After suffering what could be my first lost fermentation, I thought it would be a good idea to put together everything I have read for others just starting out to minimise the chance of sticking. This is from pure forum reading and a little experience so please feel free to put your two pence worth in, for example taste issues that can/do arise from using certain products etc.
1. Sanitise everything to death. I use chempro oxi, its non rise and never leaves a odder or taste.
2. treat your water with campden tablets
3. aerate your wort extremely well (this is something you never see explained in kit instructions)
4. use some 3rd party yeast, these can be picked up for 1.50 and are in most cases of a much higher quality, you always have the lot that came with the kit if it needs a kick start later
5. stick some yeast-vit in there. this is something I have never done so clarification on the taste effects would be nice:o)
6. if using something like a better-bottle give it a good after shake, and stick the airlock on!
Well this is what I have learnt so far that isn't really covered on kit instructions!
perfect ferment .. maybe ..
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nicktherockstar
perfect ferment .. maybe ..
Last edited by nicktherockstar on Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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heeby
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nicktherockstar
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Orkney_Rob
Hmmm - aye, the aeration bit is probably something I didn't do so well! I did pour everything in from a bit of hight though, and kind of threw it about a bit... I thought the fermentation had stuck this morning - not much activity visible and the head has all but collapsed, but after 10 minutes with the lid clipped down it was bulging nicely so there must be something doing in there!