Long time drinker, first time brewer
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- Name: Mike Digdon
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Long time drinker, first time brewer
Brewing has been on my bucket list for a long time and I finally decided to make the leap. After studying up for a few weeks, I bought some gear and a kit, and now my first batch is working away in the fermenter. The entire process has been fascinating and I look forward to experimenting in the future.
- mr x
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer

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At Alexander Keith's we follow the recipes first developed by the great brewmaster to the absolute letter. 

- RubberToe
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer

Electric Brewery Build
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
- Tony L
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Welcome, Mike. What type of brew did you put on? was it a canned kit or an all wort kit?
- GuingesRock
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Hello!


-Mark
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Welcome aboard!
Kits are a great way to good beer, and an easy way to get practice with some of the most important parts of brewing: cleaning/sanitation and fermentation control (temperature, length, yeast pitch rates).
One word, you'll probably want to ignore the instructions that came with your kit (no matter which one): no need to transfer from primary to secondary after 3 or 5 days, it can safely be left in primary for much longer, and can safely be transferred to bottles directly (with the priming sugar).
Kits are a great way to good beer, and an easy way to get practice with some of the most important parts of brewing: cleaning/sanitation and fermentation control (temperature, length, yeast pitch rates).
One word, you'll probably want to ignore the instructions that came with your kit (no matter which one): no need to transfer from primary to secondary after 3 or 5 days, it can safely be left in primary for much longer, and can safely be transferred to bottles directly (with the priming sugar).
Co-author of Atlantic Canada Beer Blog
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Welcome! Kits are a great way to get started!!
Tuckamore, Vancouver, BC
Primary:
Bottled:
In the Fridge: Hawaiian IPA
Next Up:
In the Bank: Honey Blonde Bombshell, Hawaiian IPA, Mild Ale
Researching: Hard Cider
Primary:
Bottled:
In the Fridge: Hawaiian IPA
Next Up:
In the Bank: Honey Blonde Bombshell, Hawaiian IPA, Mild Ale
Researching: Hard Cider
- GuingesRock
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Especially if it's a festa brew kit.GasMD30 wrote:Welcome! Kits are a great way to get started!!

-Mark
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Welcome to the obsession!
"He was a wise man who invented beer." - Plato
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer

Primary -
Secondary -
Bottle Conditioning -
Bottled -
On tap:
On the horizon -
Secondary -
Bottle Conditioning -
Bottled -
On tap:
On the horizon -
- Bluefin 774
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Welcome aboard,
I too brew kits for now. Started with Coopers extract kits now moved on to Brew House kits and will pick up a Micro Brew kit this week.

I too brew kits for now. Started with Coopers extract kits now moved on to Brew House kits and will pick up a Micro Brew kit this week.

Take care, Bluefin.
Tap # 1: Apple Cider
Tap # 2: Kolsch
Fermenting: Bluefin's Hefeweisen
Fermenting:
Up Next: ?
Tap # 1: Apple Cider
Tap # 2: Kolsch
Fermenting: Bluefin's Hefeweisen
Fermenting:
Up Next: ?
- Buccaneer
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
I got an American amber ale extract/specialty grain "kit" from Everwood. It all went together pretty simply.
I've read a bunch of different stuff about moving to secondary or not. I'm just going to leave it in the primary for maybe 3 weeks, then move it to the keg. I'm lazy and doing bottles the first time seemed like too much work.
I've read a bunch of different stuff about moving to secondary or not. I'm just going to leave it in the primary for maybe 3 weeks, then move it to the keg. I'm lazy and doing bottles the first time seemed like too much work.

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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
The first one isn't even done yet and I'm already thinking about what I'm going to do for a second batch.LeafMan66_67 wrote:Welcome to the obsession!

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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Let me know how they turn out and the price on them if you would please.Bluefin 774 wrote: will pick up a Micro Brew kit this week.

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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer

Andy
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"Now son, you don't want to drink beer. That's for Daddies, and kids with fake IDs." - Homer J. Simpson
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Welcome! I just use Festa's and Partial boils so far here. Never underestimate how fast 67 Beer can vaporize! haha. There is a blue set of instructions that say "USE THESE". I tend to follow them by the letter but I now make sure my pitched yeast is already in my Primary before I pour in the Wort. (before I would add it after and try to stir it in). With new method I see much quicker fermentation activity. Keep us posted! ~Volt
Brewer and short Bus Driver at Schoolhouse Brewery, Falmouth NS
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"Beer is good, rum will kill ya'!" ~R.I.P. Uncle Norm.
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
You need a pipeline built up... in my experience they take much longer to ferment than they do to drink, especially if you share itBuccaneer wrote:The first one isn't even done yet and I'm already thinking about what I'm going to do for a second batch.LeafMan66_67 wrote:Welcome to the obsession!
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Certainly, if I'm able to produce good beer, I have a lot of friends more than willing to help out with making room for more beer.bluenose wrote:You need a pipeline built up... in my experience they take much longer to ferment than they do to drink, especially if you share it

I like to mix it up when I want a beer, so having maybe 3 on tap to choose from will help prevent boredom.
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
I started with 3 taps... I got bored. I now have 5 taps, and am already trying to wrap my head around moving to 8-10 taps. Not so much doing it, but not ending up with divorce papers in hand while doing it. hahaha.Buccaneer wrote:Certainly, if I'm able to produce good beer, I have a lot of friends more than willing to help out with making room for more beer.bluenose wrote:You need a pipeline built up... in my experience they take much longer to ferment than they do to drink, especially if you share it
I like to mix it up when I want a beer, so having maybe 3 on tap to choose from will help prevent boredom.
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
See, that's what worries me with even 3 taps - I'll get bored. However, I figure 3 give me enough variety along with all of the other beer that I'm trying to taste. If I had too many of my own taps, the beer is likely to go bad before I can finish it.Keith wrote:I started with 3 taps... I got bored. I now have 5 taps, and am already trying to wrap my head around moving to 8-10 taps. Not so much doing it, but not ending up with divorce papers in hand while doing it. hahaha.

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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
just out of curiosity where are you located?
Nova Prime Taproom
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
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Re: Long time drinker, first time brewer
Hammonds Plains
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