What to brew? Suggestions

[berryman]

Ahh here lies the rub. If you can steep why not do the partial mash. Partial mashing adds so many options fro the home brewer.

I agree, but it still seems like a big step for a new brewer that has only done HME brewing. He will also most likely have to do a 60 min hop boil which will be a new thing also, more then enough to think about while moving up to the next level. That will be a real good start and I'm sure he'll the enjoy the process and the results.

I do PMs, and full on BIAB mashes too. But also steeps and pure extract/candi sugar stuff - steep vs. PM/Mash reason for me is up to 20 minutes vs 60 minutes of "tea making" time, and a choice to do a shorter duration boil if I am really crunched on time. So the difference between a steep and PM on a brew day can be 90 minutes less time spent easily for me if I'm front loading the hops and forgoing a traditional bittering boil, and that's without resorting to an HME as a bittering base. If I shortcut with an HME as a base, it might be 2 hours less time.

So pretty much it's if you got the time and like to then spend it, but in my case time is more at a premium at times - but I want to keep pipeline full. So I do whatever it takes as long as it makes good beer.

I agree with this too, that's how I brew also.

[Inkleg]

Ahh here lies the rub. If you can steep why not do the partial mash. Partial mashing adds so many options fro the home brewer.

I agree, but it still seems like a big step for a new brewer that has only done HME brewing. He will also most likely have to do a 60 min hop boil which will be a new thing also, more then enough to think about while moving up to the next level. That will be a real good start and I'm sure he'll the enjoy the process and the results.

Yeah, I'm with Berryman here. Let him start slow within his own comfort range and then help him with how far he would like his brewing. Heck, a few years from now he may opening his own brew pub, but for now let's help him with a steep and take it from there.

[John Sand]

I love this forum.

[JohnSant]

Me to.

[braukasper]

I agree, was just trying to point out that PM is really not any harder than doing a steep. I was not trying to ruffle any feathers. If I knew any brewers when I had started. I would have going right to PM & AG. It would have save me a ton of money. I would not have gone thru so much equipment. Once again I apologize for offending

[JohnSant]

No offence taken (by me anyway), only learn by doing. If the borg thinks I can do a steep I'll give it a try. Once my LBK's are empty that is.

[Inkleg]

I agree, was just trying to point out that PM is really not any harder than doing a steep. I was not trying to ruffle any feathers. If I knew any brewers when I had started. I would have going right to PM & AG. It would have save me a ton of money. I would not have gone thru so much equipment. Once again I apologize for offending

No offense taken at all Bob. Heck I apologize for putting he like I did. It was meant for JohnSant (to let him know that all of us are here to help him) not getting on to you, my bad. I respect your opinion here as much as anyone's and know you're helping like everyone else.

I am so with you on the amount of money I could have saved had I known where this hobby was heading for me too. But that's the fun of it. We can make this hobby as easy or complex as we want it to be and we have beer in the end.

[Dawg LB Steve]

We can make this hobby as easy or complex as we want it to be and we have beer in the end.

What he said!

[berryman]

I agree, was just trying to point out that PM is really not any harder than doing a steep. I was not trying to ruffle any feathers. If I knew any brewers when I had started. I would have going right to PM & AG. It would have save me a ton of money. I would not have gone thru so much equipment. Once again I apologize for offending

No offence here at all Bob either, I was just trying to point out some of this stuff that is easy after you have done it for a while, sounds/looks overwhelming to a new brewer with only a few brews done so far. You are very correct on your post, but John is hooked so he has to be reeled in slow so we don't loose him. I was worried the first time I did a hop boil, a steep or DME, now that's all easy stuff. When I do PM's or a full BIAB I have to think a little harder. I do know what you are saying about saving money by brewing different then most of us did when we first started.

[John Sand]

Yep, I really love this forum.

[JohnSant]

I should mention that I did pick up a Brewer's Best Vienna Lager. It has 1 lb. of Vienna grain and 8 oz. of Caramel 80L grain, the hops are 1oz Brewer's Gold and .5 oz. of UK Fuggle. I can't seem to find out what kind of yeast came with kit I know it's a Lager yeast but the packet only says 1 Sachet; if my research is right sachet is a measurement and not a type of yeast. I sent Brewer's Best a request for the kind of yeast they put in this kit, but no word yet. I also picked up a packet of Selflager S-23 for the other LBK that I'm splitting to. Its going to be about 7 - 10 days before I brew this kit. Should I place the yeast in the fridge ( the SWMBO keeps the temp between 74 and 75)?

I must say that I'm kind of apprehensive being my first stepping of grains but also very excited at the same time. I'm getting a kick out of brewing my own beer, although I haven't drank any of mine yet. But for what it's worth from what I spent on getting the equipment together for this brew I won't have to spend a lot to upgrade to a 5 gal. brew kit.

Question: Should I take OG and FG on both LBK's or just let them go where thy may? Should I pitch the full pack of yeast or try to split.

I did pick up a hydrometer, Thinking of getting a wine thief.

[Inkleg]

I store all my dry yeast in a zip lock bag in the fridge.

Would depend on how you are splitting the wort between both LBKs. If you're doing the same amount of top off water in each LBK then one should be pretty close to the other with OG. BUT with different yeasts the FG could be different for each.

Since it is a lager and you have a fridge. I'd pitch the whole pack (lagers need a lot more yeast than ales) into each at 55* and ferment at that temperature. With proper cleaning and sanitation you can keep the wort in the LBK in the fridge over night until it gets to that temp, aerate and then pitch the yeast. There are a few different threads on how to lager around here. A search will provide some, I'll see what my search-foo can dig up.

What is the weight of the "Sachet" of mystery yeast.

[mashani]

I agree, was just trying to point out that PM is really not any harder than doing a steep. I was not trying to ruffle any feathers. If I knew any brewers when I had started. I would have going right to PM & AG. It would have save me a ton of money. I would not have gone thru so much equipment. Once again I apologize for offending

I also was not offended, just offering the reasons why sometimes I might steep vs. PM or BIAB. Time and money are a tradeoff in my life... Time is often more at a premium that's all. The reason I hang out in the Borg is that no matter how folks brew we are all glad that they DO brew.

[JohnSant]

Thanks Inkleg for the info. I was told by my LHBS that the yeast was a Brewferm lager yeast? I thought it would be a name similar to the other (oh well what do I know).

The weight on the pack is 12g brew temp good at 12-12 deg. C.

[Inkleg]

Here's a few Lager fermenting threads.

You could also pick up a liquid yeast of your choice for one of the LBKs. Here's White Labs lager yeast list and Wyeast strain guide. Read through them see which sounds appealing. One vile or smack pack will be close to direct pitch for a 2.5 gallon batch if it's fresh enough.