First batch of Home Brew

I know my husband loves me because he pays attention to the things I love and encourages me to pursue my dreams.

Friday afternoon I found myself at the courier depot picking up a surprise parcel! It was a Coppertun home brew starter kit, everything you need (except bottles) to brew a batch of beer. Giddy with excitement I could barely drive home, so I drove to the home brew shop instead and picked up some 750 bottles in anticipation of bottling.

Its still pretty wintery here, so I was a bit concerned about fermentation but the brew shop lady was overflowing with knowledge and rest assured my brew will ferment even if it takes a bit longer than usual.

Is it just me or is the picture on the box somewhat misleading......

First I sterilised everything, even the can opener. No way in hell is my first batch of beer going to be contaminated with rogue micro-organisms only the sweet little brewers yeasties allowed.

Then I mixed up the malt, dextrose/hops mix (smells so good) and filled to make 23L of brown goodness.

Temperature gage indicates around 20C so all good for brewing, now I just have to wait a couple of weeks and I'll be ready to bottle.

11/8/12
Mangrove Jack's Munich Lager
27062-245-26-00 Best Before 28-06-14

Mixed with Coppertun beer essentials German lager.60 Malt, dextrose and hops dry mix.

And Mangrove Jack's supplied yeast sprinkled on top.

21/8/12
Gravity 1.012 (forgot to take initial reading DUH!!!)
28/8/12
Gravity 1.011 (its still bubbling away beer takes ages. the kit instructions LIE!)
10/9/12
Gravity 1.010 (still bubbling, COME ON BEER!!!)
15/9/12
Gravity 1.0075 (still bubbling and using a new hydrometer)
16/9/12
Gravity 1.0070 (seems slightly lower than yesterday, am I imagining things? maybe...maybe.)
17/9/12
Gravity 1.0075 ( I suck at reading hydrometers.)
20/9/12
Gravity 1.006 (definitely lower, and bubbling has slowed way down!)
23/9/12
Bottled! 27 x 750ml bottles.
3/10/12
10 days later and the beer is looking very clear indeed! really starting to mature. I'm think at least another 11 days till I test a bottle.

23L of beery goodness just waiting to happen.