"wbarwell" <wbarwell@mylinuxisp.com> wrote in message
news:11qm5gjtl4fof20@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
> [email]howell.daniel@gmail.com[/email] wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Hi, I am very new at homebrewing, I just finished my first batch. I
>> have a couple questions about this brew as well as my next planned
>> brew.
>>
>> 1. My last brew cam out with a bit of an odd taste. I used a
>> considerable amount of bettering hops: 1 oz. Columbus hop pellets
>> (for
>> 5 gallons). How bitter should that be? What is that comparable to
>> commercially? (I think it tastes a lot like Sam Adams Boston Lager)
>> I am pretty sure I can pick out a little bit of astringency along
>> with
>> the bitterness. I used crushed specialty grains and didn't have a
>> thermometer but I don't think I got it much above 160F. How likely
>> is
>> it that the astringent flavor is from the grains? I put the grains
>> in
>> a Muslin bag and tossed the bag after 10 min at 160F. I have read
>> about rinsing grains at this point, is that something I should do?
>> Should I use a Muslin bag or just heat/steep then strain?
>>
>> 2. I plan on doing a stout, porter, or scotch ale for my next brew,
>> in
>> a couple weeks. Does anyone have any particularly good recipes
>> (using
>> extract)? A clone would be excellent, to be able to compare.
>>
>> 3. I do not have a secondary fermentor, I know that a secondary
>> fermentation is not necessary but would you recommend with these
>> types
>> of beers? Could I, instead of buying a carboy, use my "bottling"
>> bucket for primary then use my "primary" for secondary (they are
>> essentially the same buckets) leaving my bottling bucket free at the
>> end of secondary to bottle? I know I risk oxidation, but I don't
>> plan on leaving in for very long, 7-10 days.
>>
>> 4. For the future...does anyone know of someone who has made an ale
>> that is similar to a bock? Bocks are my buddies' and my favorite
>> brew but living in an apartment in Louisiana does not make it easy
>> to brew a
>> lager. A bock recipe with a Steam Beer yeast?[/color]
>
>
> Odd tastes often come from problems with cleanliness of equipment.
> Everything from primary fermentors to bottles should be clean and
> sterilized with sodium metabisuphate[/color]

Sodium Metabisulfite is a cleanser, not a sterilizer. Use Iodophor (as a
follow-up to SM) to sterilize . It's available at most homebrew shops and
online.
[color=blue]
> obtainable at most homebrew
> suppliers. Don't use clorox, it may leave an aftertaste.[/color]

Bleach is fine, as long as you rinse correctly. Watch out for chlorine in
your municipal water supplies, too.

[color=blue]
>
> In brewing scrupulous cleanliness is a must. Don't forget to clean
> siphoning tubes and equipment, air locks and such secondary equipment.
> Before use, scrub everything very well with hot water and plenty of
> detergent. Rinse very well with good hot water, traces of detergent
> can destroy a batch of beer totally.[/color]

Head retention can be directly affected by the use of detergents.
Suggestion : don't use detergents, and ESPECIALLY don't use detergents with
any type of scent.
[color=blue]
> Finish with a rinse of a Sodium
> M. solution.[/color]

Iodophor should be your final rinse, maybe followed by clean cold water.