Edme Pilsner Kit, any tips?

[prodigal2]

Hi there all.

I was wondering if any one could give me any tips to make this one as good as possible. This will be my second ever brew and more importantly the wifes favorite style of beer, and I would like to keep her tolerating my new found hobby/obsession.

The ingredients I have is the kit, 1kg of DME and brewferm lager yeast. I have just finnished building a garage and outbuildings that are frost proof, would these be the best place for the primary for 2 weeks after a couple of days in the warm to get the fermentation going?

I'm looking to brew this weekend once I've bottled the wherry thats in the fermenter currently.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated, as a good brew will guarantee me a great supper, and tolerance when some new bits just kinda "appear", as the end game will be AG brewing

saludos
Prodigal2

[mysterio]

The key to lagers is controlling the fermentation temperature. You want it at around 10 degrees C up to a maximum of about 15C. This will ensure the cleanest lager flavours - don't bother with the couple of days in the warm, most of the fruity flavours (esters) are produced at the start of fermentation and the warmth will encourage this. More like a couple of hours after pitching the yeast you should move the fermenter.

After fermentation it's a good idear to 'lager' (store) the beer at close to freezing (1 or 2 degrees C) for as long as you can stand it, preferably 3 or 4 weeks.

[prodigal2]

Cheers for that, the beer enzyme may be a problem as I will need to get that of the internet, no HBS locally. Would it be OK without, just this one time?

The room temp of 10-15 degrees is not a problem I have already made a note of all my rooms temps, as my house does not have central heating and I have a couple in that range. I checked this before I did my first brew.

Bottling day soon for my first brew cant wait (early christmas present me thinks)

Saludos
Prodigal2

[Totem]

Does the kit come with a larger yeast? Might want to make sure.

[prodigal2]

No the kit did not come with Yeast, so I ordered 2 packs of brewferm lager yeast.

[mysterio]

I would personally be careful with dry beer enzyme unless you get a stuck fermentation, but I agree with DaaB that replacing a small amount of the DME with sugar might be a good idea although not crucial.

[prodigal2]

so this would leave me with some spare DME, could I then use that to prime my bottles, and more importantly would this improve the flavour?

Also what would be the proportions per litre with DME?

Hmmm there seems to be even with simple kits, so many ways to subtly shift the outcome.

I have a hell of alot to learn me thinks

[prodigal2]

OK so I made the kit on Sunday, as suggested by DaaB I used 250grms cane sugar plus 750grms DME.
The wort was boiled/simmered for 7mins and made up to 22l, OG 1,046, beat the sweet bejesus out of the wort(thinking of UK based clients that owe me money, before christmas....gits).
Pitched a started batch of yeast(brewferm lager yeast). I then place in a room who's temperature is 12-14C. this has had a hearty head of yeast crud on, until this morning when all the head has gone, the current gravity is 1,029.
I have stired to try and rouse the beer but as yet no head but there is the odd CO2 bubble popping up now and again. the fermenter was next to an exterior wall and we've had some frosts, the beer had dropped to 7C. So I have moved the fermenter to a warmer room to see if this wil stimulate the yeast.

Question: Have I done the right thing? Or am I having newbee jitters.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Saludos
Prodigal2

[prodigal2]

Cheers DaaB, it was just unnerving after such a fine head and then going to nothing.

I'm just having the brewing jitters,
Its been a while since I have experienced learning a completly new skill, and its so easy to forget the sensation of not having a fecking clue about things, even though you have read up on the subject it still takes, someone else to guide you out of your mistakes.

Thanks for the tip, and I'm really glad I chose kit 2 to be a lager after a ale, so I'm able to compare the experiences and techniques.

Saludos
Prodigal2

[prodigal2]

OK, so the pilsner has been at 1,011 for the last 2 days. I do believe new years day will be bottling day. So this means that the beer has been fermenting for 15 days. Does that sound about right?

A quick question, do I put my bottles immediatly into my cool spot in the garage, or do I keep them at brewing tempreture for a couple of days.

My cool spot will be in the garage, with a marble box around the bottles to maintain a cool and constant temp on the floor. the marble was taken out of my kitchen when we first moved in and I knew it would be useful for something.

feliz año
Prodigal2

[prodigal2]

Ok so I bottled today, well technical yesterday. the beer is outside in their new marble home in the garage, I've held back 3 bottles in the fridge to use as control references. I had a quickie taste and it tasted like a flat pils, though a little watery, I assume that the flavour will develop whilst lagering.

On a side note I have harvested the yeast from the bottom of the fermenter,as due to the absence of HBS I have a feeling I can never have too much yeast.

I'm now twidilling my thumbs waiting for my next delivery of kits, though I doubt anything will be delivered for at least a week or knowing how things are here, more.

Oh well on with more ginger beer and TC to fill the larder, and I think I will have a go at a black treacle beer that is my wifes old english cookbooks.

cheers for all the help

[Vossy1]

Sorry Prodigal2 looks like this question has been missed

A quick question, do I put my bottles immediatly into my cool spot in the garage, or do I keep them at brewing tempreture for a couple of days.

Yep, that's spot on

[prodigal2]

Cheers Vossy

[prodigal2]

Update

Just had a couple of bottles(250ml), and I must say I'm chuffed. The pils tastes like a good german pils, a good bitter edge to it, the only problem is its not like the pils my wife likes so back to the drawing board. I know Edme kits seem to be out of favour at the moment, but this one is good if you use DME, it has a fine dark colour creamy mouth feel, and a long hop flavour. Good summer beer, the only problem is that it won't make it that far.

I'm back on the road in a couple of weeks for a while so, hopfuly there will be a few more to try in a couple of months time and I can see the effect of more bottle conditioning. .