Howdy Everyone,
I started off a Young's Brew Buddy bitter kit last Saturday (it's me first brew). I checked the progress 24hrs after starting, and it looked exactly like the picture on the Technique > Kit page of this site (pic named 'yeast head').
At the time, I noticed what appeared to me to be wet yeast, stuck on top of the foamy head. I decided to give it one gentle stir and then closed the lid. I'm not sure whether this was a good idea...
Anyway, roll-on to today (7 days from start) and I've just checked it. There's no head and it looks like beer. However, there was a smell vinegar when I opened the lid. I took a sniff closer to the liquid which didn't smell very much of vinegar. The hydrometer reads 1.008.
Do you think it has worked? Should I taste it?
Smells funny
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likesbeer
Re: Smells funny
I've had all sorts of odd smells from various things I've brewed and so far havent made anything un-drinkable.
I would definitly give it a taste and see if its got any odd tastes e.g. sarsons
Giving it a gentle stir that early on although probably not recomended shouldnt have caused an issue if it had a good yeast head then plenty of CO2 coming of to protect it. Quite often if the ferment sticks it gets a gentle stir to move it on.
As long as you gave everything a damn glood cleaning and sterilising prior to starting then it is unlikely it will have cought an infection or turned to vinegar.
Give it a taste, makesure the FG is steady for a day or two then get it in the bottles/barrell and qait a few weeks then drink I'm sure it will be the best ever pint you've had.
I've not made to much myself and am still on the producing the best ever pint each time
I would definitly give it a taste and see if its got any odd tastes e.g. sarsons
Giving it a gentle stir that early on although probably not recomended shouldnt have caused an issue if it had a good yeast head then plenty of CO2 coming of to protect it. Quite often if the ferment sticks it gets a gentle stir to move it on.
As long as you gave everything a damn glood cleaning and sterilising prior to starting then it is unlikely it will have cought an infection or turned to vinegar.
Give it a taste, makesure the FG is steady for a day or two then get it in the bottles/barrell and qait a few weeks then drink I'm sure it will be the best ever pint you've had.
I've not made to much myself and am still on the producing the best ever pint each time
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beer^
Re: Smells funny
Yes, I cleaned it all thoroughly, although the sanitising powder that came with the kit left a soapy feel on everything, requiring quite a lot of rinsing to remove.
There is one minor detail I forgot to add.. While preparing everything in the bathroom, I mistakenly started running the hot water tap, to top up to the 5 gallon level. Only realised once it had filled to 2-3 gallons. The water wasn't very hot and it had been running free for a couple of minutes before it went into the fermenter. I topped up with cold water, and the whole thing was cool after stirring. Not sure I would label the stirring as 'vigorous', and I didn't spend anything like 5 mins on it (the kit instructions merely say "stir" ). I used a metal ladle for the job, thinking it would draw some of the malty goo up from the bottom of the bucket.
We shall see what emerges. Thanks, likesbeer.
There is one minor detail I forgot to add.. While preparing everything in the bathroom, I mistakenly started running the hot water tap, to top up to the 5 gallon level. Only realised once it had filled to 2-3 gallons. The water wasn't very hot and it had been running free for a couple of minutes before it went into the fermenter. I topped up with cold water, and the whole thing was cool after stirring. Not sure I would label the stirring as 'vigorous', and I didn't spend anything like 5 mins on it (the kit instructions merely say "stir" ). I used a metal ladle for the job, thinking it would draw some of the malty goo up from the bottom of the bucket.
We shall see what emerges. Thanks, likesbeer.
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ebbadger
Re: Smells funny
did you note the temp when you pitchecd the yeast.... i normlly find 1 kettle of boiling water to rinse out the tins and 21 litres of cold gives me about 20 degrees.... ideal to pitch... over 25 degrees or so can cause off flavours apparently if fermented at that for long but Im sure somebody far more experienced can ellaborate...
Cheers Steve
Cheers Steve
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beer^
Re: Smells funny
didn't note the temp. It felt quite cool and I was happy it was well below the 30c mentioned in the instructions. The bucket has been kept on carpet, near to where the hot water pipes run under the floor, and placed in the cardboard box it was originally supplied in. A spare, clean, cotton bath mat draped over the top completes the professional (!) insulation arrangement. Now I'm a concerned that the vinegar smell might be a result of it being too warm.
Perhaps, I should invest in a thermometer...
Perhaps, I should invest in a thermometer...
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Blinky
Re: Smells funny
Have you had a taste of it yet?
First thing what I would do.
When people says Sarsons ( dont say vinegar say sarsons!) you will know straight away if its infected!!!
Nothing could smell funnier than my Finalander lager!, I was thinking 'When should I throw it away then alert the authorities of a chemical spill?' - well not really- but when I had a taste I realised this was going to be a bloody good lager!
Hope your brew turns out A1 also!
cheers
Blinky
First thing what I would do.
When people says Sarsons ( dont say vinegar say sarsons!) you will know straight away if its infected!!!
