[redrocker652002]

Cider is dead easy compared to beer.  Apple juice and yeast are all you need.

Thats pretty much what I have found out.  My daughter said she would like to try it, so I think something simple to start out with might be kinda fun for us.  RR

[denny]

Cider is dead easy compared to beer.  Apple juice and yeast are all you need.

Thats pretty much what I have found out.  My daughter said she would like to try it, so I think something simple to start out with might be kinda fun for us.  RR

My experience is as you alluded...give it time.  I treat cider more like wine than beer.

[redrocker652002]

As is always with what I do, things just did not work out.  My plan was to bottle about 6 or so, then keg the rest.  The damn bucket was so full of crap the bottle thingie got clogged up and I could not get it unclogged.  So, to hell with it, all went into the keg.  What an absolute mess.  I am so disappointed right now.  I will let it sit in the keg for a week or so and see what happens, but I am not holding hope on this one  I think this was a two week waste of time.  Next time, I put it into a secondary bucket before I dry hop.  Hopefully that will take care of all the crap that was plugging everything up.  I am not very happy at all about this one.  Check back in a week.  RR

[denny]

As is always with what I do, things just did not work out.  My plan was to bottle about 6 or so, then keg the rest.  The damn bucket was so full of crap the bottle thingie got clogged up and I could not get it unclogged.  So, to hell with it, all went into the keg.  What an absolute mess.  I am so disappointed right now.  I will let it sit in the keg for a week or so and see what happens, but I am not holding hope on this one  I think this was a two week waste of time.  Next time, I put it into a secondary bucket before I dry hop.  Hopefully that will take care of all the crap that was plugging everything up.  I am not very happy at all about this one.  Check back in a week.  RR

That might do it, but maybe there's another way to modify your process. Did you dry hop in primary and then try to bottle directly from that?

[redrocker652002]

As is always with what I do, things just did not work out.  My plan was to bottle about 6 or so, then keg the rest.  The damn bucket was so full of crap the bottle thingie got clogged up and I could not get it unclogged.  So, to hell with it, all went into the keg.  What an absolute mess.  I am so disappointed right now.  I will let it sit in the keg for a week or so and see what happens, but I am not holding hope on this one  I think this was a two week waste of time.  Next time, I put it into a secondary bucket before I dry hop.  Hopefully that will take care of all the crap that was plugging everything up.  I am not very happy at all about this one.  Check back in a week.  RR

That might do it, but maybe there's another way to modify your process. Did you dry hop in primary and then try to bottle directly from that?

Yup, that is exactly what I tried to do.  Failed miserably.  LOL. 

[denny]

As is always with what I do, things just did not work out.  My plan was to bottle about 6 or so, then keg the rest.  The damn bucket was so full of crap the bottle thingie got clogged up and I could not get it unclogged.  So, to hell with it, all went into the keg.  What an absolute mess.  I am so disappointed right now.  I will let it sit in the keg for a week or so and see what happens, but I am not holding hope on this one  I think this was a two week waste of time.  Next time, I put it into a secondary bucket before I dry hop.  Hopefully that will take care of all the crap that was plugging everything up.  I am not very happy at all about this one.  Check back in a week.  RR

That might do it, but maybe there's another way to modify your process. Did you dry hop in primary and then try to bottle directly from that?

Yup, that is exactly what I tried to do.  Failed miserably.  LOL.

Yeah, not a good plan IMO. I would have racked to a bottling bucket first.  That way you could siphon and get get all the grub.  You'll likely need to do that even if you use a secondary, so doing it from primary to a bottling bucket would be one less xfer.

[redrocker652002]

As is always with what I do, things just did not work out.  My plan was to bottle about 6 or so, then keg the rest.  The damn bucket was so full of crap the bottle thingie got clogged up and I could not get it unclogged.  So, to hell with it, all went into the keg.  What an absolute mess.  I am so disappointed right now.  I will let it sit in the keg for a week or so and see what happens, but I am not holding hope on this one  I think this was a two week waste of time.  Next time, I put it into a secondary bucket before I dry hop.  Hopefully that will take care of all the crap that was plugging everything up.  I am not very happy at all about this one.  Check back in a week.  RR

That might do it, but maybe there's another way to modify your process. Did you dry hop in primary and then try to bottle directly from that?

Yup, that is exactly what I tried to do.  Failed miserably.  LOL.

Yeah, not a good plan IMO. I would have racked to a bottling bucket first.  That way you could siphon and get get all the grub.  You'll likely need to do that even if you use a secondary, so doing it from primary to a bottling bucket would be one less xfer.

Oh well.   Live and learn.  I just hope it comes out OK out of the keg.  Then at least I don't feel like I wasted my time and money. 

[Richard]

You could also put your dry hops in a bag or a stainless mesh tube or ball to keep them contained (that will reduce their utilization, though). I do that if I have a lot, but for smaller amounts I can get by with just a cold crash for 3 days or so to settle everything into a compact layer that leaves the liquid above clear enough to transfer with no plugging.

