My First Brew

Today I want to talk about the first beer I made. Not knowing what I was doing I bought my first beer making Kit and my first beer kit. I decided that since I liked New Castle Brown Ale so much, I should try a Brown Ale. John Bull Brown Ale is what I purchased.

After picking out what seemed to be a great beer the owner of my local Home brew supply store told me I would also need either some dry malt extract (DME), dextrose (corn sugar) or a combination of both. I was advised to start with all corn sugar see how I like it and my next batch I could try something else, so I did.

I immediately went home to brew my first brew. I followed the directions included with the John Bull Kit and had my sweet wort in about 30 minutes. I waited 8 days for the fermentation to finish, primed and bottled all 51 twelve ounce bottles and waited 2 more weeks.

Finally after all that waiting I got to try my creation. I popped the top poured a glass of frothy beauty, took a drink and ewwwwwwww I made Cider. Well it was beer but with a very cidery taste. That taste came from all the corn sugar. I did let the rest of the beer set for another week and it did get a little better but not much.

I learned a couple of very important lessons. First was not to give up after my first batch. Second is I should of done a little homework before brewing my first batch. I'm not saying that you should not use corn sugar, but if I would of communicated a little better of what I was after I could of avoided the whole situation.

Till next time

Kyle

Sanitation

Sanitation is by far the most important part of Home Brewing process. And yes you need to sanitize everything will come in contact, might come in contact or is in the vicinity of where you are making your beer. Wow sounds like a lot of work you say? It's a lot easier than it sounds.

Sanitizing the area and your equipment is as simple as wiping everything down with a simple sanitizing solution. Assuming you have washed everything first. You did wash everything didn't you? A very simple Sanitizing solution can be made from Chlorine (household bleach). To do this simply take 1/2 to 1 1/4 tsp bleach and add to 5 gallons of water, mix well and you have sanitizer. The easier way is to go down to your local home brew supply store (your going there for ingredients aren't you?) and pick up some sanitizing solution. The cost is inexpensive and it will last quite some time.

Now your probably wondering why you need to sanitize everything aren't you? It's to keep out all of those unwanted......things, like bacteria and airborne microorganisms. If these get invited into your beer it can cause a host of problems like over carbonation, off flavors, surface mold or sour beer. Don't be afraid it's nothing that will kill you, you just have to survive the fact you just made a no-so-great 5 gallon batch of beer.

If this does happen you have a couple of options. First you can drink it anyway, it is still beer after all or you can toss the whole thing down the drain. Either way don't give up learn from it and make your next batch. Who knows you could have the next prize winning recipe. If so save me a bottle, I'd love to try it.


Till next time,
Keep Brewing
Kyle

Welcome

I am starting this blog to track my mis-adventures in the new world of home brewing that I've discovered. As this blog evolves I will talk about the process of home brewing, share some recipes of beers I have made or will make, talk about commercial beers and while the fermentation is going on just about anything else that comes to mind.