This is a quick and dirty list of what we're going to do...Relax, because the following cards will explain in more detail as to what you'll be doing, this is just an overview.
•Add the malt kit (beer kit) to the boiling pot. Then, add the water, and dissove completely. After the mixture is dissolved, add the corn sugar, and mix that in thoroughly too.
•Slowly bring the mixture to a boil, making sure not to let it overflow. Boil it for fifteen minutes.
•While the malt mixture is cooling, sanitize your fermenter, the fermentation lock and all the other equipment that will be coming into contact with the beer today.
• Rinse the fermentation vessel thoroughly with cold water.
• Place about three gallons of cold water in the fermenter.
• Add the cooled malt to the fermenter. Allow the mixture a few minutes to disperse completely.
• Allow the mixture to cool below 78°F. Add the yeast.
• Attach the fermentation lock.
• After proudly admiring your first batch of beer, cover the fermenter with a paper sack and place it in a cool spot that won't be disturbed.
• Allow the beer to ferment for 8-14 days.
• Check the specific gravity beginning on day 8, and check each subsequent day until it has not decreased for three days.
• Bottle the beer, and cap it.
• Allow the beer to sit for five days. On the fifth day, go and give each bottle a sharp twist, but don't shake it. You only want to loosen any remaining yeast from the sides of each bottle.
• Let the beer sit for five more days.
• Cool the beer to the desired temperature that you like to drink a cold one at.
• Finally, enjoy the results of your work! Have one!
Again, these are not the complete instructions, just a quick list to go by as you work. You may want to print it out, just to have it handy to remind you of each step along the way.
The following cards will give you more complete instructions on how to accomplish each step, and it is only for your own good to read each one of them quite throroughly. You want to make a good batch the first time out, right?