As you said, live and learn. There are a lot of solutions and you just need to find what works for you.

[MNWayne]

Maybe the bottles didn't turn out, but I'm sure the keg will be fine.  Maybe containing the hops would be helpful, or switching to whole hops. Maybe just a process change, siphon from a pick-up above the sludge. Personally I would avoid the secondary.

[redrocker652002]

Keg has been in the Kegerator since Friday and the temp in the chamber is about 35 or so.  Carbonation is at about 10PSI.  I could not resist, I have to take a taste.  Came out of the tap a bit cold, maybe about 40, which I will deal with later.  In the glass, very hazy, but I expected that due to the screw up I had with all the hop material.  Smell was good, very bright and clean smelling, if that makes sense.  OK, down the hatch as they say.  I gotta say, it is not bad.  I have to get a bottle of the real stuff, but this is drinkable, much to my surprise.  I think it may be a bit darker than the real deal, but that I can live with.  Needs  bit more bubbles, so I upped the carb to 12 PSI and turned up the temp in the Kegerator to get the dispensing temp closer to 45 or so, but I am happy with how it turned out so far.  And give it another week or so and it might just be better yet. 

Thanks to all who contributed and gave me their input.  It is all very valuable for me to learn and hear different sides.  Take care, and happy drinking.  RR

[santoch]

You should use a carbonation chart so you don't end up with glasses full of foam or under carbonated beer.

In your case, warming it up to 45 and using 12 psi will actually produce LESS dissolved CO2 (and less fizz) than leaving it at 10 psi @ 40.
If you really want it at 45 with a bit more fizz, you will need to boost the pressure to 14 or 15 psi.  2.5 volumes is a decent carbonation level for an IPA.

https://www.kegerators.com/carbonation-table/

Hope this helps-

[santoch]

just re-read your post.  You had your temp set at 35 and pressure at 10 for 3 days, correct?
Your beer hadn't fully carbonated by last monday.  Turning the temp up didn't help either, as it takes a lot more pressure at the higher temp to hit the same level of dissolved C02.

If you are simply leaving it alone, at serving temp and pressure, it takes about a week or so.  You can speed it up a bit by overpressuring for a short time (like 20psi overnight, then back it off to temp), but regardless, your beer needed more time to absorb the CO2.

Again, 2.5 volumes is a good level for an IPA, use the chart to set it up first, then if you don't like the carbonation, you can add more pressure, or bleed off the co2 and decrease pressure until you are happy with it.  Pick a temp you like and stick with that, too.  The fewer variables, the easier it becomes.

[redrocker652002]

just re-read your post.  You had your temp set at 35 and pressure at 10 for 3 days, correct?
Your beer hadn't fully carbonated by last monday.  Turning the temp up didn't help either, as it takes a lot more pressure at the higher temp to hit the same level of dissolved C02.

If you are simply leaving it alone, at serving temp and pressure, it takes about a week or so.  You can speed it up a bit by overpressuring for a short time (like 20psi overnight, then back it off to temp), but regardless, your beer needed more time to absorb the CO2.

Again, 2.5 volumes is a good level for an IPA, use the chart to set it up first, then if you don't like the carbonation, you can add more pressure, or bleed off the co2 and decrease pressure until you are happy with it.  Pick a temp you like and stick with that, too.  The fewer variables, the easier it becomes.

Thanks for the info, funny thing is that is exactly what I did.  I turned it up to about 20 overnight, then later the next afternoon I checked it and it hit just about where I like it.  Might have been a bit too much, but it settled down nicely when I turned it down to 12 or so.  Thank you for the info, and thanks for the chart.  I am going to print it and use it for info as I am planning on branching out to different styles in the future.  Rock on!!  RR

[redrocker652002]

Final Final on this one, I hope.  LOL.  My brother, who is not a hop head in any way, tried my beer that has been in the keg now for a couple of weeks.  He said, and I kinda agree now that I am finally thinking about it, it has a caramel finish to it to him.  I am wondering if that is what I am tasting and why that might be.   Here is the recipe sheet that came with the kit. 

https://austinhomebrew.com/assets/images/RCPPDF/09164.pdf

But, after he said it, I kinda agree that there is a bit of a caramel finish that isn't bad, just not what I was expecting.  RR

[denny]

Final Final on this one, I hope.  LOL.  My brother, who is not a hop head in any way, tried my beer that has been in the keg now for a couple of weeks.  He said, and I kinda agree now that I am finally thinking about it, it has a caramel finish to it to him.  I am wondering if that is what I am tasting and why that might be.   Here is the recipe sheet that came with the kit. 

https://austinhomebrew.com/assets/images/RCPPDF/09164.pdf

But, after he said it, I kinda agree that there is a bit of a caramel finish that isn't bad, just not what I was expecting.  RR

Could be old, oxidized LME. Exaggerated caramel flavors are one sign of oxidation.