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Mike P · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Southern California

I'm Brand New to Home Brewing. I received one of those plastic (Minibrew) Conical fermenters as a gift and that's what got me started in all this.
I've read the "Book" (Palmers) and studied the web sites and I believe I have obtained everything I need to start brewing, I'm even going straight to Kegging so I don't have to bottle.
Problem is, I'm not sure what my first brew should be. Personally, I like Newcastle on draft. I want something that goes down real smooth, isn't too
bitter, or strong on that "flowery" smell or taste. And I don't want that "bite" from too much carbonation......
Any suggestions ?
Thank you,
Mike P.
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Mike P

daddymem · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Wareham, MA

Are you looking for a kit?

Try this one: http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/product/0101997/bee-cave-brewery-haus-pale-ale-all-grain

It is a great session beer. A great balance of malt and hops, Bud drinkers usually really like it. The company is also great to deal with.

Mike P · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Southern California

daddymem,
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, looks like I'm looking for a "Kit".
I'm not set up for All Grain yet.
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Mike P

daddymem · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Wareham, MA

Brewer's Best kits if you have a local shop. Or try any of the big online beer places, they all have good instructions. I did a dry stout as my first and you may want to do along the same lines. Something with a bigger flavor; easier to hide any off flavors as you begin learning. Austin Homebrew Supply's Gold Seal Dry Stout was one of my firsts.

Mike P · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Southern California

Thanks again daddymem, I'll probably give that a try.

Mike P
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Mike P

ElDucko · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 5

If you like German beers, try a pils kit. Yum.

Mike P · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Southern California

O.k. I did it !! I boiled-up my very first batch this past Monday. (oct, 12th) it's in the fermenter and bubbling right now !! It took about a day and a half to start fermenting inside the temp-controlled freezer I converted. The freezer is "holding" the brew inside the fermenter at 67 degrees. My 1st batch is a NEWCASTLE Clone from Midwest cuz that's what my son and I like commercially. The instructions recommend 2-stage fermenting so I assume I just "dump" the trub out of the conical after 7 days and leave it in there for another 7 days before transfering to the keg?? Any thoughts on this? I'll let ya know how it comes out !!

Mike
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Mike P

daddymem · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Wareham, MA

Congrat Mike! I'd answer your conical question if I knew, but I don't so I won't. Haven't done a Newcastle before, is 67F the suggested lowest temp? I do my ales as low as I can get them, usually under 65F down to 62F, just a preference of mine. Also, that is a longish lag time. Was it a liquid yeast or dry yeast? Did you do a starter? Did you oxygenate? Nothing to worry about, as long as you got activity in 72 hours, just things to improve on. Every brew I learn something new and fine tune my techniques, part of the fun.

Mike P · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Southern California

Daddymem,
Thank you and thanks for your interest....I really need the help and support! I used "White Labs" British Ale 005 Liquid Yeast. According to the label instructions it says to ferment between 65-70 degrees....kinda narrow and I figured 67 was in the middle. BUT, I went ahead and dropped the temp down to 65 just now at your suggestion. I also was a bit worried about the longish lag time but according to the instructions that came with the beer "Kit", it said fermention should start in 1 to 3 days...and it started in approx 1 1/2 days.......again, right in the middle.......so, I guess (?) it's doing O.K.
I did NOT do a yeast starter, I have read-up and researched it but knowhere in the kit instructions or on the yeast bottle did it mention or recommend doing so. I DID oxygenate before pitching though!!
I may keep it simple and just keg after 2 weeks (no 2nd fermention) as many have recommended. Do you keg? Is there anything I should know about kegging? This has been alot of fun so far, hope I don't mess up!!

Mike
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Mike P

daddymem · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Wareham, MA

A starter is always a good idea.
I don't keg, I enjoy bottling and some of the benefits.
I don't usually do a secondary, I go for around 4 weeks in the primary unless it is a beer requiring a secondary. I also use a hop sock so not as much junk goes into the fermenter but I do brew in a bag all grain so mine are a little hazy. As I said, I don't know about conicals, but I don't fear letting the beer sit on the yeast for a while. the yeasties do a good job cleaning things up. Shooting for the low range on yeasties will help ensure not getting esters but midway is just fine. Of course this is all just opinion and as you'll find everyone has their own. Some will insist theirs is the right way, I won't do that. I question everything I hear...even from the experts. I've heard more wrong about Papazian et al than I've heard right.

Mike P · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Southern California

Yeah, I looked thru everything again and found a little blurb stating that a starter is recommended if using White Labs strains, which I am. ....But again, it didn't recommend it in the instructions on the vial itself. Looks like I was lucky, I will do a yeast starter from here on in.

Mike
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Mike P

daddymem · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Wareham, MA

It really isn't the end of the world but there is great comfort when wort lights off soon after pitching as opposed to waiting a few days to see activity. I've done both ways and not had issues either way, heck I do a lot of dry yeasts pitched straight from the packet without issue.