Jim's Beer Kit

love it Timbo! Definitely no piss take from here. There's nothing I like better than seeing a bit of recycling in action. With no offence to those lucky souls that can afford the full shiny, nothing beats the satisfaction of getting your 1st ag brew out of, literally a pile of (repurposed) rubbish. ...

Thanks Orlando, nice to have a simple explanation of what to expect. It's fermenting away now like a good 'un so we'll see how it comes out! And thanks for the positive comments about the build. It really has had to be done on a next-to-nothing budget so it was a relief yesterday after cleaning up t...

Well, I finally got AG1 under my belt. Didn't (obviously) go exactly to plan but I do have a sweet, brown, bitter liquid in my FV beginning to ferment. Yay! Was supposed to be Graham Wheelers clone of Flowers Original, but we'll see how it turns out. Problems encountered: 1.Didn't have a spare flat ...

My guess would be artificial sweeteners causing the hangover, were there any in your concentrate? Before I started brewing my own cider, thanks to everyone on JBK for that, I always got a hangover with any cider that had artificial sweeteners added, never had a hangover with the homebrewed stuff (li...

excellent idea, might try that myself when i get the time

You're quite right the standard control is a bit rough I'm not familiar with your particular Burco but all the ones I've seen use a simmerstat (i think that's what they're called) not a thermostat with a temperature probe. Simmerstats have a small bimetallic strip inside which flexes as it warms, th...

I know what you're saying Chastuck but I've pressure tested the chiller by connecting to the cold supply and blocking the outlet so I'm happy there won't be cross contamination. I'll be emptying the butt during the summer (when I'm not brewing anyway) and I'll get it properly clean then, so hopefull...

1. Has anyone got one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WST-High-Quality-DC-12V-Magnetic-Electric-Centrifugal-Water-Pump-Hotsell-/390535379718?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item5aedb8fb06 I'ts rated as food grade and up to 100c with 3.8m head while the beige solar pumps a lot of people use go ...

stewart, I'd go with the diy route for your first kit and brews, that way if you don't like it or never get the time you've wasted very little. Going cheap and cheerful will mean you pick up on any little niggles with the kit, identifying problems and ways it could be better. That way it means when ...

but with a drop in temperature you'd expect the hydrometer reading to actually increase

Oops! much embarrasment, thanks for that correction jaroporter - got my thoughts completely reversed there, yes it will go up. Please ignore my stupidity everyone
Thanks
lg

Yup I reckon you've cooked that yeast, the drop in gravity will more than likely be down to the reduction in temperature from 39c to 20c not because any fermentation is happening, I think you're doing the right thing by repitching fresh yeast. good luck!
lg

On the subject of cider yeasts - all these are recommended for cider by my (not very) LHBS. I'm tempted by the Lalvin description, not least by the mention of good flocculation, ought to make pouring bottle conditioned cider easier? yeast link: http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Lalvin_EC-...

thanks for the reassurance! Only thinking of using the bitter yeast cos it seems a shame to waste it! I made the first brew using yeast recycled from another bitter and it worked out really well, will try a cider yeast this time then!
cheers
lg

As soon as my Festival Father Hooks Bitter has fermented I intend to start a batch of Lidl A/J based cider using the yeast from the bitter, I like it really dry so am happy to let it ferment out and then want to bottle condition. My question is, If I bottle in brown 1pt beer bottles, and keep it som...

@ Drewsbrews - I'll post when I've made my first brew and checked the foam afterwards
lg