Next weekend's project...

[Shuie]

Keep an eye on that airlock. If that clogs you are to paint the ceiling with Porter.

Have you ever tried the Bells Porter? Man, that is absolutely fantastic stuff. Im jealous of the folks in MI and the rest of the Midwest who have access to the Bells beer. That has got to be one of the best breweries in America. If I could buy beer like that I never would have started brewing.

[azasadny]

Shuie,

Thanks, I'm keeping the airlock clear, I think most of the active fermentation will finish today. When I was able to drink beer, I drank many a Bells, especially Two Hearted Ale, Double Chocolate Stout, Porter and Hefeweisen. I have a few bottles of a Bell's Belgian Dubbel in the basement refrigerator, aging. I met Larry Bell when I was active in the local brewer's guild and he's a very nice (but crazy) guy! He told me "you cannot add too many hops"!

[84CAB]

Nice! I have been wanting to do home brewing for many years. 1 1/2 years ago my wife bought me a Mr. Beer starter kit; it is still in my closet. I really need to take the time to learn how to do this....

[azasadny]

The Mr Beer kit is really pretty cool, but I never used the plastic bottles in the kit. I love the fermenter and it's easy to use and clean, just search on the Internet, there are tons of good resources out there. Homebrewing is a lot of fun and very easy to do. Some simple rules to follow and you're brewing excellent beer. you CANNOT brew in aluminum, so get a nice stainless steel kettle to brew in and you're all set.

[84CAB]

Thanks for the tips. I know what I have is just the starting point... I just need to get started! Mybe this will be my inspritation.

[azasadny]

It's a nice winter (indoor) or outdoor (spring/summer/fall) activity. It's not expensive to get started. You may have a homebrewing shop near you, like I do and that really helps. My brewing shop buddy is also a gun guy, so we always have a lot to talk about when I stop in.

[kach22i]

Nice post Art.

I bet it smells a little funny on a hot day like that.

I like Bell's Winter White Ale the best.

[vash]

did i read that right? you brew, but you dont drink?

[azasadny]

No beer or any alcohol for me for the last 5 years due to a liver disease. It's under control but required substantial lifestyle change and I can't take any chances. Anything that is stressful to the liver must be avoided in my case...

[azasadny]

Day 2 of the fermentation process and the batch of Porter is bubbling away and the garage smalls great!!



The family will be here today for the annual July 4th party and they will be happy to see that I'm brewing again. Next weekend I may be moving it to the Cornelius keg and getting some CO2 on it and keeping it cold in the garage reefer. We'll see....

I'll take pics of the kegging process so you guys can see how easy it really is.... Bottling the beer is the most time consuming, tedious part of the homebrewing process and kegging the beer gets rid of about 80% of the work. It costs some $ to get the gear, but once you have the gear, it makes life much easier!

[azasadny]

The airlock clogged, but I caught it in time. Another reason that it's better to brew outside and ferment in the garage (or basement, in the winter). Messes are easy to clean up and the SO (significant other) doesn't get mad at you...

[syncroid]

Originally Posted by azasadny

you CANNOT brew in aluminum, so get a nice stainless steel kettle to brew in and you're all set.

Dumb question. Why not?
I used to brew my own beer many many years ago. I may have to do it again soon. I used to make about 10 cases at a time. It never lasted though. All my buds would come over and it would be gone too quick.

[woodman]

that is some seriously nice krausen! I have two 1 gal carboys of mead sitting now, one will be still and one slightly bubbly. Time to bust out the brew gear and get brewing again! I love that smell in the house...good job.

[azasadny]

Apparently, the acids in the wort (unfermented beer) act upon the aluminum pot while the batch is boiling and it will ruin the beer. I've always used stainless steel boiling vessels.

[azasadny]

This website says aluminum boiling vessels are OK, but not preferred...

Brew Your Own: The How-To Homebrew Beer Magazine - Brew Wizard - Can you use brewpots made from other materials than stainless-steel?

I have only used stainless steel but I know a few guys who tried aluminum and the beers often acquired an "off taste" that can best be described as "metallic" and they switched to stainless steel and no more problems.

[azasadny]

Fermentation has slowed down quite a bit but it smells like beer and I'm getting one big bubble in the airlock every 2 seconds.

[rcecale]

How 'bout some strawberry beer, next time, Art?

Here's how...



















Randy

[azasadny]

Very cool! I've brewed ginger ale with real ginger root in it., apricot ale, cherry wheat, Berlinerweisse, porters, stouts, just about everything but strawberry beer!

Fermentation is almost complete, so we'll be able to put the beer in the keg this weekend. A little CO2, some time in the reefer and it will be ready to drink (but not for me).

[azasadny]

The beer stopped fermenting the other day, so we moved it to the 5 gallon Cornelius keg (Coke container) , put CO2 on it and put it in the man cave reefer to get cold. It will be ready to drink tomorrow... The process went so quickly that I forgot to take pictures!

[azasadny]

The keg is cold and it's been on CO2 for over 12 hours now, so my neighbors will taste test the beer this afternoon...