Just a little catching up… been super busy with our holiday rock orders and just haven’t had a lot of time to post about the fun stuff we’ve been sneaking in here and there around the old homestead.
Since my birthday was on Thanksgiving this year, it was a great time to start my first batch of ale! So while the turkey was cooking, I decided it was time. I got out all my Mr. Beer kit goodies and got started. It was remarkably easy and fun. And really only took about an hour and that was mostly due to me reading and rereading the instructions to make sure I did it right!
After sanitizing the big jug with super hot water and then a cleansing rinse product, I was ready to go. The can of malt was to be warmed up in a bowl of hot tap water. It’s super thick and ooey, so that helps to make it a little easier to pour out of the can when you’re ready.
The keg was filled partially with cool water and set aside. Then you boiled up about a quart or so of hot water to a rolling boil and then turned it off. Then you added the malt and the package of hops and sugars.
The first batch you get in your basic kit is a Pale India Ale, and the can of malt is really pretty colored. Just a beautiful amber color, a classic beer look. Once added, it was stirred up good and poured into the jug with the cold water. Super simple. If you can boil noodles, you can make beer, I wager.
Last step is to add the yeast. It’s a simple pre-measured packet, just dump in and stir, let it get good and soaked and give another little stir. Then the whole jug gets sealed up and popped into a cool dark place to ferment for 2 weeks or more. You can do it for less, at least a week, but everywhere I read recommended at LEAST 2 weeks or even 3 for a really nice result.
One thing I did, that I read in some book or on a site, was to take a wee sip off the jug spigot. They said you should do this to get a feel for the tastes through the process so that you can see how it progresses. Well, let me tell you, it was pretty awful. Kind of lick warm sugar water with a bitter sort of yeasty bread taste. I sure hope it improves!!!
I used the box it came in as my storage box. Lining it with a garbage bag just in case it decides to leak or explode, I nestled Mr. Beer into his sleepy time nap box and tucked it into a closet. Perfect. Happy snooooze time Mr. Wort!
BEER UPDATE>>>>
Because of my delay in posting because of our holiday chaos, my beer has officially aged over 2 weeks now. On this coming Thursday, it will be 3 weeks, but I hope to bottle it either Tuesday or Wednesday, just shy of the 3 week mark.
It has made it’s first fermentation with flying colors! I checked it and yep, it’s clear, and I drew off a wee bit, just a swallow and it’s not sweet, and tastes rather like stale beer without any bubbles. Perfect! (So says all the books!) The second fermentation is done in the bottles. You take your clean, sterile bottles, and add a bit of sugar to each one. Like 1/2 teaspoon or so. The book tells you based on the bottle size. And then you draw off the keg and fill the bottle. I have my bottle capper and my hydrometer so I can test them as I bottle for the proof. Once bottled, they will sit another 2 – 3 weeks and then we’ll be ready to give them a test! That means I have 3 weeks or less to come up with a name and a sweet label for my homemade Moby Ale!!! Any suggestions???
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