First Brew - Oops!

[musashi]

Well, I started my first brew on Monday night. I took plenty of time to research lots of stuff before I started.
I cleaned all of the equipment, followed the instructions that came with the kit (Coopers Real Ale), as well as information on here. I mixed the water, the kit, etc, then realised I had forgot to add the sugar! D'oh! The sugar was on the side directly next to the instructions but yet I couldn't see it. Anyway, I mixed the sugar in before I added the yeast - the temperature according to the stick-on thermometer was 23C. Mixed it all in the best I could.
Once it was all mixed in, I added the yeast and mixed that in. Then I realised the instructions said to take a hydrometer reading before adding the yeast. I did a test after adding the yeast anyway - I put 100ml in a trial jar and dropped the hydrometer in. The reading was 40 and said something like "Start Beer".
I put the bucket in the shed on Monday night with an aquarium heater in it (from details in this forum). The stick-on thermometer has been giving a fairly constant reading of 22C and this morning it was 23C. There seems to be some yeasty type stuff on the underside of the lid.
Do you think this brew will turn out OK considering the mistakes I've made with it? I can't say I've seen any blatently obvious bubbles rising or anything.

Thanks

Carl

[Lillywhite]

Sounds fine to me.

[Jim]

Sounds fine to me.

And me. The yeasty stuff on the underside of the lid is a good sign - it means fermentation is off like a rocket!

[Donnydarko]

Hi all,

I started my 1st brew on Monday night (Woodfordes Norfolk NOG) using the micro brewery kit (youngs) i sterilised and followed to the letter the instructions, also using an aquarium heater and a old cover round the FV. I did not take the Gravity before but checked it tonight and found it to be at 1020 is this good after 48hrs? i replaced the "top hat" air lock from the original kit with a conventional one and its bubbling very regular so i guess things are going ok. I cannot help but have a temp check and a smell of the airlock (HHHMMMMMM BEER...) every night since. How much and what is recommended to go into the pressure barrel (sugar/spray malt etc). Already trying to work out how many kegs i need for a constant supply....
PS - Anyone tried the NOG?

[joel_m]

Hi 1.020 is pretty decent (haven't done a Nog but have done other woodfordes kits). You just need to keep an eye on the airlock and see when it finally stop bubbling then take a hydrometer reading if it satys constant for 2days within a point or two of the FG, Keg it. How much to prime depends how much sparkly you want. I usually put about 75-85g of sugar or 85-90g of LSM (light pray malt) into a keg that seems to be good for me.
Woodfordes kits can sometime stick about 1.020.. if that happens DON'T PANIC! jus read the thread at the top of this board about stuck fermentation... the advice is good an will usually sort it (its not complex either so don't worry)!

You may want to wait for some advice from someone who has done a Nog they will know better than me... and yes first brew .. sniff, stroke it, kiss it like its your first born we all did it!

[lollypopp]

The Nog you're doing was the first I did, have to say, will do that one again, also try some lighter beers, I did a Tom Caxton, and have to say, that was really lovely, but yes, treat it like your new lover, and yes all sounds fine to me, good luck with your brew!

[musashi]

Sounds fine to me.

And me. The yeasty stuff on the underside of the lid is a good sign - it means fermentation is off like a rocket!

It seems like it's dark brown stuff that is stuck to the underside of the lid. Looking through the bucket (not very clearly) it doesn't appear to have a 'head.' It seems that whatever was coming up to the lid has subdued. Does it still seem OK?

[Lillywhite]

Does it still seem OK?

Yep. You've missed seeing the vigorous stage of primary fermentation which usually occurs within 24-48 hours.