Nothing could smell funnier than my Finalander lager!, I was thinking 'When should I throw it away then alert the authorities of a chemical spill?' - well not really- but when I had a taste I realised this was going to be a bloody good lager!
Hope your brew turns out A1 also!
cheers
Blinky
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beer^
Re: Smells funny
Checked today, 9 days after starting: Smells sweet, tastes quite bitter. SG 1.0075 - very slightly lower than 2 days ago.
Shall I bottle tomorrow?
In the spirit of adventure, I wanted to try adding some flavour, to some of the bottles. Have crystallised ginger and a bottle of vanilla in the kitchen cupboards. Shall I try it 6-12 bottles - is that a good idea or dooming the beer to shandy?
Shall I bottle tomorrow?
In the spirit of adventure, I wanted to try adding some flavour, to some of the bottles. Have crystallised ginger and a bottle of vanilla in the kitchen cupboards. Shall I try it 6-12 bottles - is that a good idea or dooming the beer to shandy?
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likesbeer
Re: Smells funny
Thats a very accurate gravity reading I'm looking to see mine to within +/- 0.002.
I would bottle, its barely shifted and close to the recomended 1.006 for bottling I've kegged bottled higher with no issues (only a little higher other than the current 1.024 which will get bottled anyway)
The bitterness will melow as it conditions.
I've no idea what vanilla and ginger will do added to the bottle, I think those kind of tweaks are done early on when brewing so they get boiled in the wort killing any potential nasties.
The ginger being crystalised I think that it is usually covered in sugar is that right? if yes then just take that into account when priming so as not to over prime.
Other than that why not this is all about experimenting and you can tell us how it turns out.
Maybe only sacrifice a couple incase they do turn to drain cleaner
I would bottle, its barely shifted and close to the recomended 1.006 for bottling I've kegged bottled higher with no issues (only a little higher other than the current 1.024 which will get bottled anyway)
The bitterness will melow as it conditions.
I've no idea what vanilla and ginger will do added to the bottle, I think those kind of tweaks are done early on when brewing so they get boiled in the wort killing any potential nasties.
The ginger being crystalised I think that it is usually covered in sugar is that right? if yes then just take that into account when priming so as not to over prime.
Other than that why not this is all about experimenting and you can tell us how it turns out.
Maybe only sacrifice a couple incase they do turn to drain cleaner
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beer^
Re: Smells funny
Bottled 9 days ago. It was enough bottling for the first time using only the supplied syphon tube that the flavouring attempt was overlooked.
I'm not sure anything is happening though. I can't see any evidence of fizz - how does one tell without opening one?
There is one clear bottle, and the beer appears clear with some sediment at the bottom.
I'm not sure anything is happening though. I can't see any evidence of fizz - how does one tell without opening one?
There is one clear bottle, and the beer appears clear with some sediment at the bottom.
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likesbeer
Re: Smells funny
Having been away and just seen your question I expect you got an answer elsewhere or have even opened and tried one?
No you wont see anything happening in the bottle, best trick is to use a 500ml plastic coke bottle for one of them then you can feel as it pressurises. The fact you got sediment dropping to the bottom shows that you hand some secondary fermenting going on.
Hope it tastes good?
No you wont see anything happening in the bottle, best trick is to use a 500ml plastic coke bottle for one of them then you can feel as it pressurises. The fact you got sediment dropping to the bottom shows that you hand some secondary fermenting going on.
Hope it tastes good?
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beer^
Re: Smells funny
yes, two weeks in the bottle now and I really want to try one. Agitated the bottles on Sunday after reading elsewhere it may help. I just rocked the bottle 45degress each way once.
Using the monitor as a backlight on the clear and green bottles, the brew appears nice and clear.
Using the monitor as a backlight on the clear and green bottles, the brew appears nice and clear.
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beer^
Re: Smells funny
gave in and opened one of the resealable, grolsch-style bottles...
A satisfying !snap! and ensuing misty vapour in the neck told me it had carbonated.
It's not a strong flavour in the mouth but it is light and pleasant with quite a bitter finish. I'm sure, I can taste the light brown sugar used for priming the bottles. However, having recently demolished a footlong subway, covered in jalapenos and honey mustard sauce, I'm not going to overstate my tasting ability for the moment.
Regardless, it easily stands against the Coop harvest ale I started the evening with, so I'm well chuffed. If this is a basic kit then I can't wait to get into all the other stuff I see mentioned around here.
Up the beer!!!
A satisfying !snap! and ensuing misty vapour in the neck told me it had carbonated.
It's not a strong flavour in the mouth but it is light and pleasant with quite a bitter finish. I'm sure, I can taste the light brown sugar used for priming the bottles. However, having recently demolished a footlong subway, covered in jalapenos and honey mustard sauce, I'm not going to overstate my tasting ability for the moment.
Regardless, it easily stands against the Coop harvest ale I started the evening with, so I'm well chuffed. If this is a basic kit then I can't wait to get into all the other stuff I see mentioned around here.
Up the beer!!!