Totally newbie here

[virtualgirl]

ok i got a youngs brew buddy from wilkinsons about 4 days ago. anyway. i did it all to the instructions. and placed the yeast in then just stuck the lid on. it didnt seem to be doing anything the day after.
One of my friends asked if i has vigrously stirred it, and i said NO, i just quickly stirred it, he suggested i went home and give it a quick stir.
This sure did liven the yeast up and it seems to be doing what it should now ( i think)
But after reading your post on 'Kits' it says NOT to stir it as it will put a taste on the finished product.
Do you think i have ruined it?

[moobli]

another noob here
but ill try and help

you might just get away with it

where are you keeping it looking at temp in the room

you have to make sure you are methodical and read all the instructions dont miss even the smallest detail
like me i didnt vasaline the lid and seal on the pressure vessel and the first brew died on me


whilst your waiting try the turbo ciders
get a few brews going and three to four weeks down the line you'll have beers and the like to keep you and yours happy

you'll soon be bitten by the bug

[virtualgirl]

thanks for the reply, i didnt know you had to vaseline the lid???? it never said anything like that lol. looks like i have totally screwed up eh

[virtualgirl]

how do i know if its died on me? its stored in the corner in my kitchen

[moobli]

i did the same thing didnt vasaline the o ring or the threads of the cap of the pressure barrel

had a good ferment all the yeast worked and built up a good creamy layer fell back down went to put it in the pressure barrel
all ok and from there it died no pressure from the tap when i poured a taster and it didnt taste at all nice
ended up in a couple of slug traps and the rest disposed of

have a look at a couple of the other kit threads
and im sure some of the others on here will correct me if im wrong

[virtualgirl]

im tempted to throw it away now, and start again, as i got a spare kit ready, do you think thats the best option

[moobli]

not right now

its still in the fermenting tub with the lid on and you said it is doing what yeast does
if your room is a constant temp between 18-26 dg c it should be fine the warmer it is the faster it ferments
leave it 6 days if its cooler make sure its stopped fizzing

most people will bottle it in primed bottles (1/2tsp sugar) in the bottle top up with the brew to about the shoulder of the bottle
cap them then leave in the same room for a week then move in to somewhere a lot cooler for a week or two then start drinking it
its a learning experiance

if you are going to put it in a pressure barrel then vasaline the o ring and the threads of the cap
most people recomend a c02 injection system to keep the carbonation in the brew until the last pint
but your talking £25 from wilkos for the basic injection system (new lid with valve,co2 cartridges and the injector)

whilst clean beers bootle possible freebies from your local are reusable a capper and caps £10 from wilkos
magners bottles seem to be popular you'll need around 41 of them look at a couple of beer crates from your local if you can

have a look around the site say hi in the guest book and dont be afraid to ask questions
and have a look at "other brews" and enjoy

[OldSpeckledBadger]

You beer will probably be fine. It sounds like the yeast has taken off now so just leave it to mother nature. I suspect that when you pitched the yeast, it just sat on top of some foam which contains virtually no water so the yeast didn't rehydrate. You do need to stir the yeast into the wort although you don't really need to do it vigorously. And don't worry too much about any strange smells which might be produced during the fermentation process. Beer basically wants to be made.

[cwrw gwent]

"i didnt know you had to vaseline the lid???? "

This refers to the pressure barrel should you keg your beer. You can of course bottle it.

It doesn't mean the fermenting vessel where your ale is currently stored, so you're doing it right.

[timothio]

have a look at "other brews" and enjoy

Yeah, give up on beer, make TC instead!!