My Brew Day

[swampstander]

This is brew # 7 for me (Brown, IPA,Pale Ale,Bock, Barleywine,Hefe and now...) Midwests Irish Stout kit. All of my others went good , this one did not. This was my first full boil using a 1 /2 barrel sankey as a kettle (see pic). First thing that went wrong was that I realized once the specialty grains had steeped and I added the extract I had nothing long enough to stir this with. After some quick thinking I came up with a piece of 3/4in PVC that I cut to length, seemed to work ok (more on that later). Next once I reached boiling and started adding hops, I dropped the whole plastic bag the hops came in into the wort. It took me a couple of minutes to dig it out with my new PVC stirrer thingy. This is about the time I realized I had not smacked my yeast yet which I quickly did. I brought the yeast package outside so it could warm up a bit (82 degrees yesterday here in beautiful East TX). When I returned to the brew kettle, my stirrer thingy which I had left sitting in the wort was noticably shorter. When I pulled it out it had bent into a funny hook shape from the heat. this is when I realized that it was electrical pvc and not water pvc. Probably not food grade. It was probably about three hrs later when I pitched the yeast. The smack pack had just started swelling. I noticed last night at about 10:00 an occasional bubble an became slightly confident. This morning no activity so I re-aerated. Now I am sitting here wondering if I should add an extra dose of dry yeast to help it along. Sorry about the length.

[adbachtell]

Should be a very interesting beer.

[Fast_Eddy]

Give it some more time. The yeast will kick in.

[BluesHarp]

In the words of Charlie Papazian..."don't worry...have a homebrew."

The yeast may take a little longer to get going...give it time.

[mdblu1]

If nothing else, at least you have a good story when you serve your beer.:)

[swampstander]

still nothing when I went to bed last night then this morning I woke up to THIS (see pic). Isnt she beautiful? The Beer Gods Are Happy!

[ray m]

Most excellent ferment!!!! All should be well!!

[BrewDog]

So, how's this beer coming? I assume you've racked to the secondary?

We're pulling for you....

[swampstander]

Racked to secondary on April 16th, Kegged on the 24th. Drank one last night. Only slightly carbonated but MMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

[BrewDog]

Great!

[thewiz]

Originally posted by swampstander
When I returned to the brew kettle, my stirrer thingy which I had left sitting in the wort was noticably shorter. When I pulled it out it had bent into a funny hook shape from the heat. this is when I realized that it was electrical pvc and not water pvc. Probably not food grade.

This worries me a little - tell me the PVC stirrer thingy didn't melt in your brew. If it did - you definitely don't want to drink it.

[the4th]

Hey! I want some PVC brew! Where in East Texas are ya?

[swampstander]

The PVC thingy got soft in the brew, it did'nt become one with the brew. I have been drinking a pint a night and ......nethung rong wit mee yyet. Ii tunk itwell bee ohrighty, meebe avtah afewe meeore daz iwiillb no four shoore. bythee way i reezide en pawlestine:)

[toneyc]

Hey, I went through Palestine twice week before last! Sorry I missed ya.

:D
Toney.