Muntons Winter Warmer with pics part 1 fermenting

[Weejock]

This is my 5th kit brew, still learning. Comments by beginners and experienced welcomed.

How I brewed a Munton's Winter Warmer;

First off, I have a Wilko's fermenting barrel, I want to fit a tap to it to make racking a bit easier...


As advised by other posts, a 25mm flat bit...


Nice clean hole with cut-out...


Fix the tap to the barrel...


Fill up to the brim with water to test...


I'm watching the seal like a hawk for the smallest sign of a leak...


Next, scrub the sink area clean...


All clean!


All equipment laid out ready to sanitize...


Am using 5l mineral water to mix the sanitizer in batches...


Mix each batch...


And pour into barrel...


Meanwhile, start to heat some water...


After 1/2 hour, transfer the sanitizibg solution to a food-grade bucket...


And place in it all other items to be used; spoons, airlock, lids, sealing rings etc.;


Everthing sanitized, rinsed, drained and dried...


Fill a kettle with water, in my case I am using mineral water as the tap water is full of chloramines...


Place the kit cans in the heated water, as you can see the missus has returned (thought I had the place to myself) and started on dinner..


Get the temperature up to at least 90c, don't want boil as may split the kit cans...


and pop the tin opener into th the pot to sanitize...


Open the tins and pour into the fermenting vessel...


Use the boiled kettle water to rinse out the cans...


Stir up the remaining extract...


and pour into the FV; notice the oven gloves, hot!


Next start the yeast off, boiled and cooled water at 30c...


I've taken to using Munton's yeast, I find that it does not "stall" and flocculates very well (settles to the bottom)...


Yeast tipped into water...


covered with plate...


Next, the FV with the kit ingredients and boiling water are place in final position, - too heavy to lift after filling...


and the water filling begins...





Before adding the yeast, don't forget to take a hydrometer reading, this one is 1.055 O.G.


Yeast is ready...


Pitching the yeast...


Yummy beer to be...


Lid on tight, 12 hours later...Bubbles!


Next to follow... Racking the brew. If you got this far don't forget to reward yourself with a beer!

[sargie]

Great post m8 will be very usefull to allot of people that.

[lukesharpe]

Excellent post. We like to see the Brew Pr0n!

You're wife much love when you brew, that sink was sparkling! Must admit I'm not quite as fastidious when it comes to cleaning.

[6470zzy]

That was a great chronicle of your brewing, I really like the photographs. What are you aiming at for a final gravity?

Cheers

[Weejock]

The kit reckons 5.5%abv so any final gravity of 1.014 or below should be good. See http://www.rooftopbrew.net/abv_calculator.php

[Gepa]

great pic's of your brewing process

[Weejock]

Day 9, still bubbling!

SG 1.020, guess it is still fermenting. Is it normal to ferment this long?

[EoinMag]

Day 9, still bubbling!

SG 1.020, guess it is still fermenting. Is it normal to ferment this long?

1.020 seems to be a FG that Muntons yeasts like.

[Nobby Novice]

Great pics. Where do you get those stick on thermometers from ?

[moobli]

they look like the aquarium type so try an aquarist or pet shop

[Weejock]

Great pics. Where do you get those stick on thermometers from ?

They are identical to the aquarium stick-ons. I got mine from www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk I think arouns 60p each.

[The Home Brew Shop]

The LCD thermometers ( 100127 ) are £1.38 each
and the White pen waterproof thermometer ( 101945 ) is £11.96

[DrGonz00]

Great post mate

I brewed Winter warmer a month ago. Couldnt get the SG below 1020.
I tried rousing, adding Yeast Vit I even added extra yeast,left it for 20 days still wouldnt budge.

I've now bottled it and am gonna leave it till xmas

What was your SG before you bottled and have you tasted it yet?

[Weejock]

Eventually down to 1.016. Seememed to bubble for ages (10 days). Did taste it on bottling, tasted wonderful! looking forward to the finished product, will probably leave until the end of the year.