But I'm also a "routine" guy, and the last few years I have brewed a batch for gifts for Christmas. It's always gone over great, and as Leah and I are increasing our knowledge, and our kit, for brewing at home, this last weekend we started our first 5 gallon batch of Holiday Ale from Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supply. When I mentioned it to the guys at our local pub, Chama River Brewing Tap room, they commented that it was a little late for starting a christmas beer whcih got me worried. They also commented about a wort chiller, which I had seen, but had never been advised about seriously, and figured that adding cold water would be sufficient; if I needed any more cooling, I would give the pot a water bath in the sink. So I trudged on.
So, after receiving the recipe kit, getting the 8 gallon stock pot, the 6 gallon bucket and some tubing and sanitizer and nylon stockings we were ready to make a huge mess in the kitchen.
The brewing went off without a hitch. I had planned well, sanitized everything I needed to use, and during the simmering I kept a watchful eye on my wort and temperature, more to enjoy that wonderful aroma of softly boiling malts than to make sure I didn't have a boil over. At the end of the boil I added the hops and the spices and got ready to do my water bath.
Now I did make sure my stock pot fit in the sink...and it did, just barely. But what I hadn't realized was how much it needed to chill. I had never brought 3 gallons of boiling water down to 80 degrees F. The first water bath was..... short. The 2nd water bath....short. The fourth was a little longer, and an hour later was cool enough to drop some ice packs in the water along the side of the pot. 12:30am (hour 3.5) - the 7th water bath; thermometer reading 97 degrees. OH EMM GEE I AM SOOO GETTING A WORT CHILLER!!!
About 1:30 I added the remaining cold water, transfered to my primary, and pitched the yeast. Sealed it up, checked my hydrometer reading (I.S.G. = 1.063 @ 80 degrees), put in my drain hose and went to bed.
Now that I've had a few days to suppress my anxiety about it all and relax, and reading Papazian's book has helped, I am excited for the day of transfer to the secondary.
Lessons learned: wort chiller, wort chiller, wort chiller!
