Byron Musick
07-12-2006, 01:07 PM
Hello,
This is my first post on this forum, although I have been a lurker/guest here for quite a while now. I wanted to thank all on this site as there is a wealth of knowledge that a person can learn just by searching the post's, rather amazing actually.
Back in January I made the first run at making beer with a Mr Beer kit, I made a Pale Ale and a 1776 Ale, both turned out surprisingly good. After the first tasting I went out to our local HB store and bought the carboy's, hydrometer, siphon, etc and started brewing the "Brewer Best" kits, they looked simple enough. Also bought a book, the obsession started and at first the wife thought I was insane, later she approved (good thing I did not screw the pooch!)
Now it is likely the time I spent looking around here for idea's/recommendations has helped me make some very good beer (beginner’s luck possibly) or at least a damn site bettter beer than what we have been drinking.
I've made; 2 batches of American Light, 2 batches Red Ale, 1 American Amber (northern brewery), 2 batches Russian Imperial Stout (I love this stuff) and my last was a Oktoberfest.
My learned mistakes thus far;
1. Scorching extracts when making an addition without removing from heat
2. Improperly marking my carboy at more like six gallon's vice five (watered down beer tastes good until you learn it is watered down, only when I figured out the correct level in the carboy did I notice this "Watered Down taste")
3. A whole bunch of little stupid things dealing with sanitation
My first Questions.
I brewed a IMP Stout and after about 12 days I transferred from primary to secondary. After about two months I noticed something I know I had not seen before and that was a extremely thin, almost transparent skin floating on top, if I had to give it a color it would be white. Book I had said it was from being exposed to Oxygen at some point. Needless to say I decided to bottle it up, beer still tasted good in my opinion at this point. Did exposure to oxygen cause this or something else? My airlock never went dry so the only point I can think of is during transfer from primary to secondary caused this? Could be a sanitation issue but I would think that would have caused worse things to happen?
Anyway I followed the apparent rule "Don't worry and have a brew", that works well by the way.
Anyway is this problem something that will manafest itself over time during the next few months or should I try to drink it soon as possible?
Again thanks to all the brains out here, really great site and some real smart folks.
R/ Byron
This is my first post on this forum, although I have been a lurker/guest here for quite a while now. I wanted to thank all on this site as there is a wealth of knowledge that a person can learn just by searching the post's, rather amazing actually.
Back in January I made the first run at making beer with a Mr Beer kit, I made a Pale Ale and a 1776 Ale, both turned out surprisingly good. After the first tasting I went out to our local HB store and bought the carboy's, hydrometer, siphon, etc and started brewing the "Brewer Best" kits, they looked simple enough. Also bought a book, the obsession started and at first the wife thought I was insane, later she approved (good thing I did not screw the pooch!)
Now it is likely the time I spent looking around here for idea's/recommendations has helped me make some very good beer (beginner’s luck possibly) or at least a damn site bettter beer than what we have been drinking.
I've made; 2 batches of American Light, 2 batches Red Ale, 1 American Amber (northern brewery), 2 batches Russian Imperial Stout (I love this stuff) and my last was a Oktoberfest.
My learned mistakes thus far;
1. Scorching extracts when making an addition without removing from heat
2. Improperly marking my carboy at more like six gallon's vice five (watered down beer tastes good until you learn it is watered down, only when I figured out the correct level in the carboy did I notice this "Watered Down taste")
3. A whole bunch of little stupid things dealing with sanitation
My first Questions.
I brewed a IMP Stout and after about 12 days I transferred from primary to secondary. After about two months I noticed something I know I had not seen before and that was a extremely thin, almost transparent skin floating on top, if I had to give it a color it would be white. Book I had said it was from being exposed to Oxygen at some point. Needless to say I decided to bottle it up, beer still tasted good in my opinion at this point. Did exposure to oxygen cause this or something else? My airlock never went dry so the only point I can think of is during transfer from primary to secondary caused this? Could be a sanitation issue but I would think that would have caused worse things to happen?
Anyway I followed the apparent rule "Don't worry and have a brew", that works well by the way.
Anyway is this problem something that will manafest itself over time during the next few months or should I try to drink it soon as possible?
Again thanks to all the brains out here, really great site and some real smart folks.
R/ Byron