True Brew Porter

[fretlessman71]

About to begin my first batch of beer! Either Tues. or Wed. I'll begin work on my beer kit - I'm making a Porter from True Brew. Anyone know anything about the company? Anyone made the porter? What can you tell me about it?

Do I sound like I know how to relax, not worry, and have a homebrew? Don't I need a license in order to relax? Where did I put that Exxon Valdez-sized mug of coffee?.....

[paul84043]

The first batch is very interesting. You're cheating because you've hung around here for so long....most of us made our first before we ever found this page and realized everything we did wrong!!

It's okay, because, as you've heard a million times by now...it's nearly impossible to screw up a batch.
Watch the sanitation and you'll be swillin' homebrew in no time......well.....a month or so.....

I made a Guiness Extra Stout Clone this past Friday night, (I only use White Labs or WYeast liquid yeast) Saturday Morning it started to kick off, sunday night it almost clogged the airlock in my 6.5 gallon primary carboy, (it was going like hell)
THis morning, the Kreusen has fallen and it's down to 1 burp every 20 seconds.....
That's a batch that went like there was no tomorrow!!!!
It'll be in the secondary this weekend, and bottled next, time permittting.
I can't wait to taste it!!

My Pete's Wicked Pilsener LAGER...is in the fridge and happily bubbling away, where it will stay for the next two to three freaking MONTHS.

Welcome aboard man! The biggest decision is "Which do I make next!"

[BeerBelly]

True Brew makes good stuff. My first batch was a TB Continetal Light. It was great. It is real easy. Dont Worry, it will be bubbling away before you know it. The only thing that I think would make it go better is to make a starter for your yeast. Since I started making starters, I get fermintation within 2-3 hours.

Have Fun

[yonkersbrewer]

I have made True Brew porter a number of times with great results each time. Actually it is the one kit that I still use. I've tried other recipes and keep coming back to the blue box since I really like the taste that I have gotten.

[S.F.B.]

fretlessman, it sounds to me like you are ready to go. Relaxing, next to sanitation, is most important. You have a good support group here and can count on us to give you our opinions (even if you don't ask for them:D ).Porter is a good brew to start with.

Now, remember to get you next batch started immediately after you bottle the first. You will run out of home brew if you wait. There is nothing more frustrating than not having some of your own beer around and having to pay for store bought. Once you taste how good yours is, nothing else will be quite the same again.

Good luck!

[Brownbeard]

I have seen the True Brew kits. I used a Brewer's Best kit for my first batch, and it made good beer. Since then, I have used mostly Northern Brewer kits. I really like their kits. I have actually done a couple of my own recipes. I am still using kits though.

[paul84043]

I've never tried a True Blue kit, I use the kits from my local HB shop, I've bought from Northernbrewer.com, Annapolishomebrew.com, and. StPats.com.

[kevin]

that kit and even the porter was my first brew, only thing I should of done was let it sit in both primary and secondary a little longer, you know I was anxious wanted to get tasting that homebrew. You shouldn't really need to do a starter it is dry yeast just dump it in there and shake it really good.

[mortong]

...l'd recommend at least rehydrating the yeast for 10 minutes or so, though. I've never needed a starter for a dry yeast, but I have noticed a difference when I rehydrated it.

[fretlessman71]

Got you beat... I went out and got some liquid yeast instead! It's a strain of Wyeast 1056, and I'm using it tomorrow. I'm saving the dry yeast for a batch of cream soda we're making later this week.

Also, I was SPECIFICALLY TOLD by the folks at my homebrew store NOT to rehydrate the yeast, as this could (and probably did with my first batch of root beer) destroy the cell wall of the yeast and kill it. We just pried open the lids of the root beer batch and added THREE grains of yeast to each one and recapped them. When we added the yeast, we could see the yeast grains begin fizzing away, and we knew we were on the right track. We'll see: I sure hope we don't have root beer rockets!

[kevin]

we are all expecting you to ship us a bottle of your first brew.

[fretlessman71]

... I forgot to sanitize my bucket before I poured in the wort, and pitched the yeast anyway. I hope this stuff doesn't turn out to be poison....

....still want some?:confused:

[fretlessman71]

Went ahead with the batch anyway (you never know, right?). For more details on what I'm talking about, see above post.

On the other hand, it's been 21 hours since I pitched yeast, and I'm getting about 50 bubbles per minute. Is this about right? I'm curious... it seems like I might have a pretty strong brew here!

[sullydavid]

By the way Fret, I like that signature. Reminds me of those Miller commercials out right now. So ironic to see them telling people to step away from the heard and try something different.

[kevin]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
On the other hand, it's been 21 hours since I pitched yeast, and I'm getting about 50 bubbles per minute. Is this about right?

Oh I heard about those over bubbling airlocks can be really bad for your beer, you know I think after it's settled down you better bottled it and send it to me for proper disposal.

Seriously did you really forget to sanitize"

[fretlessman71]

seriously though did you forget to sanitize

:rolleyes: Yes....

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by sullydavid
By the way Fret, I like that signature. Reminds me of those Miller commercials out right now. So ironic to see them telling people to step away from the heard and try something different.

Yep... great commercial; wrong product...