Digital Diary
24 April 2001
Brought fementer starter kit from Mikes home brew in Beenleigh, made by BREWCraf, for my birthday(thanks to my lovley wife). Trying a Morgans
Australian Bitter. Hope it tastes alright, Mike said that it tastes similar to VB. I previously made a large box to store my brew in.
My local brew supplies, in beenleigh
Mikes Home Brew:=http://www.mikesbrew.com.au/
25 April 2001
Started to ferment my 1st brew. shit theres a lot of stuff to clean.
28 April 2001
Bottled my first brew. I think the fermenting might not of finished all the way, It will do, hope they dont explode. It made 28 750ml bottles.
2 May 2001
Started to ferment the second brew. I made another australian bitter, by morgan's. My mum and dad brought it for my birthday, 29/4/2001,
and a bottle tree. Hold up to 63 bottles.
6 May 2001
Bottled the 2nd batch. made another 28 bottles, could of made 29 but it was all sediment.
7 May 2001
Started to brew the 3rd it is a Black Rock mexican lager, should taste a bit like corona. I am treating this one very well. It is said that serving
it with a slice of lemon will be great.
8 May 2001
Thought my hydrometer was broke, witch it was, mike gave me another, took a sample of 2nd batch down, he told me that it was nearly ready.
Tasted the 1st and 2nd batch. The first tasted better than the 2nd, probably due to the time it took to age. Also brought a Morgans Smoked Ale.
Can not wait to try this one. :=)
9 May 2001
Thinking hard about buying a stainless steel keg set, I'm getting a bit sick of washing and sterilizing bottles and this way i only have to wash
one keg I put in the fridge. will cost a little bit I recon. and I lost my job recently so this thought get thrown on the bleeches untill I have some money :-(.
http://www.mikesbrew.com.au/keg_sets.htm, try this to have a look at a keg setup. Still dont no what price I am lookiing at though
10 May 2001
Still waiting on my keg to finish and worring a bit about bottles, Mabey i'll have to find some at the dump.
Hey Got A few at the dump. Started to wash them I will leave them soak over night.
Drank a bit of the first batch tonight, I am quite enjoying it over me regular VB, Morgan's Australian Bitter.
The mexican beer is starting to slow, about 1 bubble every 30 seconds.
I have now over a hundred bottles. Need more cause I want to brew for dad too.
11 May 2001
My Mexican brew has almost finished 2 1/2 3 minutes between bublles. Tomorow I will bottle even if not ready(but it will I have a feeling it will).
Sue printed me up some simple sticky tags on the printer with the brand and the date.
Went to mikes brew shop today, asked about 2 things, 1 a beer like the old bundy beer, All I have to do is:=
Add either 1/2 or 1 full nip of rum in every 750ml bottle to a good lager or pilsner(The amount of rum is up to me), I chose a morgans
queensland lager.
2nd a honey beer all i have to do is:=
Substitute sugar for honey, eg=900g of dextros(sugar) and 100g of honey or 800g of dextrose and 200g of honey, He also said that be
carefull about the amout of honey I use, try a little then next time more if so be.
I brought a morgans queensland lager at his shop to try a rum beer, and later I might try a honey brew.
I also brought a new bottle brush, You should see the last one, it's had it.
Mabye I should off brought a pilsner, oh well next time.
12 May 2001
Well I was wrong the 3rd brew, the mexican, ain't ready, I don't think I will bottle them though, after Sue printed all those lables out with the date on.
All i'll do is write the date on with pen. I mesured the brew out also with the hydrometer and it was reading 1003, But mabye that was due to the dry
enzimes that came with the package. Or mabye it ain't ready yet.
This is the 5th time I have had to wash Merv's old bottles but the bottle brush I purchased yesterday made the task very easy,
with the brush on the very end as to wash the bottoms of the bottles.
13 May 2001
I Have continualy notice that "the 2nd beer always tastes sweeter". And I can not put my finger on why, But it can not be contamination cause every
time I have the second it always tastes sweeter.
I have bottled the mexican brew, Still a lot of action in the glass, Hope they dont explode.
Have one of the second batch of beer in my hand, tastes a bit different to the first, Maybe cause it's still a bit young.
