New to fermentations

[SmokeyMcBong]

hey all, figured i'd give an introduction since im new here.

i got a homebrewing book for christmas from my GF and purchased a starter kit soon there after. i have an american pale ale thats been fermenting for 2 weeks and is pretty much ready for bottles and a bucket of reconstituted frozen limeade/pink lemonade/5 alive concentrate (almost 1/3rd of each) and sugar mix that started to ferment 2-3 days ago.

the concentrate i had some problems with. my fault but i didn't know that you had to give time for the campden to dissipate in the must before adding the yeast. so, i managed to kill the nice big yeast starter that i had made. not terrible tho, as the homebrew shop had given me US-05. when they didn't take i replaced them with a starter made with EC-1118, which i understand is the preferred yeast of choice for this application.

anyway, hoping to learn alot. thanks for having me.

 

[sour_grapes]

Welcome aboard, ummm, Smokey!

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

Welcome aboard, ummm, Smokey!

thanks! yup, Smokey. i have some moderate scoliosis of the spine and am a medical cannabis grower and patient. i figured if i grow my own medicine i might as well brew my own beverages as well.

i grew up in a small port town in Newfoundland and remember drinking some fantastic concoctions that the old fellows would put off. from what i remember, one old guy must have been making hard lemonade. he called it lemon gin but it wasn't gin and it smelled very similar to the mash-up i got going on in there now.

 

[richmke]

If you are using plastic for your primary fermenter, be careful about using it for both beer and wine. The wine will pick up the beer taste.

 

[seth8530]

If you are using plastic for your primary fermenter, be careful about using it for both beer and wine. The wine will pick up the beer taste.

I have never noticed anyhing of the such... But I use better bottles

BTW to the OP, welcome to the board!

 

[richmke]

I have never noticed anyhing of the such... But I use better bottles

Some guy was selling his beer stuff, and I picked up 2 glass carboys and 2 buckets for the price of one of the carboys. I tried cleaning the bucket, and never could get the beer smell out. Not a big deal wince I was buying it for the carboys.

Maybe the BB have a better plastic, but I would prefer a bucket over a carboy for a primary. Much easier to clean.

 

[Pumpkinman]

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I agree with Seth, if you clean it well, then sanitize with Star San, it takes the aroma of Hops right out.
Have you tried to use the Carboy Cleaner? Check it out [ame="http://vimeo.com/9715862"]Watch ME [/ame]



It is an amazing product, one minute and the carboy is sparkling!!
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