Wherry questions..

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

Hi guys,

I made up my woodfordes wherry kit the night before last as per the instructions and set it down by the kitchen table out of the way. It has had 44 hours so far and the kitchen is around 20 degrees. Nothing appears to be happening. Obviously I cannot see into the fermenter but thought I would see the water in the air lock bubbling? Should I be concerned or just leave it alone?

The other thing I have been wanting to ask but havent been near a computer is when do I need the Co2? When it has finished fermenting I intend on transfering it to a pressure barrel but am unsure when I am supposed to use the little cannisters?

Any help would be appreciated - this is my first attempt incase you hadn't guessed!!

Cheers,

Jimmy.

[scottmoss]

Hii,

Did you take a hydrometer reading before you pitched the yeast? If so take another reading and see if it has changed. You are fine to open the fermentor and take a look (Can you see any froth/foam marks above the fluid level against the fermentor?).

You wait until you get 2 of the same readings on your hydrometer (around the 1010-1012 ) and then syphon to your keg with around 3.5-4 oz of sugar at the bottom of the keg.

You only need to add the Co2 when you start drinking the beer and the beer starts to come out of the tap slowly.

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I didn't take a hydrometer reading no To take a reading do I have to syphone some into the sample jar or can I just put the hydrometer in the fermenter? If I do take some out do I pour it back in afterwards or chuck it down the sink? Sorry if I sound stupid! I will take a look in the fermenter later and let you know what it looks like..

Thanks again!

[scottmoss]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I didn't take a hydrometer reading no To take a reading do I have to syphone some into the sample jar or can I just put the hydrometer in the fermenter? If I do take some out do I pour it back in afterwards or chuck it down the sink? Sorry if I sound stupid! I will take a look in the fermenter later and let you know what it looks like..

Thanks again!

Hi,

Don't be silly we all started off.

What I do is put the hydrometer in the fermentor, some people just leave the hydrometer in the fermentor for the whole of the fermenting process. If you take a reading now you should be able to work out if it has started fermenting or not. I think it starts around the 1034-1038 mark.

[trucker5774]

Don't worry if the Wherry finishes quite high. It is not unusual for them to finish as high as 1016. 1012 would be a good one! Think of it as a nice easy drinking beer, not fall over juice!

[crafty john]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I didn't take a hydrometer reading no To take a reading do I have to syphone some into the sample jar or can I just put the hydrometer in the fermenter? If I do take some out do I pour it back in afterwards or chuck it down the sink? Sorry if I sound stupid! I will take a look in the fermenter later and let you know what it looks like..

Thanks again!

Don't forget to sanitise your hydrometer if you are putting it in the FV, if you are taking a sample pour it away it's only 100 ml

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

Thanks very much for the replies guys, I appreciate it. I just took the lid off and took a look. Here is what it is looking like..

[fractureman]

erm doesn't look like the yeast has got going in that brew mate. I would guess at it maybe being too low in temperature. I use an aquarium heater in 1 Fv & a proper brew immersion heater in my other FV (although twice the price of the aquarium one)

Just a guess I know you say the room is 20 deg but is the liquid in the FV 20 deg??

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

Oh right, I will take a teperature reading of the liquid... If its too cold will I have to bin it and start again? I think I have a beer makers imersion heater in the box of bits that I was given. I'm not sure if it works but I'll take a look and see if there is definately one there..

[scottmoss]

No you will not need to through it away. Just simply increase the temperture (I use a brewbelt-really easy to use).

What was the reading on the hydrometer?

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

I'm not sure how to read the hydrometer, I think its 1035 or 1.035? I have just lifted the lid again and taken the temperature. Its at 21 degrees. The brew looks slightly different now, it has bubbles on the top.

[scottmoss]

It does look like it's starting just the temperture is a little low (yeast will increase the temperture around 4c when they start) wrap something around it to increase the temperture. When did you start it?

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

I started it on the 4th November at 6pm, so just over 50 hours ago.. I will wrap a blanket around it now.

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

Right, I do have a boots beermakers thermostatic heater. It doesn't have a temperature control on it though and the box says it will maintain a temperature of between 22 degrees and 27 degrees. On the Woodfordes Wherry box it says it should be between 18 degrees and 21 degrees for it to ferment.. So now I'm really confused and not sure about using this heater. Do you think I should? If I do use it do I just leave the lid gently resting on the top as the flex will be in the way to close it down wont it?

Thanks,

Jimmy.

[Jimothy_Bobbins]

I'm back again! lol The brew still appears to be doing nothing, so I decided to sterilise the heater and give it a bash. Might as well as its not doing anything anyway... I sterilised it and then lowered it into the fermenter and suckered it to the side. I then gave the brew a stir with a long wooden spoon that I have, and the whole thing foamed up real quick! I wasn't expecting it and it made me jump! haha! Hopefully it will start doing something now eh?? I have left the heater in there, put the lid back on and wropped a blanket around it...