new and confused

[abb]

hello all
just like to announce that I'm new to the hole home brew thing.
got my self a micro brewery with a woodforde's wherry bitter kit, and only just this morning set up and mixed it all up in the fermenting bin. and since then iv been chilling out and looking about this site, i read and re read the instructions before commencing work but now I'm a little confused as to reading stuff on this site has given me info overload.
how long before it starts bubbling, i don't know why but i have visions of this huge bucket dancing around my kitchen. Evan doing the ghost busters test with the music is not making it dance! i guess I'm expecting far to much far to early on.
could some one kindly explain in laymen terms the process and what to be looking for when its brewing. and also could someone explain the what the plastic thing you stick in the hole on the lid of the bucket does.


thanks in advance

[oblivious]

Welcome aboard abb, you should see activity in 12 hours or so

[Birdy]

Hi Abb, as Oblivious says you should see some activity in about 12 hours. The plastic thing in the lid is I presume the fermentation airlock, it lets the air out and relieves any pressure in the bucket and stops any bad air getting in and contanimating your brew. Keep looking round the site, there is plenty of help and advice in here to allay any worries you may have when starting out.

Good luck

[abb]

thanks for putting my mind at rest on that one.


birdy i had just found out that its some form of air lock but i read on this site you need to put a bit of vodka in it why would i need to do that and would water not be good enough?

[pdc]

Put a bit of cooled boiled water in the air lock, drink the vodka.

[Jim]

No bacteria will grow in the vodka, whereas they can in water.

For the length of time it'll be in the primary it's not a worry, though.

[abb]

ah cool that makes sense, do i fill the air lock to the top or half way three quarters?

[Invalid Stout]

half way is fine.

bet you when you get up tomorrow there's a layer of foam on your brew.

relax, don't worry, have a homebrew!

[abb]

well just went down stairs to grab a drink and the air lock was bubbling away and i can see through the side bucket there's a nice head on it. so I'm propper chuffed. I don't want to go sleep now in case she blows

[mickhew]

Have a look through this too, althought I think you may have different kit. This is basically how most kit brewers do it. I don't bother with airlocks, they're not essential. The heavier-than-air CO2 that's produced will protect the beer, you just have to stop foreign matter from falling in, a loosely fitted lid will suffice, some even use a towel draped over the top, and no lid at all.

Edited by Admin - see why here.

[abb]

I cant see what you are referring to there mickhew think the post has been edited by admin.
another question i have is that i currently have the fermenting bin on a work top in the kitchen above my washing machine (tho there is a gap between the washer and the work top) would the vibrations from the washing machine isolating through the work top cause the brew to be damaged?

[Birdy]

All depends how much vibration there is think you will have to judge for yourself on that one, or maybe you could take your washing to the laundry for a week

[abb]

or maybe you could take your washing to the laundry for a week

I think if i was to suggest that to the wife she would string me up from the tallest tree in the county. i shall just move it to the other end of kitchen if i think its causing damage

[Chase24]

I don't reckon your washing machine should make a difference unless your wife's got a laundry business going. We're not exactly talking fine wine here...

[Invalid Stout]

It might even be beneficial, keep the yeast moving.