first batch of cider

started a batch of hard cider from one gallon of pure apple cider. I also started another batch from two 1.5 liter jugs of martinelli's apple juice. as an experiment i used wine yeast for one jug and fleichmann's bread yeast on the other.

cider vids and links

i learned how to make hard cider by watching youtube. heres some of the better videos i watched. i was mostly intersted in videos that used juice since i dont want to buy apples and juice them.

made a batch of maple mead

i wanted to make a batch of mead that was simple yet unique, and required no yeast nutrients. I chose the maple mead recipe because i had most of the stuff on hand and the recipe calls for no brews store ingredients besides the yeast. also the recipe is for a one gallon batch so i didn't have to reduce the recipe.

secondary fermenter

racked a batch of jamil's hopjack ale to a secondary fermenter.

LEARN HOW: building a mash tun.

I dont want to pay $150 for a home made mash tun from the store. here is some research I did to learn how to make a mash tun from a cooler. later ill post step by step photos of my building process.

new batch of mead

i made a one gallon batch of mead last night.

HOW TO: sanitizing with bleach

I normally sanitize with iodophor, but im out, so im gonna learn to sanitize with bleach. I want to make a batch of mead tonight and don't want to wait until tomorrow to make it to the beer store which isn't far away but is annoying to get to.

TUTORIAL: racking to a secondary fermentor

though i haven't yet experienced any results, i feel that racking my latest batch to a secondary fermentor increased the quality of the beer. I learned about secondary fermentors from these articles and videos.

jamils hop jack ale

an extract kit on its 4th day. secondary fermenter in a few days.

mead batch

my very first batch of mead. i am attracted mead making because its cheap and easy and i can make small batches. here i used a spare 1.5 liter wine jug. I emptied one jug full of water into a sauce pan, added 1 pound of honey, and a hand full of raisins for nutrients. heated the mixture to close to a boil. let it cool. pitched the yeast and added an airlock (it kept slipping so i duct taped it on). I watched lots of videos on youtube and scoured the web for a recipe that was easily reducible but in the end i sorta winged it. its fermenting which is good. the only problem with mead is it needs to ferment for six month plus. I read an article that said the best way to cope with the long wait to taste your mead is to occupy yourself with making more batches of mead. eventually there will be an abundance. I plan to make a one gallon batch very soon.

WELCOME!

I recently got into home brewing. I am a true beginner. Everything I know about brewing was learned from the internet and you tube. I intend on making a "library" of links that i found useful or or amusing. I have brewed 4 batches of beer. One was drinkable, one wasn't so drinkable, and the other two are still fermenting. I hoping this blog will serve as documentation of my growth as a brewer.