We brewed today, Dec. 14.
We had a couple of minor first-time-doing-it problems, and had to run out to the store to get a big pot, but it seems as though it'll turn out fantastic. Especially since Chris, our resident expert homebrewer, was there (with good beer!). I think we might've just blown up Chuck's kitchen if he weren't there.
The brew is sitting in Chuck's basement now covered up so there won't be any light getting to it (rumor has it that light makes it bitter).
We're going to get together again probably next weekend to transfer it into the secondary fermenter, which will get out some of the sludge so that when we bottle it the sludge won't go into the bottles. It's a fun little process that involves siphoning the beer out of the first fermenter and into the second. So look out for another e-mail announcing the date. We're not quite sure when yet because the beer is the only one who gets to decide when it's done fermenting. Anyways, so after transferring it (racking it over?) then we bottle it and let it sit in the bottles for 6-8 weeks, and then we throw a big back-to-school party and get drunk and raise a little money to cover costs (it actually doesn't seem like we'll make any donation money at this first party since we'll make just enough to pay me back for the first kit and to buy a second one). But 
Brew Not Bombs Baltimore will be there with their cider and so they'll be making money for a TBA good cause, and once we get the hang of the brewing thing then we can stop buying bag kits and start doing our own mashes which will save us a decent amount of money.
Chuck's going to check on our brew tomorrow night and send us an e-mail about whether or not he sees signs of fermentation [Dec. 15 update: Chuck says it's fermenting!]. It's an amber ale, which I think is something everyone will like. Not too light, not too dark.
Kristin.
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