First time brewer. Did I mess up my English Brown Ale?

[noslenwerd]

Thanks again everyone. I am going on vacation June 2nd, so I will wait to bottle June 1st. I want to bring some of it with me for my friends to try.

At that point it will have been just over two weeks so hopefully that should be ok.

[ipaisay2.0]

Forget the secondary...just another opportunity for oxidation or infection. I'd leave it for 2 weeks at least, to allow the yeast to clean up a bit. Some styles can be done in just a few days ( Forum member BooBoo has a mild that he drinks on day 5 or 6 ). But being your first, it won't hurt to leave it.

No, not in day 5 or 6, 10-12 days is almost perfect. but that mild OG is like 1.036 -1.038 .

My N Eng Brown (1.046-1.052) for second round of nationals I rebrewed twice. I fucked up the first rebrew when my counterflow broke. Then re-rebrewed it last thursday and it is done fermenting last night in 5 days. I'll keg mine this weekend and have it ready for nationals!

[brewerTristan]

Ah this was my first brew as well. The Brewers Best series, if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure it'll turn out fine.

[Old_Skool]

For a basic ale primary fermentation can complete in 3-5 days --- the only real way to know is by checking the specific gravity and matching that to the recipes FG. Spend around $9 for a wine thief so you can collect a sample and if you don't have one then buy a basic hydrometer and a sample tube.

As to secondary - thats up to you - I secondary every batch for 7 to 14 days. I feel it mellows the beer quite a bit and allows for some more yeast clean up activity. Its become pretty trendy not to secondary --- but to each his own.

Bottom line is to have fun - take lots of notes - and learn what things make beer that you like.

I did both a Northern and a Southern English Brown Ale last Fall --- both were very enjoyable.

[TheDarkSide]

As to secondary - thats up to you - I secondary every batch for 7 to 14 days. I feel it mellows the beer quite a bit and allows for some more yeast clean up activity. Its become pretty trendy not to secondary --- but to each his own.

That's because you are Old_Skool...

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

Last piece of advice is stick to some basic brews for your first 3 - 4 beers - keep it simple: some basic amber ales etc. Get your processes down and basic understanding of brewing then try some other styles.

I would add that your process includes everything you do on a brew day, from filling your kettle to chilling your wort, to fermenting it, to cleaning up after. Get in a routine and make it a habit.

For a long time I used an immersion chiller. When I got a counter flow it changed everything I did after the boil. It took a few brews to figure out how it changed things. Then i got a pump. That was a learning experience!

Most of all, have fun doing it.

[Old_Skool]

As to secondary - thats up to you - I secondary every batch for 7 to 14 days. I feel it mellows the beer quite a bit and allows for some more yeast clean up activity. Its become pretty trendy not to secondary --- but to each his own.

That's because you are Old_Skool...

Old Skool is as Old Skool does ... The other reason I secondary is flexibility. I was going to bottle last weekend (at 7 days in secondary) but things went to hell as did our plans - so it just sat for a week and I'll bottle on Saturday. Yeah its an extra step - but with good cleaning and sanitation I see no issues

[the lizard king]

+1 to all the above information, I had the first problem with my first brew, except I let ti go longer than you, the finished product at a lot of astringancy. I drank it either way, but if you are unsure please send you beer to your local FBDU (farcelli's beer disposal union) for prober disposal and diagnosis. :