Hi all this is my second post, first being to say hello to you all, good start I hope, well I purchased these items from hop and grape and well after many long hours of reading this forum I am now and ready to brew,.. well at least try. !
The advice I am after is what would you do with these ingredients and what kits would you do first ? (as I plan to bottle one kit) please.
My purchases are as follows:
SAAZ HOPS
MUNTONS - BEER ENHANCER
GLUCOSE BREWING SUGAR - 2 Kilo
Muntons LIGHT SPRAY MALT - 500grms
KING KEG BARREL - TOP TAP
HOP & GRAPE QUALITY BEER STARTER KIT Fitted with a LITTLE BOTTLER
COOPERS EUROPEAN LAGER (Prev. called BAVARIAN LAGER)
oh yes I got a burpaks pride of yorkshire special lager with the above beer starter kit, has two tins in it.
I was reading the instructions for the burpak and the coopers I think I can make then ok but any help in recipe ideas would be great please.
I hope this above question hasn't been asked several thousand times before but the eagerness to get going is like a child on xmas eve.
thank you all,
gina
where to start ? recipe ideas for beginners
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likesbeer
To get the ball started with answers here is my opinion. However, cautionary note I've never done a larger and not a big fan of the stuff.
Oh! and welcome to the forum
As a first go I would just follow the instructions, have a read of the kit brewing guide (from the menu's top right of the page) there very good. The two can kit wont need any additional sugars (I think), and for the others I would use the malt to the required amount usually 1kg. Just brewing sugar leaves it tasting a bit thin (aparently though I've never tried it).
With the hops it depend how hoppy you like it, you could use 20 or 30g to make a tea and add in or a similar amount and dry hop half way through fermenting. Some people dry hop in the keg but if left to long can add a grassy taste aparently.
Not much of a suggestion really, but hope it helps, get stuck in I'm sure you'll enjoy and the kid a xmas bit doesnt wear off (or it hasnt yet
)
Oh! and welcome to the forum
As a first go I would just follow the instructions, have a read of the kit brewing guide (from the menu's top right of the page) there very good. The two can kit wont need any additional sugars (I think), and for the others I would use the malt to the required amount usually 1kg. Just brewing sugar leaves it tasting a bit thin (aparently though I've never tried it).
With the hops it depend how hoppy you like it, you could use 20 or 30g to make a tea and add in or a similar amount and dry hop half way through fermenting. Some people dry hop in the keg but if left to long can add a grassy taste aparently.
Not much of a suggestion really, but hope it helps, get stuck in I'm sure you'll enjoy and the kid a xmas bit doesnt wear off (or it hasnt yet
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gina1234
thank you likesbeer, I shall study at great length the forum for further information.
Or just wing it usual, nah only joking I have a few ideas as yet, I will try 30g of hops in the tin at the start (boiling up section for the pride of yorkshire),.. the dry adding hops to the keg part i'll keep for another day, until I get a few brews under my belt.
However I fancy the malt on its own to the coopers brew, no sugar.
again thank you very much.
gina
Or just wing it usual, nah only joking I have a few ideas as yet, I will try 30g of hops in the tin at the start (boiling up section for the pride of yorkshire),.. the dry adding hops to the keg part i'll keep for another day, until I get a few brews under my belt.
However I fancy the malt on its own to the coopers brew, no sugar.
again thank you very much.
gina
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sparky Paul
Sounds good!gina1234 wrote:Or just wing it usual, nah only joking I have a few ideas as yet, I will try 30g of hops in the tin at the start (boiling up section for the pride of yorkshire),.. the dry adding hops to the keg part i'll keep for another day, until I get a few brews under my belt.
However I fancy the malt on its own to the coopers brew, no sugar.
There's plenty of lager related threads in the kit section, there are lots of different methods you can try if you want to make improvements to the base kit. There's lots to read if you have the time!
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gullarm
The lager kit will brew out quite quick in the house.
So I would start it in the house then the next day when you have action in the airlock put it outside somewhere cool, shed or garage.
If you look on the bbc website you can get the average temp for the week then work from there, perhaps wrapping it up it a bit.
I use a wireless thermometer so I can see what the temp is in my shed max and min over the day.
I tend to find when I get back from work the airlock is bubbling every 10-12 secs, but in the morning it isnt doing anything, not that I can see anyway.
Using this method took me around 3 1/2 weeks, and the lager was really good.
So I would start it in the house then the next day when you have action in the airlock put it outside somewhere cool, shed or garage.
If you look on the bbc website you can get the average temp for the week then work from there, perhaps wrapping it up it a bit.
I use a wireless thermometer so I can see what the temp is in my shed max and min over the day.
I tend to find when I get back from work the airlock is bubbling every 10-12 secs, but in the morning it isnt doing anything, not that I can see anyway.
Using this method took me around 3 1/2 weeks, and the lager was really good.
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gina1234
Hi and thanks gullarm,
I bought a 80 litre bin today from BQ and well I hope to place the fermenter bucket into this bin (checked already and it fits,.. happydays !!) surrond with water and use a fish thermometer to keep a constant temp, but your info on the bbc website was great advice I currently live in belfast always cold and wet here.
