My First Brew Ever! ...and a few questions

[FedoraDave]

Good advice, Birdie.

And, Caps, your first brew day was filled with some mishaps. Not unusual. And yet you seem to have made beer. That's another lesson to take away from this experience; unless you do something really out of the loop, the beer knows what to do. Just provide a good environment for it, and it'll be fine.

And N00bs aren't the only ones who have brewing mishaps. Like the time my manifold came off the spigot nipple in my mash tun, and I tried to re-attach it by sticking my hand down into 150 degree wet grains. NOTE: Don't do this. Ever. Eventually I scooped enough of the mashed grains out to get the job done, then scooped them back in, ran my first runnings, and continued with the sparge, boil, etc. And you know what? The beer turned out fine. My point is, this happened to a fairly advanced brewer, and I know it won't be my last eff-up. One thing this hobby teaches you over time is to roll with the punches.

Birdie's advice on practicing pouring the wort using water is a good one, and I'll add that it's easier to control the flow of said pour by pouring toward you. In other words, hold the pot over the fermenter and tilt it toward you, rather than trying to pour from the side, or from some other direction. And relax your shoulders while you're doing it. I've gotten to where I can do a full-volume 2.5 gallon pour without spilling a drop of precious wort. It just takes a little practice.

Birdie is also correct about the folks here wanting nothing more than to help each other make the best beer we can. We all pretty much started at the same place, which is where you are now, Caps. And we don't forget what we experienced, what we asked, what we learned, or the friendly, helpful tips we got. Besides, we're a doggone funny bunch of people, too. You found the right place, is what I'm saying. In six months' time, you'll be giving excellent advice to the guys who got a beer kit for Father's Day. Seriously. You will.

[Brewbirds]

Good advice, Birdie.

And, Caps, your first brew day was filled with some mishaps. Not unusual. And yet you seem to have made beer. That's another lesson to take away from this experience; unless you do something really out of the loop, the beer knows what to do. Just provide a good environment for it, and it'll be fine.

And N00bs aren't the only ones who have brewing mishaps. Like the time my manifold came off the spigot nipple in my mash tun, and I tried to re-attach it by sticking my hand down into 150 degree wet grains. NOTE: Don't do this. Ever. Eventually I scooped enough of the mashed grains out to get the job done, then scooped them back in, ran my first runnings, and continued with the sparge, boil, etc. And you know what? The beer turned out fine. My point is, this happened to a fairly advanced brewer, and I know it won't be my last eff-up. One thing this hobby teaches you over time is to roll with the punches.

Birdie's advice on practicing pouring the wort using water is a good one, and I'll add that it's easier to control the flow of said pour by pouring toward you. In other words, hold the pot over the fermenter and tilt it toward you, rather than trying to pour from the side, or from some other direction. And relax your shoulders while you're doing it. I've gotten to where I can do a full-volume 2.5 gallon pour without spilling a drop of precious wort. It just takes a little practice.

Birdie is also correct about the folks here wanting nothing more than to help each other make the best beer we can. We all pretty much started at the same place, which is where you are now, Caps. And we don't forget what we experienced, what we asked, what we learned, or the friendly, helpful tips we got. Besides, we're a doggone funny bunch of people, too. You found the right place, is what I'm saying. In six months' time, you'll be giving excellent advice to the guys who got a beer kit for Father's Day. Seriously. You will.

Is there a "bow to our spiritual leader emoticon?

Fedora Dave leads us all into the world of home brewing with the wisdom, grace and simplicity that you will find nowhere else in forum land.

[BeerRust]

I would also say, make a beer you like. Then make again with more experience that you gained, and you will likely see and taste some good differences .

[Capitals82]

Great posts again guys! Yeah, I believe the reason I spilled the wort all over the place was because I used a pot that was MUCH larger than what was called for, hence the reason why it kind of spilled out. I also did pour the wort towards me instead of straight on or sideways. But I'm also pretty clumsy, so great recommendation to practice the pour for next time.

I don't know if I'll be giving excellent advice to anyone in six months from now (time will tell), with all of your great advice and wisdom it may happen. but you sure are a doggone funny bunch of people... I laughed when I read

spigot nipple in my mash tun

[FedoraDave]

What...that's what it's called.

[Capitals82]

I believe you Dave, it just sounded funny

[FedoraDave]

Just wait till you build a mash tun, young man! Then you'll appreciate a manifold that fits snugly on the nipple of the spigot, mark my words!

[haerbob3]

Nha................ do like the ladies................. a false bottom

[FedoraDave]

[FrozenInTime]

Don't thunk I've said it yet... everything kinda slips from my tiny mind, so I will say it now....

Welcome to the forum! You'll love the Brew Demon kits, they ROCK!

[Capitals82]

Hahahaha, you guys are amazing! I had no idea what a mash tun was until I looked it up. I'm such a NOOB! haha, maybe I'll get there one day

[Brewbirds]

Hahahaha, you guys are amazing! I had no idea what a mash tun was until I looked it up. I'm such a NOOB! haha, maybe I'll get there one day

Our resident Wiseman Philm00x even added a glossary to the (you'll like this FIT, I can't remember where it is ) but if you see a term that isn't there make sure and point it out so we can add it.

[gwcr]

Hahahaha, you guys are amazing! I had no idea what a mash tun was until I looked it up. I'm such a NOOB! haha, maybe I'll get there one day

Our resident Wiseman Philm00x even added a glossary to the (you'll like this FIT, I can't remember where it is ) but if you see a term that isn't there make sure and point it out so we can add it.

That glossary would be a sticky topic in the Beginner Brewing section. For easy reference, here is the link.

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=46

For easier reference, it's near the top of the section that this thread is in...

[Brewbirds]

Please reference the comments on the "I'm getting old" thread and FIT's numerous memory loss observations followed by a quick search on what goes first in aging women.

Oh yes I did just open that one up for comment didn't I?

Thanks for pointing Commish.

[gwcr]

Please reference the comments on the "I'm getting old" thread and FIT's numerous memory loss observations followed by a quick search on what goes first in aging women.

Oh yes I did just open that one up for comment didn't I?

Thanks for pointing Commish.

Well, in my experience the first thing to go on an aging woman is...um...yeah right. I'm not falling for that trap. Women get better with age, end of story!