14 May 2001
I worked for my uncle today so I didn't start my smoked ale brew. But I rewashed the fermenter because It still smelt like beer, So I will try again tomorow.
I think the temp might be to low, just have to see and find out. might put it in our room.......Missus aint to pleased with that idear. :->
Also I think I am drinking a little to much, 2 tallys a night, when I was buying 1 tally a night, so I limit myself to 1 a night from now on,
15 May 2001
I heard that if there is no foamy head on the fermenting beer, you beer mabye off.
I started the smoked ale today, Gee its dark.
I brought a fermenter heater. Cost $35. and a second bottle brush cause I left the last one I brought in the sterilizing solution and it went all rusty and soft.
Asked Mike about temp. If it gets to low then warm it up a bit and it will come good.
17 May 2001
The fermenter is still going strong, Nearlly out of my first brew. Hasn't got cold enough to use the heater yet. I found a document on brewing in summer
winter I have covered with the heating band but summer, don't worry about it much, keep it in a cool place, mabye on concreate in garage.
and don't use any hot water. Or a thick cover drenched in water. But anyway heat speeds up the ferment but losses a bit of taste.
I want to try a malt extract brew. Might be a bit hard but i will ask mike at the home brew place about it and to give me a few hints
I have worked out how my beer should last me, in 100 days It should(give or take 2)(estimating 7 days a ferment)14 ferments and 7 by 28
bottles drunk(estimating 2 tallys a day). Should I have stock, I think so......But I will need a larger supply of bottles.
19 May 2001
Dad brought me two great Beer glasses that hold 570ml, wow, and also a kit to start my next brew, a black rock company bitter, and dextros and sugar drops.
20 May 2001
Got 140 odd bottles from the tip, Gave about 40 away. Am about to start washing all of them today. FUN FUN FUN.
Brew Slowed bubbling today, Mabye it will be ready to bottle monday tuesday.
My wife gave me a hand to wash some bottles, we got them all done but what a hassle. Using the heater, it's real cold today, the brew with
out the heater is at low 20's. Dad gave me an old camping water jug, size i think 15 litters, so I can get some Tank Water to make beer, I will try it.
dad said that he might go halves in a double fermenter for me, that would be soo great, and I still want a keg setup eventually but it will cost a lot,
theres a second hand fridge, $200-300, a keg and hose setup, $325-375, and a Co2 food grade gas bottle, $???. Dont no the price but it would be a bit.
(I think around $70). I might have to sterilize the water jug before I use it though.
Dad just loved the mexican lager by black rock, served with a slice of lemon from mum's place it was absolutly magnificent,,
May I say my best brew to date, But all hoping this smoked ale might just top the cake?
21 May 2001
Drank 2 of the mexican and 2 of the second batch of morgans brew, thoroughly enjoyed the mexican brew, with a sliice of lemon.
Really need a double fermenter if I am to binge like I am this aftenoon.
Man I am the most unlucky dude in this world. I lost my job a forghtnight ago, I broke a door the car wont start, the dole wont work for me and they
wont pay me right, and the tafe course I wanted to do lost my application, Now this has nothing to do with brewing but this is trying my patience.
I just thought if I typed this it wont sound as bad but it sounds worse:-D. I am enjoting the second brew though. But after a few the beer tastes
like beer not something I made and enjoy.
The heater I use most of the day and kept the brew at around 25 degrese. That is great but will it stay there at colder temps??
I had a look at the brew shop at slacks creek, they sold a bit more, or rather had a bit more out the frount, but mikes home brew is the pick of the to,
due to the fast that it looks more presentable and freindly.
22 May 2001
Smoked brew not done yet........Getting colder, longer time to ferment probably
23 May 2001
Still not done, mabey tomorrow. Still want another fermenter, but dont no wether to get a double or a standard, will I use a double all the time
or will I make to much??
I brought a double fermenter, cost me $50. Geez.
Had no graduation mesuring marks so I had to mesure out 46 liters, hope I got it right, I'll do it again just to make sure tomorrow.
I have to Black rock company bitters to use in the double.
