First Brew Check In

So it has been 10 days or so since my first brew.  I thought I would give an update on how things are progressing.  I took a hydrometer reading today and it looks like we are sitting right around 1.03.  We started around 1.06 or so, which means we are progressing nicely...I guess.  I really dont know.  The directions say let the beer ferment for 7-10 days and then siphon to the secondary fermenter.  I am not using a secondary fermenter because I have heard they are unnecessary.  So I will give it another week or so and take another  reading.  If we are still around 1.03 the fermentation is complete and we can move on to the priming phase.  Nice.

Now I'd like to discuss the newest additions to my brewing toolset:

First is my racking cane siphon.  I actually had this piece before I brewed my first batch, but had not bothered to learn how to use it.  So instead I used a cut up milk jug and a plastic cup as my funnel.  A quick search on youtube told me everything I could ever want to know.  Here is the vid if interested.

Now we have the funnel.  I picked one up for a dollar at Giant.  If you don't know how to use a funnel please send me an email.  A friend of mine is a Nigerian prince with a great investment opportunity.  I would love to send him your info.

And to finish it up, we have my thermometer.  You probably remember this guy.  I had to leave my house with the stove on high to pick up this one.  It was like $6 at Giant.  Ideally I would have bought a floating thermometer like this one but I was kind of desparate at the time.

Thats it for now.  I'll give another update when I'm ready to bottle.

Sincerely yours,
Salty Rick