first brews :)

Discuss making up beer kits - the simplest way to brew.
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Monkeybrew
Telling everyone Your My Best Mate
Posts: 4104
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:53 pm
Location: Essex

Re: first brews :)

Post by Monkeybrew » Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:57 pm

MrO wrote:ok i'll leave alone.....

thinking about it i suppose i dont need to get the tap undone when ive screwed it on.....
What kind of starter kit have you got then?
FV:


Conditioning:
AG#41 - Vienna Lager - 5.6%
AG#42 - Heritage Double Ale - 10.5%

On Tap:
AG#44 - Harvest ESB - 5.4%
AG#45 - Amarillo Gold APA - 5.2%

MrO

Re: first brews :)

Post by MrO » Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:25 pm

i bought all the bits i need indivdually...with the kits i looked at there always seemed to be something missing.

Ive got a fermenting bucket
a big spoon
a hydrometer
brew enhancer
test thingy for the hydrometer
a tap for the hole in the FV
ab airlock for in the lid of the FV
campden tablets
carbonation drops
thermometer
steriliser
2 x beer kits
some empty bottles


ive just bought all the stuff to the kitchen then had to take it back again. I didn't realise that the equipment had to be sterilised for 12 hrs,,, :shock:

will i ever make beer :?:

oh, and the campden tablets that clean my water dont say what to do with them. The only instructions are to add one crushed tablet to a bottle of wine after fermentation... just when i thought i was ready to brew :?

GSMunn

Re: first brews :)

Post by GSMunn » Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:36 pm

12 hours? F*ck that mate

Sanitise for 30mins and your fine, Hell, I dont even do that, fill my FV up with qwater and 1/2 cup bleach, sit it for 5, empty, rinse to buggery. Use.

MrO

Re: first brews :)

Post by MrO » Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:41 pm

Shit, i could have had my first beer done by now :evil:

john_drummer

Re: first brews :)

Post by john_drummer » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:48 pm

ideally you need 2 FVs or 1 FV and a big old 25L container. Fill the sterilised & rinsed 25L container/FV1 with cold water, crush a campden tablet & add it to the water, leave for 30mins.

Put your beerkit unopened on its side minus the label in a bowl/bucket of hot water while you boil a kettle. Add the BKE to the other fermenting bin & add the contents of the kettle to that. Stir well. boil another kettle & add half of that. stir again. now open the beer kit & pour it into the hot sugar solution. stir REALLY well. get as much out as you can, then use the remaining water in the kettle to rinse out the can. add to the fermenting bin. Top up to 20L (or less if that's what your kit says) with the cold water with the campden tablet. check the temperature - if it's warm to the touch, it's too warm. check the OG. If it's too high, add some more water. when it's cold to the touch, add the yeast. put lid on and leave for 2 weeks...

GSMunn

Re: first brews :)

Post by GSMunn » Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:01 am

Agree with above, although disolve BKE/DME in cold water, reduces clumping =]

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Tramorak
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Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:26 pm
Location: Notts

Re: first brews :)

Post by Tramorak » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:16 pm

Sorry I haven't said hello yet MrO. Work has been brutal.

I don't do the Campden tablet thingy and use 2 litre bottled water from whatever cheapo supermarket I can find. It has always worked well for me (upwards of 40 brews using it) and it always gives you an empty to decant the finished product into should you be desperate.

You know where I am if you need to hit me up for any of my, admittedly limited, advice.

T. (The artist formerly known as DaveG73, but not on here. Don't worry, MrO will understand).

MrO

Re: first brews :)

Post by MrO » Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:43 pm

cheers again guys, hopefully i'll get going this weekend....



Hi DaveG73 :)

MrO

Re: first brews :)

Post by MrO » Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:12 pm

Okie dokie folks......

I have just made my first brew 'Coopers Real Ale' (at last) i had a few problems along the way..one being a split FV right at the top, lucky i noticed it....and about 5/6 weeks after the first planned brew im up and running.... :D

a few questions :roll:

1/ Im not 100% about the hydrometer and how to use it... how much liquid should i have put into the test tube? I got a reading of 1.050 (noted down for later use)

2/ I filled my FV up to 20l and it was at 24* but after fitting the lid and airlock and placing in the spare bedroom i realised i had a full bottle left. I used supermarket water in 2l bottles. I bought 10 bottles and only used 9, so 20l on the FV is actually 18l is this going to be a problem?

Thanks for any help guys,

MrO

poo hed

Re: first brews :)

Post by poo hed » Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:18 pm

nvm

john_drummer

Re: first brews :)

Post by john_drummer » Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:22 pm

my test tube holds 100ml. If I put more than 80ml in, it overflows when I add the hydrometer. Makes it easier to read as the top of the liquid is now right at the top of the tube, but it is a bit messy ;-)

MrO

Re: first brews :)

Post by MrO » Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:33 pm

john_drummer wrote:my test tube holds 100ml. If I put more than 80ml in, it overflows when I add the hydrometer. Makes it easier to read as the top of the liquid is now right at the top of the tube, but it is a bit messy ;-)
ah ha, so there's no certain amount.... i thought it had to be 100ml but realised i had the same issue you mention #-o

cheers :)

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