First Brew TODAY
Brewmando wrote:
If you fill with water you will be diluting your beer! If or when you get to the point where you start kegging you can squirt some CO2 on top to get rid of the oxygen. I rack most of my brews to secondary and have not had any issues yet.
Thanks Brewmando. I'll go that route. I was thinking of putting my secondary at a little cooler temperature because it is a lager...good idea, or bad idea? Should I just let the secondary sit in the same closet at that 64 - 66 range that the primary is sitting at?
GETTING EXCITED!
1st batch has been fermenting for 12 days now, and airlock seemed to be pretty inactive. Moved my fermenter out of the closet and was getting ready to do a hydrometer reading, and noticed that it started bubbling a little again. Guess the movement must have kicked some stuff around and the airlock is a little active again.
Took a sample out with the baster and tested the gravity...was at 1.010 (OG was 1.052). Brew shop said it should end somewhere around 1.008. Looks like I'm almost there. Going to let it ferment in the primary for a couple more days, do another hydrometer reading, and if it's ready, move it to secondary for about a week.
I couldn't help myself...I had to taste the sample I pulled out for the hydrometer reading...WOW. I know it's not done yet..but it tasted REALLY good. Very similar to the Yuengling flavor I was going for. Can't wait until it's completely done to enjoy this brew!
THANKS to you guys for all the help...now time to start thinking about batch #3. (batch #2 was a porter that I brewed Friday and is fermenting nicely)
Well...here's an update on this brew.
I couldn't wait any longer to taste it (can't help it...first batch and all)...SOOOO...cracked one open last night after. They've been sitting in bottles for 8 days now...so I knew not to expect too much carbonation, but it did have a little bit of carbonation...and TASTED GREAT!! I expected it to be OK after having tasted it when I took the FG...but lord...it's GOOD!!
Now I'm actually psyched about waithing this out so I can really enjoy them in a few weeks.
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP GUYS!!
Glad to hear success on your first brew! Congrats. The best part is popping it open and tasting a beer you like that you made!
When I tried my first I couldn't stop planning my next several brews and the equipment that I 'needed' to have.
Congrats on a succesful brew! I think the best part of popping open a homebrew (other thank drinking it of course) is the 'pssst' you get from the carbonation. It is so much more satisfying that opening a commercial beer.
If you're able to hold onto your first batch for any length of time after trying it, you have more will power than many people I have talked to, including myself.
To continued success!! 
Excellent work.
You are well on your way now to a whole new type of hobby.
Great job. Now start planning your next batch. The bottled ones never last long enough .
DC
Thanks guys...couldn't have done it without all of your advice.
As for the next batch(es)....oh...they're already planned.
I'm bottling my Porter tomorrow...have a second Porter I'm brewing this weekend....and after seeing how this first batch tasted...I'm probably brewing the same recipe again the following week. I plan to have a steady flow going for the summer!!