Right on Van. I actually got my own brewing equipment too. An old friend of mine and I got into a conversation about brewing, and the conversation ended in: "Well, you are welcome to take all my equipment off my hands for free." So, I now have 3 glass carboys, one bottling bucket, the siphon tube and the filler tube, two brewing bag/socks, a large aluminum kettle, a hydrometer, thermometer, and a bottle capper. I am in the process of making an American Ale right now as my first beer. I don't expect it to come out very well.

American Ale:
6.6 lbs Amber malt extract
2 oz Cascade hops
1 pkg 1056 American Wyeast liquid yeast

I'll keep you guys updated for the results. The orignal gravity was around 1.051.

Awesome! we're going to have to exchange some brews.
How fast did fermentation start using liquid yeast? I've been using safale powder yeasts with fermentation starting anywhere between 12 and 36 hours. I actually hydrated it last time and got a quicker and longer ferment. I'm going to make a wort today and I might try using some white labs.
I've only checked OG twice, Its not as important FG when brewing w/ extract because all of your sugars should be there, you just need to know when its done.

Definitely. The yeast preparation is about 3.5 hours. The total fermentation time will be somewhere around a week. I'm headded to the Reno Home Brewing Company today to pick up some more malt hops and yeast. Give me a call. I would like to see/help/ you with the making of the wort. Like I said before though, I am not yet an experienced brewer. I am going to start another batch tomorrow.

-Chris (775) 762 0423

I just got back from The Reno Homebrewer, popped my wyeast a few minutes ago. You free today? I'm gonna start cooking in an hour or so.
ESB!!!

Gayest beer glass ever. Why don't you brew some Zima instead?








:lol:

Psssssssssssssshhh.........
Thats my wifes glass, Dora Drimalas is Fresh
https://www.upperplaygroundstore.com...a_drimalas_899
and on sale now too.
Don't be jealous

Rock on you know about upper playground too?! We used to live right across the street from the one they opened in Sacramento. Those were dangerous times. We were right next to our favorite sushi restaurant and shop. Do you own the UP walrus stien?

Love Upper Playground, wearing their clothes forever! Mishka too. I ordered the skull pint glass at some point but it sold out, We have UP pillows on our couch though:D

Very nice I've wanted those for a while, but haven't gotten them yet.
For my 25th birthday I got the upper playground bbq adidas shelltoes. They are the coolest.

I just cracked open another Pumpkin Ale that I got from RHB. As I normally frown on the pumpkin brewed beers, I actually like this one. Its the Ale from Buffalo Bills brewery. It cant be beat for only 10 dollars a case (24 empty bottles are 13 dollars). So, tomorrow I am planning on making my Belgian Red. I also picked up some malt, hops, and yeast for a Basic Wheat Ale. One of my favorite beers is Hoegaarden (Belgian White). I want to try to add some coriander and orange peel, to see if I can replicate the Shock Top that Michelobe makes. < Quite possibly the best beer that Michelobe makes by a long shot. Shock Top is a good reproduction of Hoegaarden.

You Americans with your Zima's and Smirnoff Ice's! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Cmee1E_BA

brewing this today
Default Extract - Nacirema Pale Ale
Recipe Type: Extract
Yeast: Pacific Ale Yeast
Batch Size (Gallons): 5
Original Gravity: 1.054
Final Gravity: 1.015
IBU: 23.8
Boiling Time (Minutes): 60
Color: 13.7 SRM
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 21 Days at 70
Tasting Notes: Very balanced, great hoppy finish

6 lbs. Amber Liquid Extract
1 lb. Extra light Dry Malt Extract
1 lb Caramel Crystal malt 40 L
1 lb Munich Malt
1 oz Cascade (6%) at 60 minutes
1 oz Cascade (6%) at 30 minutes
1 oz Centennial (6.90%) at 10 minutes
.25 tbsp Irish moss at 15 minutes
1 Wyeast 1056 American Yeast

Give me a call before your next brew Chris, I learned what that off taste was and what I did wrong.

So, I have decided that I will be doing my next brew next weekend. Can I leave my beer in my fermenter/carboy for longer than the yeast works? Or do I have to bottle it as soon as it is done fermenting?
The next one will be a Scotch Ale. I hope it wont be too difficult.

You can leave it in the carboy for months.
Here is a recipe
Extract - Scottish Ale (60/-) extract
Recipe Type: Extract
Yeast: Safale US-05
Batch Size (Gallons): 5.0
Original Gravity: 1.056
Final Gravity: 1.016
IBU: 21
Boiling Time (Minutes): 60
Color: Dark crimson
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 10 days at 64F
Tasting Notes: mmm

starting batch size 6 gallons
batch size after boil 5 gallons

Grains (bag) steeped 45 minutes (until 170F, then removed)
1 lbs 120 L Crystal Malt
.5 lbs 10 L Crystal Malt
.15 lbs Roasted Barley

Extract - boiled 60 minutes
7 lbs Pale Malt Extract

Hops - 60 minutes
Hops 1 oz Kent Golding

yeast - pitched at below 70F
Safale US-05 (hydrated in 2 oz pure water)
link
Make sure you steep your grains at around 160f, If you just throw them in the boil they will release tannins= the off taste I had. Anything over 170f is bad.
Download the trail version of Beersmith too.

My IPA , best/biggest fermentation yet!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rvan/photo.jpg

I love IPA can you save me a bottle?

Sure, as long as they turn out good

OMNOMNOMNOM :)

I just bottled my wheat beer. It looked like the pic you posted. It overflowed out of the airlock for almost a day! But, when I was bottling it, I took a small sample to hydro and taste test... The hydro was right on, and it tasted great. It just needs about two weeks to mature. I have been thinking about the next brew I'm going to do, but I cant make up my mind. Van, do you have any suggestions for some of the recipes that you have had a lot of success with?

I liked the off the shelf english pale ale kit. Just steep the grains at around 156, don't boil 'em.
I think wheat beers are known for their huge ferments, and stink.

It wasn't too pleasnt for the first couple of days, it only stunk like 4ft around it. So, with the grains, should I just stick them in some water that is 156 and let it sit? or should I keep the burner on? Also, how much was that OTS kit?

Also... I got the full version of Beer Smith. :) Let me know if you want the full version.

I already got the full beersmith, thanks though. You want to do the grains on the stove in a seperate kettle, about 1 gallon per pound of grain, apply heat as needed to maintain temp for about 30 minutes. I think that kit was like $30 or so w/o yeast.

Are you talking about the IPA? I just made a Vanilla Cream Ale. From what I have read about the recipe is that it can come out to be good or incredible... Hopefully the later.