Learn to make beer
 

Learn to make show on tv - Food Netowork

Good Brew
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=305 border=0><TBODY><TR class=small_text vAlign=top><TD width=305 colSpan=2>Recipe courtesy Alton Brown</TD></TR><TR class=small_text vAlign=top><TD width=305 colSpan=2>See this recipe on air Wednesday Apr. 18 at 7:00 PM ET/PT.

</TD></TR><TR class=small_text vAlign=top><TD width=35>Show: </TD><TD width=270>Good Eats</TD></TR><TR class=small_text vAlign=top><TD width=35>Episode: </TD><TD width=270>Amber Waves




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http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/reci..._20302,00.html
Only a couple of things I disagree with Alton Brown on.

1. Personally, I would not use ice bags to put into my wort. Ice is not exactly the most sterile form of water to add to your wort. Instead, you can pre-boil some water and put it in some 2 liter soda bottles and freeze it. Cut the bottle open with a sterile knife and put this into your wort. Or you simply freeze some spring water in the bottle - just pour some off before freezing.

2. Alton does not aerate his wort. This is important for yeast health and initial growth. All you simply have to do is put the lid on the fermenter and shake it by rocking it back and forth, or by rolling it around on the ground. Four or five minutes should do ok for a typical ale yeast. You can shake it a few more times if you want, but should only shake the wort (at the most) until you see activity in the airlock bubbling CO2 through. Then...no more shaking. After the wort (sweet sugar mixture) becomes beer via fermentation, oxygen becomes the enemy of beer. Personally, I use a fish pump, with an an air filter, attached to a aerating stone that pump fine air bubbles into the wort.

Relax, have a homebrew!:coolbeer:

Re: Learn to make beer
 

I've been homebrewing for a little over two years now. Last weekend I bottled my 16th and 17th batches. A Belgian Dubbel and Steam Beer respectively.

I've seen the Good Eats you mention. I too would never use ice, I've always only ever used bottled spring water for my brew. I also prefer to use the racking tube, but that's personal preference. I've never aerated my wort (other than "roughly" pouring the bottled water into the wort and a vigorous stir prior to pitching the yeast) or tried the aerating stone yet since I haven't had trouble getting my fermentation started. Only other thing, and I vehemently disagree with this, is Alton's "perfect pour" at the end of the show. He tilts the glass and pours slowly to kill the head! Beer blasphemy! Pour straight down the middle I say.

Homebrewing is fun and interesting! Cheers aikitrader. I'll be trying your aerating tips out next time I attempt a barleywine. :coolbeer: :emotions16: