Kit O' Beer #2 - Canadian Blonde

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Libertytree

Glad that was pointed out before I bought 5lbs of the Easy Clean! My bottles are clean and was just concentrating on the sanitizing aspect, no rinse specifically and it looks like Star San is the winner.

---

yes me too, because I still had in my head I needed an oxi clean. But I don't. Is good.

Had another beer yesterday and today. It is still barely not flat. It is drinkable. I guess the sweetness is the uncarbonated priming drop sugar. I saw norfolkhillbilly YT today and he described the exact same thing. Bottle gives a nice hiss. Beer is mostly flat. He says it was caused by out of date liquid malt extract. The kit he used was out of code. Mine was at least 1 year. But I did not make a note of the expiry of any of them. I am sure all of them had plenty of time. I will make a note from here on. I would not buy one if it was out of code and I think the turn over is fairly good. I might if they were just out and cheap.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glass

yes me too, because I still had in my head I needed an oxi clean. But I don't. Is good.

Had another beer yesterday and today. It is still barely not flat. It is drinkable. I guess the sweetness is the uncarbonated priming drop sugar. I saw norfolkhillbilly YT today and he described the exact same thing. Bottle gives a nice hiss. Beer is mostly flat. He says it was caused by out of date liquid malt extract. The kit he used was out of code. Mine was at least 1 year. But I did not make a note of the expiry of any of them. I am sure all of them had plenty of time. I will make a note from here on. I would not buy one if it was out of code and I think the turn over is fairly good. I might if they were just out and cheap.

---

Hmmm, I never considered that to be a culprit but it sounds very logical. The place I get my LME from has a very good rep but anything is possible.

i'm still holding the yeast responsible at this point. Could be old or something. The net tells me that safale -04 is slow. just came across that info on expiry so I thought I'd make a note. We have a large liquor chain and a couple big department stores selling coopers kits. A bit cheaper than at the LHBS for same. I think the turn over is pretty good but anyway worth remembering to check the use by date.

Don't yaw'll have an online outlet to go through?

well you can buy via diybeer which is the coopers web site. Eventually I hope to get stuff from them. Domestic parcel post is huge $. The coopers guys do free ship specials from time to time. They also do a monthly beer style where they sell you everything including some steeping grains and hops. So basically more like the other brand kits you see like northern brewer, muntons and so on.

Anyway it is more the thought of having two of these undercarbonated brews to get through as KoB #3 is shaping up the same. I could be proved 100% wrong. Time will tell.

I haven't drank any of my brews since I went to Daytona 2 weeks ago and am still drinking the Buds I took with me. I'm hoping that the extra 2 weeks have made it even better, it's kinda like trying it again for the 1st time.

I watched the Daytona today. Many hours. Was not a bad race. I'm not glued to it. On in the back ground.

I cracked another 2 bottles of KoB #2 today. First bottle was hard, remembering they're PET. This was an example of what this beer can be at say 85% maybe 90%. Head was 1 1/2 fingers. Not a lot of staying power but there was something on top for the duration. Nice continuous carbonation. Great lacing on the glass. With the better carbonation levels the fruit aromas are more obvious. There is a faint pineapple aroma. When the glass is empty your tongue is in there licking the sides of the glass. Tasty. That was like a diamond in the rough. Hope restored.

Second bottle was under carbonated but improved. I'm rating these under carb'd at 5 - 6 out of 10. This one's a 6. Bottle #1 - 8.5.

Question for you beer guru's- Does this look like a good starter kit?
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewi...ter-kit-1.html
Also- I already have enamel canning pots, will these work as well as Stainless Steel pots?
Thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JFN111

Question for you beer guru's- Does this look like a good starter kit?
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewi...ter-kit-1.html
Also- I already have enamel canning pots, will these work as well as Stainless Steel pots?
Thanks

---

Welcome to homebrewing!

Yeah, looks like a great kit. I compared it to the ones sold at Northern Brewing and the Midwest kit is a better deal.

I used an enamel cook pot until I just recently upgraded due to increased batch size, it worked fine.

