What NOT to do

Martin the fish · Post by **Martin the fish** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:27 pm

I've done a few beer kits and am happy with the results but i'd like to be able to make a beer that i particularly like. After some research and study of this site AG seems to be the way to go. That's all well and good but...
What would you NOT do again. I've heard loads of advice as to do this, do that. But what are the big NO's. What stuff have you bought that didn't work. Not interested in what did work just what didn't. What techniques did you try to no avail?

Cheers in advance

Bryggmester · Post by **Bryggmester** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:33 pm

The only real disasters I have had when brewing is during the summer when the temperature in the FV rises so much that the off flavours which ensue mean that the best thing to do with the brew is pour it away

I have stopped brewing in the summer for this reason, but if you have the space you can ferment in a fridge with a suitable thermostat.

johnmac · Post by **johnmac** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:18 pm

Don't get a five gallon brewery if you have even the slightest feeling that you'd rather have ten gallons of ale for your six hours of work, otherwise you'll end up upgrading. And you cal always brew five gall with your ten gall brewery if you ever want to.

PaulC · Post by **PaulC** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:46 pm

I wouldn't trust the calibrations on things like fermenting buckets. It'll be a pain in the begining but get an accurate one or two litre container and mark off all your fermenters etc. with that.

ColinKeb · Post by **ColinKeb** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:01 pm

never take it too seriously , dont worry too much about weights and measures if all you want is good beer, have fun and relax.

Mashman · Post by **Mashman** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:44 pm

DaaB wrote:
Don't forget to make sure any taps on your vessels are secure and shut before filling them...you will do it.

Oh yes, let us know when.

Grot · Post by **Grot** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:54 pm

DaaB wrote: Don't turn your back on the boil until the vigorous foamy stage has passed

Truer words you'll never hear

You won't believe how sticky wort is until you start scrubbing it up off the floor.

Barley Water · Post by **Barley Water** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:32 pm

The phrase "relax and have a homebrew" does not mean that you should sample the fruits of you labors while in the middle of brewing. Hot liquids and electricity (and in my case propane) demand some respect and it's best to do your relaxing after the completion of the brewing session.

Henrys · Post by **Henrys** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:45 pm

I second that. In particular, if you are brewing indoors, don't brew in bare feet, socks or slippers ! One time a few years ago a sparge line snaked out of my hot liquor tank and emptied 78C water on my foot

Gurgeh · Post by **Gurgeh** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:16 pm

DO NOT follow the instructions that come with a bruheat boiler! better still avoid getting one and seek an alternative instead.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:25 pm

I'd add a philosophical one to the good advice above: don't think you can't brew excellent beers with basic kit.

erebus · Post by **erebus** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:36 pm

Gurgeh wrote:DO NOT follow the instructions that come with a bruheat boiler! better still avoid getting one and seek an alternative instead.

There are instructions for this thing? What more do you need other than, "fill with water, switch on"?
On a related note when buying a boiler/HLT you can get them either with a theromstat or without. Places seem to charge an extra Ã‚Â£30 per thermostat/element, and it's not really worth the extra money.
Read up on batch sparging at Daab's site here and his calculator here if you're going down that route. Write down the figures for when you do your first brew rather than just "winging" it.
If you're planning on bottling, there's about a Ã‚Â£10 difference between a hand capper and a stand capper, buy the stand capper otherwise you'll regret it later when you find you've got a stack of weird bottles that the hand one won't work with.
If you get a digital thermometer, don't let the probe wire get wet.
Cleaning/steralising. Very important, you don't want you hard work to get thrown down the sink because you forgot to rinse properly.

Lastly, and most importantly. Relax and have fun. Oh and post photos when you start your brew day thread.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:57 pm

DaaB wrote: Award winning beers have been made with the most basic of all grain kit.

That's what I said

steve_flack · Post by **steve_flack** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 5:36 pm

Barley Water wrote:The phrase "relax and have a homebrew" does not mean that you should sample the fruits of you labors while in the middle of brewing. Hot liquids and electricity (and in my case propane) demand some respect and it's best to do your relaxing after the completion of the brewing session.

Useful tip - especially as I brew very early and I'd be p*ssed before sunrise...

Things - I've learnt.

Beer wants to be made and you can do it on very basic kit. Expensive stuff just makes it easier. If it goes wrong you'll probably end up with something drinkable...maybe not what you aimed for but it will be better than 75% of the stuff in pubs.

Those taps on homebrew boilers will leak. Replace with a half decent ballvalve or washing machine tap.

Garth · Post by **Garth** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:25 pm

one thing I've learnt, don't leave all the cleaning up until you've finished,

I don't know about you but once that yeast is pitched I just wanna sit down with either a cuppa or a beer, I just can't be arsed at that stage to clean anything

clean as you go, ie: once the wort's out of the tun into the boiler - empty, clean and dry the tun etc

I love brewing but hate the cleaning bit, it makes my brewday easier doing the mopping up as it happens

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What NOT to do

What NOT to do