A Few Beginner Questions

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Tuesday Oct 02, 2007 2:30 pm

Danzar wrote:
tmannion87 wrote:I tried to take a hydrometer reading today and got confused. Is the reading where the beer lines up on the meter? If so, my reading was past 1010 by a lot. Sorry for such simple questions, but I got confused. Thanks so much
That used to ghet me too!

When you peer through the 'jar' you will notice that the beer curves up (like a bell curve). Take your reading from the base of the bell not the top. (Shit I hope I'm right 'cause I never had the guts to ask this question!)

This actually depends where your hydrometer sits when you calibrate it. Mine is just slightly above the top of the meniscus. I then take all my reading in the same manor.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tuesday Oct 02, 2007 3:23 pm

Top of the meniscus on my hydros too. As Kevnlis said, calibrate.

39Niner · Post by **39Niner** » Tuesday Oct 02, 2007 3:30 pm

It doesn't really matter where you take the reading as long as it is at same place every time.

And wait until all the bubbles have settled.

Roger

tmannion87 · Post by **tmannion87** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 12:08 pm

As long as my first brew goes well, which I hope it will, I plan on picking up the Coopers Australian Pale Ale kit for my second brew as suggested by someone here. Does anyone have a recommendation of a good malt or brew enhancer to use with this kit? Also, any good sites you know of where I can get ahold of these? Thanks again

Tim

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 12:54 pm

I'd go for 1kg of light dry malt (LDM) or a can of light liquid malt. As for where to get them, it all depends on where you are.

tmannion87 · Post by **tmannion87** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 12:58 pm

Oh thats right... sorry I forgot to say I'm in the U.S., more specifically Illinois if that matters at all.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 1:05 pm

Hmmm. What HB shop do I know in the Illinois area...

Can't help you on that one.

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 1:15 pm

tmannion87 wrote:As long as my first brew goes well, which I hope it will, I plan on picking up the Coopers Australian Pale Ale kit for my second brew as suggested by someone here. Does anyone have a recommendation of a good malt or brew enhancer to use with this kit? Also, any good sites you know of where I can get ahold of these? Thanks again

Tim

From memory the price of Coopers Kits in the US is extremely high, I'm not trying to stop you buying Coopers, but you may have similar results at a much cheaper price with a quality local kit.

TommyH · Post by **TommyH** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 1:41 pm

tmannion87 wrote:As long as my first brew goes well, which I hope it will, I plan on picking up the Coopers Australian Pale Ale kit for my second brew as suggested by someone here. Does anyone have a recommendation of a good malt or brew enhancer to use with this kit? Also, any good sites you know of where I can get ahold of these? Thanks again

Tim

Add some Amarillo hops to it as well.
Delicious

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 1:47 pm

tmannion87 wrote:Oh thats right... sorry I forgot to say I'm in the U.S., more specifically Illinois if that matters at all.

Uh Oh fellas... we got a FIB here... stay out of Door County!

Northern Brewer has a great selection, fast postage, and reasonable prices.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/alekits.html

Danzar · Post by **Danzar** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 1:51 pm

Kevnlis wrote:
Danzar wrote:
tmannion87 wrote:I tried to take a hydrometer reading today and got confused. Is the reading where the beer lines up on the meter? If so, my reading was past 1010 by a lot. Sorry for such simple questions, but I got confused. Thanks so much
That used to ghet me too!

When you peer through the 'jar' you will notice that the beer curves up (like a bell curve). Take your reading from the base of the bell not the top. (Shit I hope I'm right 'cause I never had the guts to ask this question!)
This actually depends where your hydrometer sits when you calibrate it. Mine is just slightly above the top of the meniscus. I then take all my reading in the same manor.

Alright, 50 odd brews under my belt and I'm still not completely up with all the jargon.

Calibrate=spin the hydrometer, yes?
Meniscus=????

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 2:07 pm

Calibrate means take a reading in fresh water at the temperature recommended by the manufacturor of the hydrometer.

Meniscus is a fancy word for the dip in the water when it is in the jar.

Danzar · Post by **Danzar** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 2:45 pm

Well there you go.

Although I guess as long as you're consistent it shouldn't matter one hopes, unless your 'calibration' goes out of whack

tmannion87 · Post by **tmannion87** » Thursday Oct 04, 2007 6:25 am

I was looking at this kit from Northern brewer and it looked fairly simple. What do you guys think about it for a second brew?

http://www.northernbrewer.com/docs/kis-html/1031.html

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Thursday Oct 04, 2007 6:58 am

Looks good to me. You can save the yeast and do a few of them to save money. Though I think the liquids are only $5-$6 there so it is no big deal I guess. Good luck!

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Thursday Oct 04, 2007 7:42 am

Not a bad looking brew. Makes me want to do a nut brown in the next bit.

tmannion87 · Post by **tmannion87** » Saturday Oct 06, 2007 11:40 am

As I was looking at the instructions for the nut brown ale, it said I would need at least a 2 1/2 gallon boiling kettle. Are they talking about something like this?

http://www.northernbrewer.com/kettles.html

Also, when looking at the instructions I noticed that it is much more invovled than the Coopers kit I had. While this is a good thing, you don't think it will be too much of a challenge do you? Thanks

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Saturday Oct 06, 2007 11:45 am

Yeah, that looks right. A very good investment too. Buy stainless and it will last forever.

As for the challenge, as long as you are up for it, give it a go! The best bit of advice is to PLAN. Work out your times for boiling malt and hops and for steeping grains. Then write it down as a schedule.

tmannion87 · Post by **tmannion87** » Saturday Oct 06, 2007 11:47 am

About the instructions, besides the simple Coopers method of water, mix and yeast, it doesnt get any easier than the nut brown steps correct? Also, I was going to buy a new airlock, are they all standard sizes or no? I need a replacement for my Coopers fermenter.

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Saturday Oct 06, 2007 12:22 pm

The nut brown will be a bit more involved due to the fact that you need to steep grains and boil the broth from the grains after you remove the solids and add hops.

The airlock should fit fine but maybe an e-mail or phone call to them would be the best way to be sure.

Also NB has a great policy where by they guarantee the liquid yeast to work, or they will replace it!