Hey all,
I've brewed my first kit and, while I'm still a few days short of 2 weeks in the bottles, I couldn't wait to test it. Gladly it seems to be drinkable, but I'm now after some tips with a couple of specific questions in mind...
Apart from some sharpness (which I have believe may be due to the fermenter getting a bit too warm) I've got what I suspect is what people consider a 'homebrew' taste. I think this may be a general result of using kits but was wondering if there are some relatively easy ways to minimise this before I have the nerve (and spare cash) to move onto the more advanced methods.
Firstly, is a higher quality yeast a good start? It seems that this could a relatively innexpensive and simple way to improve the kits (and on that note, my next kit is going to be a stout, any specific yeasts to recommend?) I assume the taste I'm refering too is not simply down to the yeast, but will it help?
I'm also thinking about creating a starter for the yeast. For the greatest benefit I guess this would be using some of the extract which I'm going to be be brewing in rather than just chucking in some glucose powder or something similar. If this is the case then I've got the issue of getting the extract out to make up the starter and then avoiding contamination until I get brewing. I understand making a starter even for just an hour or so is worth it, in which case I shouldn't need to worry too much, but if there is benefit in getting it going in the morning for an evening brew session is it worth taking the risk? I will boil all the extract with water before using it, so maybe this would be safe as long as I do my best to cover the tin in the morning also?
Thanks for any help, and other suggestions for ways to improve with kits very much welcome!
James.
Simple tips for improvement...
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steve_flack
Yeast: Stick with dried and don't bother with a starter just yet. You don;t need one with decent dried yeast. Anything by Fermentis (the Safale brands) and Danstar will be fine.
Water: Treat your water before brewing with a campden tablet to remove chlorine.
Fermentation Temperature: Try not to get it too cold or too warm - 18-22C is fine.
Kits: Try replacing all or part of the sugar the kits suggest to use with dried malt extract.
That should get you started.
Water: Treat your water before brewing with a campden tablet to remove chlorine.
Fermentation Temperature: Try not to get it too cold or too warm - 18-22C is fine.
Kits: Try replacing all or part of the sugar the kits suggest to use with dried malt extract.
That should get you started.
-
Ska_J
Thanks for your suggestions.
I'll not worry about making up a starter then if you don't feel its worth it. Temperature was definitely at the top of my list. I've got a heater belt ordered with the kit so should be able to leave the fermenter in a more stable place and maintain a better temperature (the last batch was in a conservatory hiding in a box, it got a bit toasty on a couple of warm days, but the other options would have been a bit too cool I think. In hindsite this may not be true, but I've got a bit more control with the belt anyway).
I don't think I could discern any chorine taste in the brew, but I plan to add a campden tablet as you suggest (wish I'd remembered that when I order the other stuff mind!)
The last kit was a two tin kit, so adding sugar or dme wasn't necessary. I'm not sure about the next one though, so if it needs it I'll be sure to follow that advice too.
Thanks.
James.
I'll not worry about making up a starter then if you don't feel its worth it. Temperature was definitely at the top of my list. I've got a heater belt ordered with the kit so should be able to leave the fermenter in a more stable place and maintain a better temperature (the last batch was in a conservatory hiding in a box, it got a bit toasty on a couple of warm days, but the other options would have been a bit too cool I think. In hindsite this may not be true, but I've got a bit more control with the belt anyway).
I don't think I could discern any chorine taste in the brew, but I plan to add a campden tablet as you suggest (wish I'd remembered that when I order the other stuff mind!)
The last kit was a two tin kit, so adding sugar or dme wasn't necessary. I'm not sure about the next one though, so if it needs it I'll be sure to follow that advice too.
Thanks.
James.