First attempts: Help!

[ade1865]

Hi, I'm new to this lark, and experienceing a few problems to say the least.

Basically I bought the all in 1 barrel kit with Woodforde's Wherry. followed the instructions but it never cleared. Well not until I forgot about it for a few months and drained it out to start again! Then it had cleared

So now I'm on my 2nd attempt, with their Admiral's Return or some such, and a fermentation bin etc. Now, both brews smelt very yeasty. does this mean anything, or is it mormal? My latest brew, well I think I put in far! too much sugar, cos its a tad lively to say the least. Is this going to be a problem? Its not cleared yet either, after 2 weeks in the kingkeg.

I know I'm going to be making a lot of mistakes early on, so i'm not expecting great results first time, but i knew nothing about stuck fermentation for example, so I may be making some very basic errors that I don't know about.

Sorry, bit of a ramble I know, but hope someone can shed some light on the matter, esp how to reduce the livelyness of the brew, or whether it matters?

Cheers

Ade

[Hoppkins]

Im assuming your using Admirals Reserve. If this is the case it does not require any additional sugars.

A yeasty smell doesnt sound out of the ordinary.

With your first kit did you brew in a fermentation bin then transfer to a keg? After 2 weeks in the king keg i wouldnt be shocked it hasnt cleared.

My admirals reserve was clear by that time but i had left it an extra week in the fermentation bin to let more sediment drop out.

How long did you leave in the fermentation before you transferred to the king keg?

[ade1865]

It was in the fermentation bin for 4 days, until the gravity went down to 1.020. Then transferred to kingkeg. Added sugar as a primer, is that right? Also, used normal sugar

So I should just wait a while. Patience never was my strong point!

the first kit was done all in the pressure barrel, no fermetation bin.

On another note, you say you left yours in the fermentation bin longer. Basically, should the fermetation have completely ceased before I think about transferring the brew to the keg? Only asking as I was advised to keep a close eye on the gravity, 'cos you don't want to miss when it's ready.' So when it hit 1.020, I syphoned it off.

[Andy]

Only asking as I was advised to keep a close eye on the gravity, 'cos you don't want to miss when it's ready.' So when it hit 1.020, I syphoned it off.

Not great advice. You can leave the beer in the fermenter for a couple of weeks as long as it's covered or under airlock. Transferring at 1.020 is too early really as fermentation hasn't finished at that gravity.

[Hoppkins]

You should wait until the gravity is the same value for 2-3 days running. Usually woodfordes kits will go down to 1.010-1.014.

Best way is to check the gravity, then 2 days later check it again. If it's exactly the same then its ready. 1.020 doesn't sound ready enough to me.

Brewing totally in a keg wont give great results compared to seperate bin. The reason is the crap created by the yeast reaction settles out mostly in the fermentation bin so you are just syphoning mostly clear liqour into the keg.

Due to secondary fermentation there will be some crap left in the keg but it will be minimal compared to just doing in one vessel.

[ade1865]

Many thanks for the advice.

I'll see how this one pans out, and get another batch going soon.

I think the kit said to transfer at 1.020, but I threw out the box, so I may have misread it. Never mind, it's all part of the learning curve

If it hasn't fermented enough will it just be weak, or will there be other problems?

[Hoppkins]

If it hasn't fermented down totally and you were to bottle it there is a slight chance of making bottle bombs i guess. If it is still fermenting in the bottle for a while it might cause too much pressure to build.

If kegged i guess it would just taste quite sweet and be rather weak.

[fivetide]

I don't know what others think, but I reckon your best bet now is to leave that one somewhere cold for at least 3-4 weeks and forget about it while you concentrate on a new one. It may come out drinkable, if a little sweet, if you're lucky.

I am new too, and would highly recommend you follow Jim's advice on how to homebrew from kits:

http://www.18000feet.com/how/H2HB2.htm

This forum is completely invaluable too, imho.

You can't be too careful about sterilising, you can't overdo the wort aeration, and patience is a virtue. I was allright on the first of these two...

Jim's guideline of 10 days in the fermenting bin, another 5-7 days in the keg in the same location (18-20 degreees) then 3 weeks in a cooler place seems to do the trick for anyone that sticks to the advice.

[ade1865]

Well having poured off abit into a jug and left it since 9 this morning it has cleared, and doesn't taste at all bad. Is there any way of finding out how strong it is? Other than finding out how many pints it takes to fall over?

according to the hydromteter, it went from 1050 to 1020, which makes it 4%. That all sounds too easy to me...

[Hoppkins]

1.050!

Thats a pretty high gravity for admirals reserve!

If it tastes good thats all that matters. Next time i would follow Daabs explanation for making a kit up. You cant go wrong with his guide.

[ade1865]

well I could well have been reading it wrong! One thing is for sure, the next batch will definately be better. when I say it tastes alright, its certainly lacking in body, but is certainly drinkeable.

Cheers again for the input.

[Jim]

Hi Ade, the beer will continue to ferment until it reaches it's final gravity, even though you've transferred it to a keg. The only problem you have is that it will probably blow off CO2 through the pressure relief valve and you will be left with a thicker than usual yeast deposit in the barrel, which could cause clarity/flavour problems in the unlikely event that the beer doesn't get used quickly .

Just leave it for another 3 or 4 weeks and in all probability it will be fine.

[mst3k]

So I should just wait a while. Patience never was my strong point!

Hi there Ade

Same as me but you have to learn to wait, as they say the "best things come to...... etc etc etc",

It's true tho, home brew gets a whole lot better the longer you wait, I learnt the hard way by empting 2 brews into Davy Jones' Locker! I did keep a bottle back from the 2nd brew to see what would happen and it cleared and tasted fine after time! Doh!!
O well, prob made gr8 fish food to

Have fun, wait and don't panic

[ade1865]

I shall endevour to restrain myself.