Newbie with Young's Brew Kit Q's....

[Steven98]

Hey guys / gals,

got a young's brew kit from wilko's for my first "dad's day" (£20 one) looking at what everyones got and use etc i've decided i need to get some other things though.
=> Thermometer (for ale) & strip Thermometer (for room)
=> Another tub/barrel for syphoning
=> paddle
now a few questions...

1) Priming sugar? do i need to add this to a kit?? some people recommend it and others dont appear to use it so im a little confused, what is priming sugar as well? just normal sugar?? or something special? what happens if i dont

2)Kit Enhancers? Where do i get this from and i dont think i will just yet i'll try without first

3) Second Fermenting?? Something about making sure you catch it so that there is pressure in a barrel or have i confused myself here?

4) instructions in the box are quite different to chris's, whose should i follow??

please dont reply with "use the search function" please i have used it but im still confused, i've read chris's example but once these are answered im happy to start brewing.

Thanks all
Steven

[Normski]

Hi Steven
Welcome. Use Chris’s and you will be spot on, to start. You can change things when you know the basics. If any of it is still confusing, just ask away. There are some very friendly & knowledgeable people on here.

[Steven98]

Thanks Normski, i'll await the replies...

[Normski]

Hi Steven

1) Priming sugar is added to the Bottles or Keg after it has been brewed. You can use any sugar you like, I use brown cane sugar. But normal sugar is ok for priming. The priming sugar is fermented and creates Co2 which will keep your beer fresh and also add bubbles. If you don’t prime you may not have enough C02 to keep your beer fresh.

2) Kit Enhancers are usually 50% Glucose and 50% Spray malt. You can get them from Home brew shops and also Wilkinson’s do some. They are not usually used for priming but are added to the wort. If you have a two can kit you don’t need any. But i'm having to guess you have a Young’s one can kit either bitter or lager. With this you will need to add about 1kilo of fermentables. Sugar, Enhancer or Spray malt. Sugar is cheapest but probably the worst. Enhancer is the has brewers sugar and spray malt mixed. I, and I think most on here believe that spray malt is the best of the 3 methods.

3) Secondary fermentation is what we discussed in 1) it’s when you have brewed your beer and then put into bottles or a keg and add the priming sugar.

4) I'm sure the instruction on the box are ok to follow. There will be things that are in Chris’s that will cover things in more details. Remember to clean and sterilize everything that comes into contact with your beer and you will be halfway there.

[Steven98]

fantastic normski, you're a star!!
one last thing the brown cane sugar, how do i prepare this how much do you recommend on using? as i said im just making one at the moment expecting it to go wrong haha but im adventurous

[Normski]

Hi Steven
I use 85grams to prime a 40 pint keg. I usually bottle a few pints, so I scoop a half teaspoon out of the measured 85 grams. What’s left is the amount I put in the keg. Always works just right. If you’re bottling all of it. Half a teaspoon per Pint or 500ml. I just put it in the bottles before filling with beer.
Hope this helps.

[techtone]

3) Second Fermenting?? Something about making sure you catch it so that there is pressure in a barrel or have i confused myself here?

If you have the budget keg; When you "keg" your beer, use some masking tape (or similar) to mark the level the beer gets up to. A day or two later you should find the level has dropped, which assuming you are not leaking beer means you are getting good pressure building up. Also keep a close eye on the bottom of the keg - it will bulge as the pressure builds. This is useful to know - how much pressure you have and that you don't have any leaks. (beer or gas)