First time brew faux pas!

[Michmich]

Hi Guys, I'm in need of some serious help here, This is my first time brew, it's a Woodforde's Norfolk Ale: The Primary fermentation bubbled away for about 4 days but I left it for 6, firstly is this bad? Secondly, I have just transfered the beer in to the pressure barrel, before I did that, I added the sugar to the PRIMARY fermentation vessel and stired it up in that..... (Are you all screaming in horror..?) and then read the instructions that said to add it to the barrel so as not to disturb the yeast... Have I ruined it..? Can it be saved...? Also, When do I screw in the co2 canister.....?

[scottmoss]

Hi Guys, I'm in need of some serious help here, This is my first time brew, it's a Woodforde's Norfolk Ale: The Primary fermentation bubbled away for about 4 days but I left it for 6, firstly is this bad? Secondly, I have just transfered the beer in to the pressure barrel, before I did that, I added the sugar to the PRIMARY fermentation vessel and stired it up in that..... (Are you all screaming in horror..?) and then read the instructions that said to add it to the barrel so as not to disturb the yeast... Have I ruined it..? Can it be saved...? Also, When do I screw in the co2 canister.....?

Hi,

No you have not ruined it. Most people leave it in the primary fermentor for around 10 days so leaving it for 6 days is totally fine. You should try and not disturb the yeast and also try and not stir it hard (prevent as much oxygen getting into the beer). As you have stired it up it will just take longer to clear.

You need to now leave it in the pressure barrel for 2-3 days in a warm place to allow secondary fermentation.

You only need to add the co2 when you start to drink the beer and it starts to trickle out of the tap (try and no let it trickle out too much as this could suck up air!)

So stop panicking and enjoy your new beer when its cleared!

[Michmich]

"FEW"!! Thanks so much!! Really appreciate that- Thought I'd ruined it..

[OldSpeckledBadger]

What you should really be worried about is that you haven't used a hydrometer to check that fermentation has finished. My guess would be that after only 6 days it hasn't. You'll probably get away with it because the keg has a pressure release valve but had you bottled you'd be in danger of bottle bombs in a few weeks time.

[Michmich]

OOW!! That sounds bad! I was under the impression that once the froth head bit had died off the beer was done, I do have one of those Hydrometer things, I just didn't think I needed to use it, So it is always best to check-thats good to know. Thanks for the tip..

[fractureman]

Mich you should be Ok but is always good to check you have steady readings on your hydrometer over 2 or so days. I serilize mine & leave in the wort from taking the Starting Gravity until it has fermented out Final Gravity

[OldSpeckledBadger]

OOW!! That sounds bad! I was under the impression that once the froth head bit had died off the beer was done,

Generally the froth will sink down after 2 or 3 days. Finishing gravity (FG) probably won't be reached until at least the 6th day and maybe longer than that. I generally find that 7 or 8 days is about right although I did do one kit which took 13 days to hit FG. The easy way to use the hydrometer is to wait until about day 5, when most of the bubbles will have died down, sanitise it, rinse it and put it the FV. Then leave it there until the brew has finished. All you'll need to do is take a quick peek at the reading once a day and when the gravity has read the same two days running it's done.

[scottmoss]

Mich you can also estimate the % of alcohol by using the hydrometer using the orginal reading and the final reading.

[KevP]

Dont fret matey, brewing isn't/or doesn't have to be the insane science one can make it, its generally quite happy looking after itself and is usually quite forgiving of minor faux pas.

[Michmich]

I'm gonna start on a recipe for flavored tea beer next so will make sure I use the hydrometer thingy then as would be useful to know the % THANKS GUYS xx

[scottmoss]

I'm gonna start on a recipe for flavored tea beer next so will make sure I use the hydrometer thingy then as would be useful to know the % THANKS GUYS xx

No problem the calculation is:-

Original Hydrometer reading – Final Hydrometer reading = (XXXX)

(XXXX) Divided by 7.36 = % Alc. Vol.

Add 0.5% to allow for alcohol produced from the priming sugar and you will have your overall % Alc. Vol.

Ie: 1038 - 1006 = 32

32 divided by 7.36 = 4.35 %

4.35% + .5% = 4.85% (Alc. Vol.)