The smoked ale is taking very long, its been a 9 days so far and still bubbling. Gave my dad a carton of the Black rock mexican larger,
I really needed the double. But will I keep using the single, Yer, but I will start brewing some soft drinks for sue.
24 May 2001
Fermenting on that smoked berw is still not done...............Geez its taking a while.
Started the company bitter in the double fermenter, Hasn't built up any pressure in the air lock after 5 hours, i dont have a thermometer for the
double so I am starting to think that I might of killed the yeast with either to high or to low.... Wait and see, I dont have a second heater either,
Mabey it wont hurt, being to cold. Running out of beer, hope something happens soon. Made a box to store the two fementers on top of each
other so it takes up less room in the garage. I wonder if you can kill yeast at to high temps?? after all they bake bread with it and the temp in that gets high.
Looks like brew in the double might come good, Now worried about the cold of night. geez hassles hey?
I also can not keep the heater on the both brews darn cold weather.
26 May 2001
The double ferment has become infected.......Shit what a waste..Its smells foul, Sterilizing agent smells bad but this shit, yuk.
Air was entering the fermenter cause by not sealing coorrectly.
And uneven temp control.
Question
Why does my beer have a sour, intensely bitter, strange taste; and smell sour, bitter or "foul"?
Answer
This description is generally associated with bacteria getting into the brew and could be due to any of the following:-
The higher the temperature the quicker the wort will ferment out. Ideal fermenting temperatures are between 21(C and 27(C (70-81(F) and should
be maintained 24 hours of the day. Infections can occur if temperatures are too low, "Off flavours" can result from uneven or high temperatures.
With open fermenting, bottling should take place as soon as fermentation ceases otherwise your brew will become infected. With a closed fermenter
the brew can be left until it has finished fermenting, plus one or two days for the yeast to settle, but should not be left on the dead yeast for lengthy periods.
Insufficient temperature control.
Air entering a closed fermenter.
By opening a closed fermenter to take a hydrometer reading. This disturbs the CO2 layer which is protecting the brew from infections.
Lack of sterilisation of immersion heater (pull back rubber flange at the top and sterilise with methylated spirits).
By using "spent" sodium metabisulphite or other sterilant
27 May 2001
Bottled the smoked brew yesterday.
Going to put down a morgans queensland lager
Started the Queensland lager. Piched the yeast at about 20-22 degrees to see if I start the brew at lower temps it might brew better at lower temps.
Came out this morning so start fermenting, it showed that a empty fermenter was about 14-16 degrees, I hope that figure wont stay with a
full fermenter or I might be in trouble.
I have the heater just incase. The double is still empty, Maybe I will be able to fill it on monday. I think more of the 3rd brew,
the mexican lager will be in order.
I will try a company bitter again, I think it might be a nice drink, ashame about the last one.
The australia beers seem to do better in the wider range of temps,18-30 degrees.
I was leaving this particular lager for the honey beer, but I can get another batch at a later date.
The temp at 6:30am was about 16, now its about 10:00 and the temp is about 20 and the brew is at 20-22 thats alright I think.
28 May 2001
The morgans queensland lager is fermenting great, WOW, its almost coming out the top.
I went down to Mikes Home Brew this morning and brought 2 mexican lagers:-) and another Company Bitter, He told me about yeasts:-
* A ale yeast likes higher temp
* A lager yeast likes colder temps
But 18 degrees is still the limit and if gets down to 16 degrees you need your heater belt.
Also explained about a yeast starter:-
1/2 cup of water, little bit of sugar and yeast while you mix your brew then last up add your yeast.
Also you can add more yeast to your brew 3 packets to a double 60L fermenter 2 to a single 30L.
Mixed the mexican lager, Can not wait till thats ready. Used a yeast starter on it, Started fermenting in the cup and when I put it in the fermenter
started with presure.
29 May 2001
The double started bubling last night, Woohoo.
Its still leaking but it is also bubbling so thats cool. I can smell were its leaking from. I have 14 milk crates. I have another can of wort for the little
fermenter All I have to get at a latter is 2 cans of brew for the double.
30 May 2001
I worked Prices out as of today and buying tins of black rock (@ $12 a pop). ok hear it is, $30 to fill the double fermenter, half that to fill the single.
