The First Batch is in the Fermenter!

Since it feels nice outside, I decided it was the day.

I’m not going to go into specifics, just the things I learned:

  • My wife does not like the smell of wort.
  • I love the smell of cascade hops.
  • I need to prepare several bags of ice for cooling.  I used up the ice maker tray, but wished I had more.
  • Alternating sinks of cool water worked well; just next time I should have more ice (a la above) ready and not drain my sanitizer for it.
  • I need a better thermometer – one with a long stem.
  • I probably need to buy a turkey fryer and boil outside.  If I do that, I should probably consider an immersion chiller.
  • The Mason jar worked well for a yeast starter, but I should use a bigger one next time.
  • Make sure to fill the test tube enough when getting an IG reading.  “less than 1.050” is not an accurate reading.
  • Obviously I took a sip of the wort from the test tube. Not bad, maybe a tad bitter.  Of course it isn’t fermented yet.  I’m okay with bitter beer.

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I probably should have taken more pics.  Anyway, the Ale Pail is in the basement fermenting, and since I am typing this and looking things up it sounds like I need to switch the airlock with the other as there is a little bit of krausen in the airlock.

I am really looking forward to bottling and drinking this!

/A