Well done for getting going matey!
Wait till the activity has stopped and the head has died down before taking the hydrometer readings.
I'm going to barrel my first brew on sunday, its quite exciting!
DaveyK's first conquest!
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daveyk
Head
Well, checked it last night and this morning.
the head from all the stiring had died down initially but there was a small head (very) this morning so i recon things must be starting / started.
Temp had dropped from 21deg to 18deg this morning. The instructions say to keep it 18 - 21. HOw much do i need to worry about this temp?? Am i worrying too much , I guess it's ok for now but on the bottom limit.
dave
the head from all the stiring had died down initially but there was a small head (very) this morning so i recon things must be starting / started.
Temp had dropped from 21deg to 18deg this morning. The instructions say to keep it 18 - 21. HOw much do i need to worry about this temp?? Am i worrying too much , I guess it's ok for now but on the bottom limit.
dave
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delboy
Just like to add one caveat, that sitting water overnight will result in the loss of almost all the chlorine (volatile), however if your water contains chloroamine (not volatile) leaving it to age does nothing, it has to be removed by filtering or chemical methods.StrangeBrew wrote:I've always used tap water and never had a problem.
Fill a spare sanitized barrell, put the lid on and leave it to stand for 24 hours or add half a campden tablet before you brew.
Obviously strangebrew is lucky in that in his neck of the woods they must only using chlorine treatment.
If in doubt use the campden tablet
BTW nice one daveyk
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booldawg
18 degrees is the lower edge of the ideal temp. range but not dangerously low. I'm not sure what you can and cant get away with. Without the luxury of a temp. controlled environment its hard to maintain a solid temp. anytime of the year. I guess in the summer it goes the other way with trying to keep it under 24!
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Minus The Bear
If you are worried put an old coat on the FV or a jumper or something, if i remember later on i will post a picture of my 'beer jacket'!
Or if its i the house just stick the heating on for a bit. I have set the timer at mine for the heating to come on during the day as i have a cold house (don't tell the girlfriend!).
Or if its i the house just stick the heating on for a bit. I have set the timer at mine for the heating to come on during the day as i have a cold house (don't tell the girlfriend!).
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daveyk
temp
well things have been progressing nicely over the weekend. Covered the FV in a couple of towels.... this has kept the temp at a nice constant 18degs.
The good head that had risen by Friday evening is starting to gently subside, there are a few darker areas on the head which I'm not too worried about (but please let me know if I should be!!).
My thoughts are now turning toward bottling.
I plan to keep an eye on the gravity reading over the next couple of days... the instructions state I should be aiming for a reading of 1.010. What else should I be looking for?? shoudl the head totally disapear? (photos would be good of a comleted brew).
With regards to bottling I was planning to just follow the instruction directly. Adding sugar to each bottle, capping, shaking, giving a warm 2 weeks, then a cold 2 weeks.
But I was also finding the tempation to experiement a little too great.....
I was thinking about using some honey in some of the bottle to prime them with. Anyone any experience? How much? will this take longer.
There also seems to be a good arguement on this forum for conditioning the brew in other containers prior to final bottling. What about using a couple of the 5l water containers to let the brew settle in prior to syphoning and priming in the bottles?
Any tips / advice would be much appreciated. Thanks,
Dave.
The good head that had risen by Friday evening is starting to gently subside, there are a few darker areas on the head which I'm not too worried about (but please let me know if I should be!!).
My thoughts are now turning toward bottling.
I plan to keep an eye on the gravity reading over the next couple of days... the instructions state I should be aiming for a reading of 1.010. What else should I be looking for?? shoudl the head totally disapear? (photos would be good of a comleted brew).
With regards to bottling I was planning to just follow the instruction directly. Adding sugar to each bottle, capping, shaking, giving a warm 2 weeks, then a cold 2 weeks.
But I was also finding the tempation to experiement a little too great.....
I was thinking about using some honey in some of the bottle to prime them with. Anyone any experience? How much? will this take longer.
There also seems to be a good arguement on this forum for conditioning the brew in other containers prior to final bottling. What about using a couple of the 5l water containers to let the brew settle in prior to syphoning and priming in the bottles?
Any tips / advice would be much appreciated. Thanks,
Dave.
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daveyk
update
Thought it was about time for a further update.
Bottled the bitter, left in the 'warm' for about 10 days... checking carbonation after a week. Moved to the cold and left for 3.5weeks.... 4 weeks total since coming out of the FV now.
Had the odd taste during this time and AMAZED at the difference in taste. Had the first full bottle last night and quite impressed. Slight fizz when the cap is taken off the bottle. Co2 evident in neck of bottle. Beer pours with a nice head that is retained and very clear in appearance.
The flavour is the only slight fly in the ointment! the beer is fairly dry and has quite a strong bitter aftertaste... not sure if this is down to the homebrew process or if that is what this kit is supposed to taste like... I have had similar tastes from comercial bitters. Any ideas??
Thanks once agian though... would not have got this far with out all you help.
Dave
Bottled the bitter, left in the 'warm' for about 10 days... checking carbonation after a week. Moved to the cold and left for 3.5weeks.... 4 weeks total since coming out of the FV now.
Had the odd taste during this time and AMAZED at the difference in taste. Had the first full bottle last night and quite impressed. Slight fizz when the cap is taken off the bottle. Co2 evident in neck of bottle. Beer pours with a nice head that is retained and very clear in appearance.
The flavour is the only slight fly in the ointment! the beer is fairly dry and has quite a strong bitter aftertaste... not sure if this is down to the homebrew process or if that is what this kit is supposed to taste like... I have had similar tastes from comercial bitters. Any ideas??
Thanks once agian though... would not have got this far with out all you help.
Dave