Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:58 am
Get a bottle wand if it doesn't come with the kit. That thing is a godsend for bottling.
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I bottled for 4 and a half years, and it the time, it never bothered me one bit. I did use mostly EZ-Cap bottles which likely made a difference. But now that I keg, I certainly wouldn't want to go back to it.Tapsucker wrote:The only thing you will find a nuisance (hate in fact) is bottling, but then again every homebrewer hates that - welcome to the fraternity of grumpy bottle washers!
I haven't extract brewed myself, but in the ones I have tasted that others have done, I think the Festa kits are better beer. Have you thought of brew in a bag as the next step? Easier than full mashes, but better than extract, IMO.Matty D wrote:After some additional reading on another home brewing site I am leaving my beer in the primary fermentor for the whole time. It has been just over two weeks and I dropped in 1oz of NZ Cascade hop pellets. I will let this sit for another week and will bottle condition for 2 weeks.
My Festabrew brown ale will be next in the primary. After that I'm debating on doing an extract boil or another festa brew.
I know 2 guys who work at Magnotta making the Festa Brews and they are all grain brews that have been pasteurized, a better bet than extract. Although you could go halfway and do a mini-mash, use extract for your base grain and use specialty grain and hops to modify your recipe.KwaiLo wrote:I haven't extract brewed myself, but in the ones I have tasted that others have done, I think the Festa kits are better beer. Have you thought of brew in a bag as the next step? Easier than full mashes, but better than extract, IMO.Matty D wrote:After some additional reading on another home brewing site I am leaving my beer in the primary fermentor for the whole time. It has been just over two weeks and I dropped in 1oz of NZ Cascade hop pellets. I will let this sit for another week and will bottle condition for 2 weeks.
My Festabrew brown ale will be next in the primary. After that I'm debating on doing an extract boil or another festa brew.
Derek - I know this is an old post, but how long would you boil a festabrew wort for and what kind of hop schedule would you have? This does sound like a good step 2...Derek wrote:Yes, and a great way to start.markaberrant wrote:They are no boil kits. Just pitch the yeast.JeffPorter wrote:Do you boil the festa kits or just pitch the yeast as is?
That said, when I was a new dad & low on time, I did boil a couple with extra hops! (Step 2?)
The Coopers kits are fairly good as well, but since they're concentrated, I think they do have a bit of an 'extract' taste.
I didn't see this until now.JeffPorter wrote:
Derek - I know this is an old post, but how long would you boil a festabrew wort for and what kind of hop schedule would you have? This does sound like a good step 2...
I tried several Brew House kits before switching to Festabrew kits and none of them impressed me. The Coopers yeast is what they provide in all kits and it kinda sucks, especially for lager styles. The Festa come with different yeasts, depending on the brew.Matty D wrote:Reviving this a bit just incase anyone finds this in a search.
I brewed the Brew house IPA kit first. I used the coppers yeast in a starter for yeast. The kit called for 8 litres of water to top it up. In hindsight, and after research, most recomend adding 2-4 litres instead. I dry hopped with an ounce of cascade hop pellets for a week (after 3 weeks primary). 2 weeks in bottle. Great hop aroma, blah everything else. I think the 8L of water ruined it. After about 6+ weeks in the bottle it has improved a bit to more of an "ok" pale ale, but lost much of the hop aroma. Not a great start but at least no sanitation issues.
I have brewed the Festa brew Brown ale. I used a liquid yeast instead of the dry package it came with (an american ale strain). I left it in primary for 3 weeks and bottled for 2 weeks using about 3/4 cup corn syrup in 2 cups boiled water. Turned out great, carbonation is moderate, nice flavour with some roatsy chocolat flavours. A very drinkable brown ale.
Next is an IPA, steeped + extract kit with dry hops. In fermenter now!