I plan to use asda bottle water (17p) on a pride of yorkshire 3kg kit and with no added sugar or spraymalt just the enclosed hops. then into bottles.
So i hope to have some beer ready to drink for the other half before nov 08.
only time will tell.
thanks again gullarm
gina
I bought a 80 litre bin today from BQ and well I hope to place the fermenter bucket into this bin (checked already and it fits,.. happydays !!) surrond with water and use a fish thermometer to keep a constant temp, but your info on the bbc website was great advice I currently live in belfast always cold and wet here.
I plan to use asda bottle water (17p) on a pride of yorkshire 3kg kit and with no added sugar or spraymalt just the enclosed hops. then into bottles.
So i hope to have some beer ready to drink for the other half before nov 08.
only time will tell.
thanks again gullarm
gina
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likesbeer
Good luck and happy brewing, lucky other half, my other half doesnt brew for me just drinks the results........thats probably a little unfair as she does usually clean everything.........something to do with me not able to clean 
If you start now bet you dont last till Nov to try it out
If you have a second FV get a little bottler attachment for the tap bottling from a bucket is much easier than trying to syphon into each bottle, just used mine the first time this weekend and its far better.
If you start now bet you dont last till Nov to try it out
If you have a second FV get a little bottler attachment for the tap bottling from a bucket is much easier than trying to syphon into each bottle, just used mine the first time this weekend and its far better.
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gina1234
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gullarm
I tried the 2 litre PET bottles and found the results to be mixed. Not sure if you are going to re use the bottles.
The yeast tends to lift when you open the bottle and you have to pour into another container like a jug.
I got most of my bottles from friends at work and also bought a few from bargain booze, soon emptied them!
The yeast tends to lift when you open the bottle and you have to pour into another container like a jug.
I got most of my bottles from friends at work and also bought a few from bargain booze, soon emptied them!
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sparky Paul
I use 2L PETs almost exclusively, they work out okay for me. They certainly aren't perfect, but there is a knack to using them.gullarm wrote:I tried the 2 litre PET bottles and found the results to be mixed. Not sure if you are going to re use the bottles.
The yeast tends to lift when you open the bottle and you have to pour into another container like a jug.
Try not to over prime bottles, and use Safale yeast if possible, it makes a very flocculant sediment - it tends to stick together. Also, try to leave the bottles undisturbed until the sediment fixes better to the bottom.
I always decant in one go into a plastic fruit juice pitcher - the type with a sealed lid with a rotary valve closure and a spout.
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BrewBob
Hi Gina,
I like the Pride of Yorkshire Special Lager and have one fermenting in the garage at the moment... well it finished fermenting a couple of days ago. I leave this one in the fermenter for 2 weeks, it is usually done by day 10 fermenting at between 12 and 14 c.
I do it by the basic instructions included. Dump both tins in the fermenter and then rinse tins out with boiling water. Using one tin to steep the hop tea bag for 15 mins before removing and tipping the liquid into the fermenter.
Lots of brisk stirring to get some air in while I fill up with cold water. As you have two tins to rinse out with boiling water, the temperature can sometimes still be a little on the warm side after adding the cold water.
I have also done similar to what you intend to do and put the fermenter in a bath of water (I use an old baby bath) with the fish tank type heater in the bath to stop the temperature from dropping too low.
A proper Lager yeast is included in the kit and it works really well. I do get a very slight hint of bad eggs during fermentation (which is expected with a lager yeast) and sometime a slightly sharp or acidic smell. It has always turned out to be an excellent brew.
I have found the Pride of Yorkshire Special Lager perfectly drinkable after a week in the bottles although at this stage it will taste really fruity.
After three weeks in the bottles somewhere cool the strong fruity taste subsides and you will not be able to keep your hands off it. Give it as long as you can to condition, mine will be gone before I can get another batch on fermenting.
I like the Pride of Yorkshire Special Lager and have one fermenting in the garage at the moment... well it finished fermenting a couple of days ago. I leave this one in the fermenter for 2 weeks, it is usually done by day 10 fermenting at between 12 and 14 c.
I do it by the basic instructions included. Dump both tins in the fermenter and then rinse tins out with boiling water. Using one tin to steep the hop tea bag for 15 mins before removing and tipping the liquid into the fermenter.
Lots of brisk stirring to get some air in while I fill up with cold water. As you have two tins to rinse out with boiling water, the temperature can sometimes still be a little on the warm side after adding the cold water.
I have also done similar to what you intend to do and put the fermenter in a bath of water (I use an old baby bath) with the fish tank type heater in the bath to stop the temperature from dropping too low.
A proper Lager yeast is included in the kit and it works really well. I do get a very slight hint of bad eggs during fermentation (which is expected with a lager yeast) and sometime a slightly sharp or acidic smell. It has always turned out to be an excellent brew.
I have found the Pride of Yorkshire Special Lager perfectly drinkable after a week in the bottles although at this stage it will taste really fruity.
After three weeks in the bottles somewhere cool the strong fruity taste subsides and you will not be able to keep your hands off it. Give it as long as you can to condition, mine will be gone before I can get another batch on fermenting.