$5 to bottle the double, $2.50 to bottle the single, and if you have $50 you can get just enough to fill and brew both ;oD.
31 May 2001
I brought 2 Morgans Bitters this morning. I decided also I am going to by some yeast cause mike changed them but was a little reserved.
1 June 2001
Bottled the second black rock mexican lager today, Very cloudy. From the double fermenter, It made 56 bottles. Woohoo
2 June 2001
Made a morgans bitter in the double fermenter today. Use a SAFlager yeast, A good cold temp yeast. Dad brought me a coopers larger,
Just one to put in the single fementer.
I am a dick head, The double fermenter seal broke I got another, and I made a batch on the double fermenter and then the dye in the new seal ran
, making the beer darker. I might have to through it out........
Also bottled the queensland lager today from the small fementer
3 June 2001
Smells funny .the double fermenter, Its touch and go. either through it out or leave it alone. Mabye its the saflager yeast making the smell.
But its bubling like crazy, like I put 3 yeasts in and I only put 1 saflager in with a starter. I think I will lever the beer ferment out and try it then
before I bottle it.
4 June 2001
]If you think an infection might appear, add a larger quantity of yeast with a big starter.
So I was told by a fella of the internet.
I made a honey beer in the smaller fementer. Hear is how I did it.- 1 can of coopers lager, 800g of csr brewing sugar. 300g of farm honey.
. Thats al I have done so far.
Another resipe I was given is - 1 can coopers stout, 1 can coopers real ale, 2kg dextrose, 2 tablespoons of frarm honey(requires a double fermenter).
Its called a black and tan. I wonder if I can subsitute it for anything like Morgans stout and morgans dark ale, black rock??
I have to be prepared to do my beer better than I am now, like today I forgot to add sugar to the starter. what a moron,
What I want to do is I have printed up a few sheetsto go by until I have the knoledge to do it with out a hitch. Need to find out how to make that
double fermenter seal properly, I dont know what I can do, Just push the seal down. Take it out everytime and put water in before I put the seal in to make
it seal better. I really dont know. mabye a bigger seal, but those seals are to large for rhe grove they go into, but it might make it work a little better.
I wonder how this double fermenter is going to turn out especially since all the junk ran out of the seal and into my beer? I tasted it this morning and It had
a greyish tinge to the head and tasted a bit like a peice of coal diluted it water. Well we will find out soon enough. Running out of bottles,
I have enough for 2 double and 4 singles or 3 doubles and 2 singles or 1 double and 6 singles. or 4 doubles. thats approx. 224 bottles.
Either need another 28 or 56 bottles. I need to work out a plan to brew beer, like approx how long a carton dose me and dad and at what point to start the
next one.
5 June 2001
The double fermenter stoped this morning, I might leave it for a day or to to clear a little. The honey beer is bubbling like a treat. wow.
A very big head on this one. I decided to bottle this beer, and it looks alright. Also brought 2 morgans bitters, and some supplys= A cup of sterilizing
power, green, white and red caps a additive for the bitter, a brewmakers bitter aditive with hops. You only use half the dextros in a double
and no dextrose in a single. Had A smoked ale by accident last night. I was quite drunk and couldn't tell you what it tasted like.
10 June 2001
The honey beer is still going, About a bubble every few minutes.
The last mexican beer I did was a disappointment cause of to much sediment, next time I will leave a day or to before bottling. I might bottle that
honey coopers lager beer. it's been 6 days. Next time, to reduce the sediment, I might leave my brews 10 days. 8 days maybe.
15 June 2001
2 bottles of that morgans bitter blew up, And I think I will be cleanning up glass and shit for four days. Bad thing was I had the other beers
that were ready copt the glass to. I put down a double of Morgans bitter with a bitter additive, with bitter hops, should taste good, and a single
of black rock company bitter, can not wait to try this one. I have had a few of the morgans queensland larger today, tastes good,
but I dont know if I am a lager man. The morgans has already started bubling witch is good and no apparent leaks witch is better.
Cleaned most of the bottles that had glass over them due to the exploded morgans bitter.
