Hello all, Noob with questions

Discuss making up beer kits - the simplest way to brew.
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RIP

Hello all, Noob with questions

Post by RIP » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:01 pm

Totally new to homebrewing but always wanted to give it a go. A bit more time on my hands now and I have got sick of Carsberg Lager . I am hoping my first brew will taste better but I have gone for a Tom Caxton real ale as I do like the bottled ales from supermarkets but the price of them is stupid.
I've had the brew bubbling in the 5 gallon fermentation bin for a week now and am about to sterilise a 5 gallon plasic Keg I have been given by a friend. it has a screw top with a metal valve on the top. I've looked through this site and found most answers to my questions, could someone tell me whether my plan is correct;
The bubbles in the airlock have slowed right down now and I am going to take a hydrometer reading. If OK, I will add just under 85 g of sugar to the keg and then siphon from the ferment bucket to the keg. I will also siphon in to 3 X 2 litre plastic coke bottles so I have some ale to put in to the fridge ( 2 teaspoons of sugar in each bottle, hence why I said just under 85g in the keg)
Bottles and keg will stay in the lounge for 2 days and then I will transfer them to the shed for 14 days. Then bottles into the fridge to chill a bit more.
Does this sound OK or have I missed anything out or added anything I don't need to do?

chris_reboot

Re: Hello all, Noob with questions

Post by chris_reboot » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:16 pm

Sounds fine to me.

85g should be entire amount, so apportion it as you say.
I would leave indoors for a few more days, I usually do 1 week, then they go to the shed for conditioning and tap off from there, or bring the odd bottle (or 4) in to sup

RIP

Re: Hello all, Noob with questions

Post by RIP » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:34 pm

OK, Thanks, Just taken a Hyd reading and says OK. had to use a sterilised jug to get a bit of beer out to go into the Hydrometer sample jar. Does taking the lid off the fermenting bin let oxygen in? (I've read a few posts on here about oxygen in beer not being a good thing)I can't transfer to keg today as going to work now, will it be OK until tomorrow?

chris_reboot

Re: Hello all, Noob with questions

Post by chris_reboot » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:41 pm

do things like that very carefully.

oxygen is great early on in the fermentation, but can oxidise and kill the brew now.
co2 falls to rest at the bottom, so even though its been disturbed, it should be protected

delboy

Re: Hello all, Noob with questions

Post by delboy » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:44 pm

RIP wrote:OK, Thanks, Just taken a Hyd reading and says OK. had to use a sterilised jug to get a bit of beer out to go into the Hydrometer sample jar. Does taking the lid off the fermenting bin let oxygen in? (I've read a few posts on here about oxygen in beer not being a good thing)I can't transfer to keg today as going to work now, will it be OK until tomorrow?
Once the beer is fermented its much less susceptible to infections, so some care is required but you don't have to be fanatical about sterilisation.
Oxygenating the fermenting beer is bad but you'd have to be sloshing it about to absorb enough o2 to screw it up. Also when doing a 2nd fermentation (ie the priming sugar in the bottle/keg) the yeast is usually quite good at clearing up any o2 before it causes off flavours.

Short answer, lifting the lid to take a sample won't have harmed it, but do take care not to introduce o2 say for instance by splashing the wort about when transferring.

RIP

Re: Hello all, Noob with questions

Post by RIP » Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:44 pm

Thanks for replies. Just got home and the airlock is still bubbling slowly. The ferm tub is on the floor so I will take it easy lifting it onto a chair tomorrow for siphoning so i don't splash it about -- should have put it on a chair first..... its a learning process

RIP

Re: Hello all, Noob with questions

Post by RIP » Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:36 pm

The fruits of my labour. I'm just hoping the 85grm of sugar i put in will do the job with the co2 in the keg as it looks half full due to the bottles i filled up.
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