Sterilising, sugar and temperature

[Knobrot]

Hello everyone, what a fabulous resource this is. I'm a definite lame noob so please be nice to me

I've had a go at home brewing in the past with mixed results - I think my sterilising wasn't great and I used to use endless bottles, which I didn't thoroughly clean. Anyway, have now got a barrel instead which should be easier I hope!

However, being a bit of a wimp I've always used beer kits and have found the Kits link (top right) to be incredibly useful.

I've currently got a Youngs Brew Buddy (Bitter) and have just a few final questions before starting:

1) I'm going to sterilise everything using sodium metasilicate in the fermenting bin itself (lid, measuring jug, hydrometer, thermometer, cloth etc).

But is it a good idea if I then decant some of this used sterilising solution into a fizzy pop bottle and leave the hydrometer and thermometer in there during the course of the brewing process? If so, how long can I leave this solution for - days/weeks?

Presumably then I simply rinse the hydrometer or thermometer with cold water when I want to use it and drop them back in the bottle after each use?

2) When I boil the water during the first stage (to mix with the beer kit in the fermenting bin), should the saucepan I use also be sterilised or does this not matter?

3) I haven't got brewing sugar, but Youngs instructions say that normal granulated sugar can be used for the first stage fermentation. How would people suggest that normal sugar be prepared prior to being added to the wort i.e. just tipped in, or dissolved in hot water first etc?

4) What's the difference between using brewing sugar or normal sugar during the first stage, in terms of the end result? I appreciate its probably not ideal to use granulated, but I thought I'd give this a go the first time round.

5) The kit instructions (top right link), say to add yeast when the wort has dropped below 30C, but Youngs Brew Buddy says between 18-21C. Which is right, or doesn't it really matter?

Many thanks for any advice that can be given!

[fractureman]

1)
I use VWP as my cleaner sterilizer, not heard of what your using so can't comment sorry mate. Sounds like you have a good idea in setup for keeping the hydro sterilized though
2)
I boil the water in my kettle & don't sterilize that, is your going to boil using a suacepan would be a good idea to sterilize that though
3)
When using kits that require sugar I simply tip it in with the can at the start of the brew process I add the boiling water & stir in at the beginning
4)
Not sure if there is much difference really someone else would be better as I am only a recent brewer myself. I have always used brewing sugar at the fermentation stage. I use normal granulated sugar for priming though but this is only a small ammount.
5)
I have never taken the temp of my wort before adding the yeast, I use 6l of boiling water in my 20l though (never make upto full 40 pints) & when I pitch my yeast it alway works fine. I think that as long as below 30 deg then you will be fine, you don;t want it too hot or else you risk killing the yeast. I simply open the pack up over the wort in the FV, I don't re-hydrate the yeast or anything in a measuring jug.

I've got one of those kits on the go at the moment, & had a nice creamy head on my brew in the FV after 8 hours, it smells quite good as well

[Dances]

I find it easier to have one of the plastic strip thermometers stuck to the side of my FVs to give an easy visual check of the temperature - not amazingly accurate I know but close enough for me. If you use a heater band, place the strip fairly high up the FV.

As for the hydrometer, just sanitise it once and leave it in your FV until fermentation is finished.

You may need more than one if you have more than one FV but they are not expensive.

[Knobrot]

Well I've done it this morning - so here's hoping!

Anyway, thanks to everyone who responded