One note: The wing cappers that come with the kits suck. My very 1st upgrade was a vintage bottle capper and it continues to be one of my best investments for brewing. Here's an example.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Anti...-/251462883284

Feel free to ask anything you might have questions about.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glass

i'm still holding the yeast responsible at this point. Could be old or something. The net tells me that safale -04 is slow. just came across that info on expiry so I thought I'd make a note. We have a large liquor chain and a couple big department stores selling coopers kits. A bit cheaper than at the LHBS for same. I think the turn over is pretty good but anyway worth remembering to check the use by date.

---

S-04 isn't slow, but it isn't very attenuative and flocculates quickly. When using it, especially on a big beer, I have started to blend it with US-05 to get better attenuation. If you think the yeast may be old, you might want to do a starter to revive the colony and bring up the healthy cell count.

When brewing with extracts, it is imperative to use only the freshest. Dry malt extract works well, and tends to last longer than LME.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Libertytree

Welcome to homebrewing!

Yeah, looks like a great kit. I compared it to the ones sold at Northern Brewing and the Midwest kit is a better deal.

I used an enamel cook pot until I just recently upgraded due to increased batch size, it worked fine.

One note: The wing cappers that come with the kits suck. My very 1st upgrade was a vintage bottle capper and it continues to be one of my best investments for brewing. Here's an example.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Anti...-/251462883284

Feel free to ask anything you might have questions about.

---

Thanks, I hope to be able to join the discussion after I learn a bit more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JFN111

Thanks, I hope to be able to join the discussion after I learn a bit more.

---

I would say that joining the discussion is one of the best ways to learn more. No need to wait!

I agree with BT, join in on the fun JFN!

JFN111 I also think that is a pretty good kit for the money. Its very good value IMO. I'm looking forward to hearing about your first brew.

As LT says upgrading the bottle capper will be something you do fairly soon. Its easier to have at least one hand on the bottle when you are capping it and those wing ones make it difficult for one person. I've been looking around for a 2nd hand one like in the link. I thought I might get one in a thrift store but nothing yet.

Have had maybe 3 more bottles since the last post. 2 of them were same same. Not much going on. The 3rd one was how it should be IMO. Nice head, lots of carbonation. Good lacing. That makes 2 out of the 20 or so I have opened so far that were properly carbonated.

I think there are 9 bottles left. I will put 4 or 5 away for much later and to share with a couple people. They can see how my brewing is progressing.

I picked up another kit yesterday for KoB #4. I will do that one either tonight or tomorrow. It will be fairly cool tomorrow so it may be then.

I've recovered everything in my homebrew system except for my fermenter...going to pick that up tomorrow. I guess I'm doing the demo brew for the LHBS at the same time, with the guy who took over when I moved away. Smoked Porter? I think that's what he said they wanted to make.

I think the doppelbock I made back in December is ready to go. Hopefully the one I made is better than last year's... yuck. I didn't make that one. LHBS owner thought it was great... and it was if you love the taste of band-aids... I didn't have the heart to tell him it was infected.

Looking forward to posting after I start making beer at home again... the two girls (ahem) that moved in down stairs are craft beer fans, and I think one works part time doing promotions for a brewery in Wisconsin, so they should be down to learn how to brew. There is a BBQ down in the common patio as well, so I can see it might make for a fun brewing spring/summer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrewTech

Looking forward to posting after I start making beer at home again... the two girls (ahem) that moved in down stairs are craft beer fans, and I think one works part time doing promotions for a brewery in Wisconsin, so they should be down to learn how to brew. There is a BBQ down in the common patio as well, so I can see it might make for a fun brewing spring/summer.

---

http://www.crf2.com/images/smilies/groucho.gif

Sounds like you moved to San Diego and are loving it. It's definately one of my favorite places in this country. Best weather in the world, beautiful people and a friendly smaller town atmosphere. Great beaches too!

I lived near the Torre Pines area, off of La Jolla Village Dr., 5/6 years ago. I loved it!
Too bad I couldn't afford to retire there, I wouldn't have left it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrewTech

When using it, especially on a big beer, I have started to blend it with US-05 to get better attenuation. If you think the yeast may be old, you might want to do a starter to revive the colony and bring up the healthy cell count.

When brewing with extracts, it is imperative to use only the freshest. Dry malt extract works well, and tends to last longer than LME.

