Batch 001 Next steps…

This morning, I worked on the transferring of the beer to the secondary fermentation carboy. The carboy is nothing more than a glass bottle that looks like the office water-cooler bottles. This wasn’t a very difficult step to accomplish.

I moved the primary fermentation bucket onto the table and let settle for an hour or so. Waiting for the beer to settle, I made some coffee and cleaned the carboy, transfer hose and airlock. Learning that home brewing is a lot of cleaning. Once clean and sanitized, I prepared for the transfer. Hose to end of nozzle, other end into carboy. If you are looking at the pictures, the tub around the carboy is a preventative measure. If things go wrong, there is something else to trap the liquid – I had a really bad experience with a 50 gallon fish tank.

So it looks like beer. And it smells like beer. I think I am on the right track here. Over the last week, I learned what the hydrometer is used for – measuring the abv of the beer. How boozy is the beer? I am going to drink it one way are another. IF it is strong, drink less. I’ll worry about abv later. I have also been offered a kegerator from a colleague, who happens to be a home brewer. He has given me loads of tips, and it is helping fuel my interest in this new hobby. The kegerator will also allow me to do Pilseners too.

More waiting while the second fermentation does its thing. To pass the time, I am taking the girlfriend to Hawaii. We get back just in time for bottling. I need to figure out the next recipe too. Pale Ale is going to be tasty, but variety is good.