After reading thru many of the posts here I am figuring the advice is going to be the same as most first timers get, leave it be. There really should be “First Time Brewer - Hows it look” channel for all these types of questions, anyways here it goes.
I am brewing the Caribou slobber 1 gallon and started on Sat, Feb 23. Things seemed to go pretty good and I went to bed excited. In the morning I found that the airlock had blown off and there was quite a mess. (I knew I should of used the blow off) Sanitized the blow off tube and hooked it up to the carboy. Then I wiped down most of the mess.
By Sunday night bubbles had slowed down and the krausen dropped. I checked it again on Monday after work and it seems no bubbles and the cloudiness seems to be dropping to the bottom.
This seemed to happen way to quick, so now I am nervously looking for answers while trying to tell myself to just leave it.
Yes you need to invest in a hydrometer! Although if you plan to only do 1 gallon batches, a refractometer would be a better choice so you don’t waste as much of your product taking samples. You can get a decent one on Amazon for ~$30.
But what you’ve just described is perfectly normal.
Depending on the circumstances, I might suggest 2.5g batches. As a single person, having an assortment of 5g batches around is a lot of beer. While 2.5g allows someone the space to have many beers on hand, get good quantity made on brew day, brew often, but not have to worry about beer getting past their prime.
Looks pretty normal to me leave for it alone for another week at least bottle and enjoy small batches ferment fast especially if you keep them warm.
Then think about making bigger batches you’ll probably only get like 10 bottles. You’ll probably try two of them before they are even fully carbed and conditioned. Sorry but this one gal batches phenomenon that nb has started is mind boggling to a lot of us experienced brewers.
I believe it’s more about drawing in more customers (and setting up future larger $ale$) than about experimenting.
I think some people may be hesitant about investing in a 5 gallon set up when they’re not even sure they will like brewing, so a 1 gallon kit seems less of a risk. I think that’s the type of reasoning that keeps Mr. Beer successful - and has people switching from that to 5 gallon kits. So NB found a way to capture the first-timer market (as well as some who want play with really small batches).
To the OP, I like the advice about not using a hydrometer on a small batch - save that purchase for if (when!) you move to bigger batches. Leave it for 2 or 3 weeks then bottle it. Congrats on making beer!
Yeah I get the purpose of the one gal kits was more trying to apologize for the many unsolicited comments he was gonna receive about batch size. Seems like everyone time someone has a question about these one gal kits they get advice on their problem and comments about batch size.
Definitely invest in a refractometer. It sounds like the source of your anxiety comes down to whether your batch has fermented too quickly, which is a really a question of whether the yeast has fully attenuated. With a refractometer, you can measure whether your batch has reached its target final gravity, which should be specified in your kit. If it has, then you can be sure that fermentation has gone well. If not, you can adjust accordingly on future batches.
However, you should also relax until next Saturday. I confess I don’t have experience with the timing of 1-gallon batches, but a 5-gallon batch usually takes around a week to fully ferment, and there’s no harm in leaving a batch on the yeast for a few extra days beyond that to make sure that the yeast have had time to do their thing.
Thanks for all the advice and reassurance. I am guessing most first timers have a compelling urge to keep checking their brew and a worry that it is going wrong. Maybe startup kits should come with a time lock to keep us out lol. I went ahead and ordered a hydrometer which really should be included in the kit.
Now for the off topic of batch size debate.
As a newbie, a one gallon batch does seem more manageable. I read many posts on one gallon vs 5 gallon. I choose the 1 gallon kit because I am boiling on the stove and I read issues with reaching full boil in larger quantities. However now after a lot more research I have learned of partial boiling. For a newbie there is a lot of info to digest and choices to make even before buying equipment. So I do image many go with the 1 gallon cause it seems less complicated.
The decision breaker for me, was that I wanted variety. The 5 gallon batch just seemed to big for me. As a single father I don’t drink that often or that much. I am planing on having brews going spaced apart so when one is finished one is finishing.
With all that said, I am already thinking that after my first few 1 gallon batches I will upgrade my carboys to 3 gallons and start splitting the 5 gallon kits in half. I know Mr. Beer has the 2.5 gallon kit which seemed perfect but I had two friends use these with bad results so that was off my list.
Got to say though this is a lot of fun. The best part so far was the brew night and the aromas that filled my house.
I believe it’s more about drawing in more customers (and setting up future larger $ale$) than about experimenting.
I think some people may be hesitant about investing in a 5 gallon set up when they’re not even sure they will like brewing, so a 1 gallon kit seems less of a risk. I think that’s the type of reasoning that keeps Mr. Beer successful - and has people switching from that to 5 gallon kits. So NB found a way to capture the first-timer market (as well as some who want play with really small batches).
To the OP, I like the advice about not using a hydrometer on a small batch - save that purchase for if (when!) you move to bigger batches. Leave it for 2 or 3 weeks then bottle it. Congrats on making beer![/quote]
This makes the most sense to me. Its a niche market, and niche sales can be highly profitable. I dont blame them. Only part of the kits I would buy is the gallon jugs though.
Awesome Pete! I brewed my first batch Saturday as well. I went with the 5 gallon True Brew kit and have already started getting on my local brew supply shop’s nerves wanting pricing for minor equipment and recipies.
I almost went with the 1 gallon thinking that 5 gallons is a lot of brew to handle for 1st time.
Thank You PeteBrew for posting your picture. I brewed my first 1 gallon batch of caribou slobber on saturday and with the exception of my airlock blowing off (up at 4am sunday and seen i needed to put the blow off tube in quickly) it looks the same. Mine has not bubbled since monday. Don’t know if you know about the 1 gallon jug when cleaning, but where the handle meets the neck of the bottle on the inside there are dimples. Just make sure you clean in the dimples really good