---

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9...r3kno1_500.png





:rolleyes:

Quick question for you guys. I'm going to bottle for the first time tomorrow. Made up a batch of English Ale and it looks like it's ready. When I move it from the carboy to the bottling container I need to add the sugar. I think I have that part down, dissolve the sugar with 1 cup boiling water and then let cool somewhat. Questions- How much is somewhat? Do you pour the sugar in and then siphon from the carboy or visa verse?
Thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JFN111

Quick question for you guys. I'm going to bottle for the first time tomorrow. Made up a batch of English Ale and it looks like it's ready. When I move it from the carboy to the bottling container I need to add the sugar. I think I have that part down, dissolve the sugar with 1 cup boiling water and then let cool somewhat. Questions- How much is somewhat? Do you pour the sugar in and then siphon from the carboy or visa verse?
Thanks

---

I mix mine in the bottling bucket. I don't even dissolve the sugar in water either. I would let the boiled sugar water cool to room temp.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JFN111

Quick question for you guys. I'm going to bottle for the first time tomorrow. Made up a batch of English Ale and it looks like it's ready. When I move it from the carboy to the bottling container I need to add the sugar. I think I have that part down, dissolve the sugar with 1 cup boiling water and then let cool somewhat. Questions- How much is somewhat? Do you pour the sugar in and then siphon from the carboy or visa verse?
Thanks

---

Hey man, start a thread about your 1st brew with some details, please. We can all learn something and I'm curious about what tools and or kit you got.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JFN111

My First Batch of Beer is an Extra Special Bitter. Directions call for 1 week in Fermenter, 1 week in the Carboy, when your readings hold at 1.010 then bottle and let sit for two weeks.
I picked up the kit from Midwest Homebrewing Supply. http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewi...ter-kit-1.html
Using a cast Iron pot for the cooking.
Borrowed the chiller from the Son In Law (to Be) now affectionately called the Baby Daddy.

---

JFN, no disrespect intended but could you maybe make a new thread about this? This is Glasses' thread and besides your brewing cherry is getting popped and we want to share it with ya in its own right. Plus you can use it as a chronicle as you progress.

No problem. I'll start a new thread.

I'm easy about posting here. I think it's cool we have more home brewers. Nice one JFN11. Looks like you went hard core from the get go. I'm keen to hear more.

Always good to have an experienced hand on deck to help everything go smoothly so thumbs up to the Future SIL.

I've nearly drunk all of the beers from this batch now. So I'm not sure I've got much more to add to this thread. Only 5 left and they won't be getting drunk for a while. Will save them for a relatives visit.

I had 2 more bottles from this batch. The first one was another flat one. Well its got enough fizz to tickle the back of the throat on the way down like the others. The second one was a gem. Nice full head. Good lacing. Same as the other "good" ones I've had. So I think that makes the count 3 or 4 good ones out of the 30. We will do better in the future. It is a sweet tasty tasty beer. You could easily hammer this one.

After I finished these two I went back to a store bought beer. Yuk. I got to get enough stocks going so I'm not buying store bought anymore. The difference is cheese to chalk....although personally I don't think there is much difference between chalk and cheese.

I want to do it again and add some citrus hops for taste and aroma. I think it would be a juicy juicy beer. That's kind of what it's like. Its the Juicy fruit of beers. It is a summer time beer.

I have 4 of these left. I was going to share with friends 2 + 2 but the catchup could be a while. So very very thirsty.

This one is just about spot on now. About 1 week on the chill. Nice fizz, acceptable 1 and a bit finger head. Ok lacing and best of all visible healthy carbonation. It is less sweet tasting now. Less like lolly water and more like beer. There's some character there now. I think it is turning out. Tasty. I would say a bit more persistence on the head. Otherwise I might be disappointed that is nearly gone. More patience and they could have all been like that. No mind? There is more on the way.

I've picked up the ingredients I need to do KoB #5. I am going to see if I can do 2 brews. Probably a few days apart. I picked up some seals for the 2 fermenters but they are over size. The guy also said I need some new airlock grommets. I said no. I was wrong. I'll have to go back. Will pick up another beer kit when I do. KoB# 6 will be dark with some steeped grains.