Michigan Brewer’s Brew Blog

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English Brown Ale extract (2/18/08)  Got everything setup outside in my  garage and started brewing. I was having a hard time keeping my floating thermometer floating because I only had 2gal of water in the 30qt brew pot while I was steeping the specialty grains. So I tied a string to it and held the thermometer during the 20 minute steeping process.   After steeping was done I took the thermometer out and set it aside…. did I mention I was outside, in Michigan, in February? My glass thermometer shattered, oops. Oh well, nothing another trip to the LHBS won’t take care of. After that ordeal the rest of the brewing went fine. I  cooled the wort down by placing the pot in a snow bank.    

 
I poured it into the primary bucket and just opened the packet of dry  yeast and poured it in. Got up early the next morning to check to see  if I had any bubbles and I was pleased to see that I did. Lots of
bubbles from the air lock for about three days then it went silent. I kept it in the primary for a full week then transferred to the carboy. It sat there for 2 weeks before bottling. It has been in bottles for a week now. I’m trying to follow the 123 rule, but I think next Saturday I’m going to open one to give it a try. I’ll be sure to post how it tastes.

Most of my equipment I bought from my LHBS Siciliano’s Market.

    * Bottling bucket w/ spigot
    * Primary fermentation bucket 7gal
    * Secondary glass carboy 5gal
    * Auto siphon
    * Bottling wand
    * Bottle capper
    * Floating thermometer
    * Thief
    * Hydrometer
    * 3-piece air lock
    * Turkey fryer w/ 30qt aluminum brew pot
    * Bottle & carboy brush

I was kind of thinking that this blog could serve some benefit to others that are starting their own home brewery. I’ll be sharing my lessons  learned. As I’m still a “noob” I will tell you that there is a wealth of knowledge here at the Brewer’s Roundtable Homebrew Forums and others like them.  Everyone that I’ve had any contact with about this hobby has been very  helpful.