National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Extract Brewing => Topic started by: jackflash on October 17, 2014, 03:32:57 PM

Title: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 17, 2014, 03:32:57 PM
Hi all! I'm ready to brew my first extract batch, and I was wondering if there were any kits anyone could recommend.

I love double IPAs (at least I love O'Haras Double, Hardcore IPA and Founders All day). Could you recommend a starter extract kit that I could buy online?
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: armedcor on October 17, 2014, 03:42:31 PM
You could try this
https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/hbc-full-extract-american-pale-ale-23-litres-p-1781.html

They don't seem to have an IPA extract kit unfortunately
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 17, 2014, 11:02:35 PM
That's gas, it's the very one I was looking at!
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 22, 2014, 08:46:45 AM
Do ye think I could jump straight into using a recipe rather than buying an extract kit?

I'd like to try a Punk IPA type clone or something similar (O'Haras, Founders All-Day etc.).
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: Bubbles on October 22, 2014, 09:22:38 AM
Quote from: jackflash on October 22, 2014, 08:46:45 AM
Do ye think I could jump straight into using a recipe rather than buying an extract kit?

I'd like to try a Punk IPA type clone or something similar (O'Haras, Founders All-Day etc.).

Of course! You'll learn a lot more about the hobby when you put your own recipes together.

Lots of clone recipes out there. Try searching on homebrewtalk.com - it's great for clone recipes of American beers like Founders.
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 22, 2014, 09:38:05 AM
Sweet, I'll check it out bubbles.
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: Bubbles on October 22, 2014, 09:58:26 AM
I love the avatar, great movie..  ;D
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: Qs on October 23, 2014, 12:28:10 PM
Quote from: jackflash on October 22, 2014, 08:46:45 AM
Do ye think I could jump straight into using a recipe rather than buying an extract kit?

I'd like to try a Punk IPA type clone or something similar (O'Haras, Founders All-Day etc.).

Punk has a really simple grain bill of just maris otter. It'd be a great starter beer to make because using extract you wouldn't need to steep to recreate it. Just get your hops and a your extract and go for it.
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 23, 2014, 12:51:42 PM
Cheers bubbles...just let your soul glow!
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 23, 2014, 12:52:35 PM
Can't wait to start my punk clone now. Just in time for crimbo:-)
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: Bubbles on October 23, 2014, 01:21:36 PM
Quote from: jackflash on October 23, 2014, 12:51:42 PM
Cheers bubbles...just let your soul glow!

Let it shiiiiine through!!!!  O0
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 24, 2014, 03:52:23 PM
I've been looking around online and there are loooooadddds of IPA recipes! I'm just not sure what recipe would be suitable for an absolute beginner extract brewer. Has anyone got any tried and tested simple recipes?
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 31, 2014, 09:08:42 AM
Bought this American IPA Extract Kit from thehomebrewcompany: https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/hbc-full-extract-american-pale-ale-23-litres-p-1781.html
I'm going to dry hop with Amarrillo.

Any advice when I should dry hop? Could I use another fermentation bucket for secondary?

Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: armedcor on October 31, 2014, 02:22:27 PM
Another bucket would be fine. Are you bottling? I've always wanted for fermentation to calm down/finish then dry hop and bottle on the 5th or 6rh day.
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on October 31, 2014, 09:24:45 PM
Yeah I'm gonna bottle alright. Should I leave dry hop on second last day?
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: Kevco5 on November 01, 2014, 10:24:08 AM
Quote from: jackflash on October 31, 2014, 09:08:42 AM
Any advice when I should dry hop? Could I use another fermentation bucket for secondary?

What I do is leave in primary for 21days total, dry hop for the last 7 or so.
(10 days is the absolute max for dry hops due to grassiness/veg flavours)
Then batch prime for bottling.
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on November 01, 2014, 11:43:54 AM
Ah..this is where I get confused. So far I have only made 2 bog standard kits, and usually peak fermentation only has lasted for about 4-5 days, and nearly all bubbling has stopped after 7 days at which point I have batch primed and bottled.

From my limited understanding, I believed it was a bad thing to let the beer rest on top of dead/dying cells, and thought it was correct to transfer to secondary fermenter. Is this old thinking?
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: armedcor on November 01, 2014, 01:11:58 PM
Yea secondary isnt really necessary though some people still do it. It's good to leave the beer on the yeast for a bit after the fermentation looks finished as it's cleaning up after itself etc I usually give it 2 weeks. You can go ahead and dryhop in primary, lots of people do. 
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on November 01, 2014, 01:36:21 PM
Well that's music to my ears! I won't bother buying the carboy or syphon just yet!
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: armedcor on November 01, 2014, 02:00:55 PM
Yea I bought a carboy. Used it to secondary like twice then just put a sour beer in it haha
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on November 08, 2014, 09:28:19 PM
So I popped my extract cherry today with a HBC American Pale Ale kit. Many thanks again to bikerbrewer for selling his brew kettle  to me. I'm thinking of dry hopping with Amarillo after two weeks in primary.(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/08/a868769af29d9ba69b7a5162a299fcac.jpg)
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: DoubleG on November 10, 2014, 01:59:11 PM
Looks awesome! What size is the kettle? Where did you get the burner for it? Im using the cooker for my extracts but can only do partial boils.
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on November 10, 2014, 03:26:04 PM
Actually bought the kettle on here from bikerbrewer, it's a 36 litre: http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,7987.0.html


I bought the burner here: http://www.gasproducts.ie/acatalog/copy_of_Large_Square_Gas_Boiling_Ring.html

Really happy with both :)
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: DoubleG on November 10, 2014, 03:37:10 PM
Sweet! How long does it take to boil up a full pot of water?
Title: Re: First Extract Batch!
Post by: jackflash on November 10, 2014, 04:35:05 PM
Took about 30 mins I think