What shall I do now?

[AlexCricket]

The keg holding my maiden brew has been in the cellar a week. While I was not expecting much I took a sneeky snifter last night - and was disappointed. I have brewed a Brupacks Colne Valley and I had hell with the fermentation finally getting it down to 1.012 after 2 weeks and then kegging. I seemed to get good pressure during secondary BUT when I opened the tap last night it was not gushing out so not under a lot of pressure. I have a HB Rotokeg and I wonder whether part of the problem is that with this keg there is a lot of headspace. I think that I will inject some CO2 to top it up and keep conditioning but any other advice is welcome.

So after all the trouble I've had fermenting and now the flatness I feel that the only way for me to keep my enthusiasm for this homebrew game is to get another kit on and soon. I have a Coopers Stout - bought mainly on the basis of Ditch - but I'm not sure that I fancy a Stout quite yet with summer around the corner.

So - What kit should I choose?
I thought about Woodforde's but following my previous fermentation think I might steer clear.
I am tempted by a Coopers Real Ale as I feel that this would give me a result
Have also looked at Burton Bridge Summer Ale - has anyone tried this, is it any good
Also tempted by the sound of York Breweries Stonewall - again anyone tried

I am going to bottle my next brew and have collected the bottles but as I am going to have to lay out for a bottling bucket, crown capper and caps I am keen to have a real 'success' to placate SWMBO at my investment.

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE SWMBO has had a wine kit in a fermenter and has had it in the cellar for 3 days and it has dropped beautifully clear and is tasting superb!!!!

[gaztop]

I'm in exactly the same position as you.
Just done my first brew, which is getting bottled on Friday.

I've asked the experienced brewers on here and I have now opted for a Brupaks Brewers Choice kit.
They are meant to be excellent.

Hope your second brew goes smoother

[Ady1975]

I've just put my Coopers Real Ale in a barrel and obviously had to test it to make sure it was ok.
It's absolutely delicious, I'm really looking forward to drinking it in a few weeks time. to be honest I could quite happily drink it now
i'd happily recommend it.
Cheers

FYI, I used BKE and added 100g of demerara for a little extra 'spice'. the ale is a lovely dark colour (darker than the pic on the tin) and just tastes...er... kind of fruity I suppose, it dances on the tongue a bit and feels reaaly refreshing, It does not seem very bitter at all, I think it's going to be excellent for summer consumption.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Have also looked at Burton Bridge Summer Ale - has anyone tried this, is it any good

I've recently brewed this. It's only been in the bottles for 2 weeks so no point in trying it yet although the odd mouthful I tasted when syphoning it was pretty good so I'm optimistic.

[AlexCricket]

Thank you for your help everyone - all suggestions gratefully received as I had been a little disheartened by the whole thing


Old Speckled Badger
What was the fermentation like - lively?
Did you use LSM or BKE or whatever ?

[Normski]

Hi AlexCricket
Sorry to here you maiden voyage has turned a bit wrong. I also brewed a Colne Valley a few weeks ago. It took nearly 3 weeks to drop low enough to Keg. I put it in a King Keg top Tap; it had plenty of pressure up until the last 2 pints. Top taps need a good pressure. I think you may want to test for pressure loss. Maybe put some co2 in and check the pressure, then re check sometime later etc. if it’s gone, you probably have a leak somewhere.
If I was you, I'd get the Coopers Stout on the go. It’s the nuts, and will not disappoint. I don’t drink a lot of stout, but love the Coopers. You also won’t have any problems with lack of fermentation; In fact you may need to only put in 20l until it settles down after about 24 hrs.

[AlexCricket]

Anyone with any more ideas?

[mickhew]

I'm wondering..
Did you use vaseline on the keg cap and tap to get a good seal? Co2/pressure may have leaked out. Also I presume you primed the keg. Don't give up on it, you can produce great beer at home. Flat kits are normally caused by insufficient sealing, or under\no priming. Cheers.

[AlexCricket]

I'm wondering..
Did you use vaseline on the keg cap and tap to get a good seal? Co2/pressure may have leaked out. Also I presume you primed the keg. Don't give up on it, you can produce great beer at home. Flat kits are normally caused by insufficient sealing, or under\no priming. Cheers.

I seamed to have good pressure retention as it had plenty of fizz when I had a try after secondary ferment - to check if it needed longer - but now it has gone into the cool of my cellar it has gone rather flat and lifeless. I have got some CO2 that i'm going to add this evening.

Any recommendations for a next brew?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

but now it has gone into the cool of my cellar it has gone rather flat and lifeless.

A good part of that will be because CO2 dissolves more easily in a cold liquid so there's more in solution and less in the space above generating the pressure.

[rick_huggins]

I'd go for Wherry, Admirals, Nelsons or similar...

I've been out of brewing for a decade and since I've been gone.. .the good kit fairy has defo been!

Get a 3KG kit and you won't be disapointed.... I'm enjoying Wherry atm and it's inspired me to set up a 10G AG brewery...

Good luck and stick with it

[AlexCricket]

Well I can update.

I a stuck a sparklet into the keg yesterday evening and when seal was punctured you could see the keg tension. I waited a minute or two and could hear a little hiss from the cap. Tightened a bit more - now I'm no Arnie/Hulk Hogan but hand tight plus a 1/4 my foot - and managed to silence the hiss. Hopefully back on track a bit now.

Anyone got any more ideas for a brew.

[AlexCricket]

Old Speckled Badger

How was the Ferment on your Burton Bridge - did you use the packet yeast

[OldSpeckledBadger]

How was the Ferment on your Burton Bridge - did you use the packet yeast

Took 9 days with the supplied yeast.

[AlexCricket]

Many thanks to everybody for their most helpful suggestions.

I shall be sure to get motivated and get another brew on asap.