Home brewing kits ....

robj20 · 11 Jun 2012 at 10:08

Same, i find results with cider tend to be better. Slightly differernt yeast, i use a wine yeast as i do my cider about 12%

Kimi · 11 Jun 2012 at 10:58

Put my second brew on yesterday,

This FV didn't come with an air lock, and the instructions said to just place the lid back on top and loosely clip it in, surely this presents a higher risk of infection?

I also made a mock up bottle when i was bored

dannyjo22 · 11 Jun 2012 at 11:23

Oh dear, that will be slow to brew and won't age well. The bottle will, probably explode

Kimi · 11 Jun 2012 at 11:29

heh, i think this one might be a vintage

HeadlessChicken · 11 Jun 2012 at 11:56

Kimi said:
Put my second brew on yesterday,

This FV didn't come with an air lock, and the instructions said to just place the lid back on top and loosely clip it in, surely this presents a higher risk of infection?

Nah, it'll be fine pal. That's how loads of people do it all the time.

In other news, I tried my St Peter's Golden Ale last nigh. Very nice! Proper summer sesh ale, really refreshing.

I think my summer should be fun:

40 pints St Peters Golden - keg
40 pints Coopers IPA - keg
40 Pints Woodforde's Sundew - keg
40 pints Woodforde's Wjerry (to do)
40 Pints Coopers Mexican Cerveza (brewing)
24 500ml bottles Brewferm Framboise
27 330ml bottles Brewferm Dubble

dannyjo22 · 11 Jun 2012 at 12:22

I have been given an Australian lager, wouldn't normally buy that I will get it brewing anyway. Anyone done the coopers ipa, I quite fancy lobbing it on for the bitter drinkers

dannyjo22 · 11 Jun 2012 at 12:28

Kimi I love that Canadian blonde. As a note, have you checked your fermenter? Lots of people I know check those youngs markings and find the 23l mark is out, so they get more water than they need. Next time measure out 20 then 23l to check before you put a brew on

Kimi · 11 Jun 2012 at 12:48

Yea i did notice that, stupidly i didn't actually measure it, i just thought oh 5 gallons is 22.7 liters so ill just fill it to there, i hope its not to far off! the brew smelt fantastic when i was mixing it up so really looking forward to trying this one. The reviews on youtube all seem positive.

I was just looking at that Brewferm Framboise, HeadlessChicken, interested to know how it turns out

HeadlessChicken · 11 Jun 2012 at 13:00

Kimi said:
I was just looking at that Brewferm Framboise, HeadlessChicken, interested to know how it turns out

I have done virtually all the Brewferm kits now, they are utterly amazing! The sneaky sample I tried when bottling was also awesome.

Danny, the Coopers IPA is a really good pint. Highly recommended and works well everytime!

robj20 · 11 Jun 2012 at 13:23

Those Fvs are rubbish in my opinion, not big enough, had a few beers go very aggresive and would go way over the top of that fv. If you look at my first pic of my fv above my current brew went all the way to the top of the blue markings.

dannyjo22 · 11 Jun 2012 at 16:07

HeadlessChicken said:
Danny, the Coopers IPA is a really good pint. Highly recommended and works well everytime!

Thanks did you do it per instructions or altered at all?

HeadlessChicken · 12 Jun 2012 at 01:21

dannyjo22 said:
Thanks did you do it per instructions or altered at all?

I have done all sorts with it. I had some dark malt left over at Crimbo, it made a great winter pint. I have added loads of citrus hops, it took that well. I have done it per instructions (with a certain brew enhancer), and also just made it with brewing sugar (as per my recent one for a light summer session ale).

Either way it makes an excellent pint. Only rivalled in flexibility by Woodforde's Wherry, but half the price.

This is probably my favourite kit, just because you can do anything with it. And if you don't want to, it's equally as good. Thumbs up from me.

dannyjo22 · 12 Jun 2012 at 10:41

Thanks again

I don't drink those types of beer really but plenty of my friends and family do. I wanted to make them something presentable up. Sound like it will do the job. The only one I like really is boddingtons as it's quite creamy

Kimi · 13 Jun 2012 at 13:59

So its coming up to bottling time for me, its been 10 days so far since i started the brew and the gravity has been 1010 since Sunday. I haven't got time this week so i will have to bottle it at the weekend which will be exactly 2 weeks in the FV.

A quick question, when i bottle, and i get down to just past the tap, what do i do with the last bit thats left in the FV? is there anything the sludge can be used for?

Mr.E. · 13 Jun 2012 at 14:48

wash it down the drain

Kanifee · 13 Jun 2012 at 15:14

Some people mix up the brew in a different fv, bring to pitching temp and then pitched the lot on top of the old yeast cake, they have great results, personal choice though.

Mr.E. · 13 Jun 2012 at 15:18

It's his first attempt, give the boy a chance

Kanifee · 13 Jun 2012 at 15:38

Just keeping his options open

dannyjo22 · 13 Jun 2012 at 15:38

Kanifee said:
Some people mix up the brew in a different fv, bring to pitching temp and then pitched the lot on top of the old yeast cake, they have great results, personal choice though.

I read that today on the coopers forum and a calculator to work out how much you need. Don't think I can be bothered with that

silent · 13 Jun 2012 at 16:08

i have a q.

if i buy a kit, any cheapish but good kit such as coopers and want to make a stronger ale than the 4% say on the tin, do you just add a lot more sugar to the FV stage one ferment?

i like the taste of woodfordes etc and would love to make a 'reserve' 6.5-7.5% version if thats possible for a treat. or do i use the original contents and make less of it, say 20 ltrs instead of 32?

i recently had a freebie from a supplier that went bust and instead of 23ltrs made 15ltrs with 1.3 kg of brewing sugar and my neighbours son said it tasted strong but i forgot the OG mark. ended at 1.010 FG.

whats the best way to do it?