[Donnydarko]

Hello Again,

Just checked my brew again and it seems to have stopped fermenting. air lock is levelled out and not moved for 1/2hr. Took a hydro reading and its 1014 so i gave it a little stir but i dont think i roused the sediment as i only stirred the top 8" of bucket. Do i now need to gently rouse the sediment a little? not really any crust/foam on top now. i have bought some yeast vit (youngs) will a little help? i do like a strong ale...... but 1st time i will be most glad to product a good looking pint! think i will leave it another day as i started Monday night so it's only had 72hrs. Thanks for the advice all, so glad i found the forum simply for confidence im going about things the correct way , who knows maybe i can help someone one day!

[joel_m]

Hi I think Around 1014 is probably a decent end point for Nog (it usually quotes in the instructions). I would hold off on yeast vit as it doesn't sound like stuck fermentation if you are down that low.
To be honest for a woodfordes Kit to drop to that in 72h is is pretty good going. I'd probably be tempeted to leave it in the FV until the weekend before putting it into the keg. It certainly won't hurt it and the further you go the slower fermentation seems to be, so it may drop another point or two yet!
Generally a little longer in the fv seems to mean a little less time conditioning (but thats only my experience some of the seasoned brewers maybe able to shed light on it).

Sounds like she coming along nicely though!

[Donnydarko]

Great Stuff, Should i give the sediment a little rouse or leave it still?

[joel_m]

Personally if you are at 1.014 I'd probably leave it.
Disturbing the sediment really is somthing you should only do if you have suck fermentation as putting something in increases the risk of infection or oxidising the beer. No harm though if you feel it would help and have steralised your brewers spoon.
If I want to rouse things up again I tend to hold the top of the FV and rotate if quite quickely clockwise then anticlockwise a few inches for a couple of times. But not enough for it to start splashing. The CO2 blanket is heavier than air and as you aren't taking the lid off it reduces the chance of infection or oxidation. Brewers spoon are usually a last reasort for me. But I'm not expert either! I've only on my 5th brew so still relatively new. Well that and 2 TC's @10%ish.... fighting cider as my mates call it!

[Donnydarko]

Ok then, i think ill leave it now and keg it at the weekend. Im just enjoying a bottle of Hens Toothe, NICE! think ill get some LSM for kegging and try to leave it for 6 weeks. In the meantime im gonna get some Wherry from Wilkinsons £15 for kit and get that on the go next (looks like im gonna need a few more Kegs LOL. Is it worth stripping the tap on the keg and sealing with Petrolium jelly? or are they generally good, Just with it being a kit thing i think i would like to install the king keg style barrel tap. Wilkinsons also have Kegs for £17.99 (Youngs i think) which seem pretty good value. After the FV is clean think im gonna put a tap on that as well..... Syphoning makes me nervous that i will suck up sediment inadvertantly. OOOHHHHH the excitement. Why didnt i do this earlier.... Thanks again for advice, i deeply appreciate it.

[mickhew]

Best practice is to ALWAYS use Vaseline on the seals, tap and cap. Also, get that FV tap soon, SO much easier.
As for getting LSM for kegging, I presume you mean for priming ? Personally I wouldn't bother, at that stage, using demerara or normal cane sugar, or brewing sugar will do, you won't notice any difference. Spraymalt is a good replacement, for initial fermentation only really.

[musashi]

Well, I tested my beer last night. I put 100ml into a trial jar from the tap on the fermenting bucket and dropped in the hydrometer. The reading was 1010 so since starting it on Monday night, it's dropped quite a bit from 1040. I think the final reading should be 1006 so I'm not far off that. After testing it, I gave it a smell and have to say, it smelled quite nice. No vinegar smell at all - proper beer smell! I'm pretty pleased with it so far.
When it's ready to be bottled, I plan on using 500ml bottles that I've been saving up over the past few weeks. When I do bottle it, am I best syphoning it off into another bucket with tap and adding the priming sugar to some water beforehand? Or an I best using 1/2 teaspoon of sugar in each bottle? I bought a spoon measuring set from Morrisons yesterday (77p) and that has a 1/2 teaspoon measure in there. Also, the priming sugar - can I use standard brewing sugar or should I use something else?

Thanks

Carl