a brown ale as my cherry.
Am buying a stout this weekend as my next project for sure. Post what you try next.