Home brewing kits ....

Gilly · 9 Jan 2014 at 21:20

I've got a pressure barrel with a tap, so any cack I get in the second part will be below it then?

Thanks for the help, I knew we made you MoH for something.

FrenchTart · 9 Jan 2014 at 21:30

Gilly said:
I've got a pressure barrel with a tap, so any cack I get in the second part will be below it then?

Thanks for the help, I knew we made you MoH for something.

Lol

Yup, most of it will be. If you're doing that I would recommend leaving things to settle a bit after your first fermentation - perhaps cooling it as much as possible for a week (cold crashing).

Mrs Seabiscuit · 10 Jan 2014 at 09:52

Ahh the funs at all grain method.

*flees

FrenchTart · 10 Jan 2014 at 09:58

Mrs Seabiscuit said:
Ahh the funs at all grain method. *flees

Agreed. Kits are a good gateway to brewing though

Gilly · 10 Jan 2014 at 10:25

FrenchTart said:
Lol

Yup, most of it will be. If you're doing that I would recommend leaving things to settle a bit after your first fermentation - perhaps cooling it as much as possible for a week (cold crashing).

When you say after, this is still in the fermenting bucket rather than the pressure barrel?

Mrs Seabiscuit · 10 Jan 2014 at 10:27

FrenchTart said:
Agreed. Kits are a good gateway to brewing though

Very true.

FrenchTart · 10 Jan 2014 at 10:34

Gilly said:
When you say after, this is still in the fermenting bucket rather than the pressure barrel?

I would add it to the pressure barrel. If you add it to the fermenting bucket then you'll disturb the sediment when you mix in the sugar.

The best way to do it is to use an online calculator to work out how much sugar you need for the amount of beer you have: http://www.brewersfriend.com/beer-priming-calculator/ (use the table sugar option and granulated sugar)

Then add that sugar to a pan with a little water in it and heat it to boiling. This will ensure you don't accidentally infect your beer whilst you're adding the sugar. Add the boiling sugar water and then give the thing a stir in the pressure barrel. Try not to agitate it too much as you don't want to get too much air mixed in with the beer (getting air/oxygen in there before the first/primary fermentation is good, getting it in there for the secondary fermentation is bad).

Once you've mixed it in just leave it with the pressure barrel closed for 10-12 days in a warm place.

Gilly · 11 Jan 2014 at 21:14

How long through the second phase before its safe to sample?

Ahleckz · 11 Jan 2014 at 21:20

It's safe whenever. Just make sure that your siphon is clean and sterile before putting it into the wort.

Gilly · 11 Jan 2014 at 21:21

It's in a pressure barrel now so I have a tap on it. Just didn't know if it would be worth a go yet.

seabiscuit · 11 Jan 2014 at 21:49

Taste it. That's how you can learn how the taste changes over time. And so you can try it and know that it's a beer. That you made!!

Congratulations brewmeister Gilly!!!

VeNT · 16 Jan 2014 at 13:00

what have you created?!?!

in other news, where's the best place to pickup the bits for a startup kit brewing? fermentation bucket, hydrometer etc? local shop has bucket, bubbler, spoon, steri, syphon tube etc for £24

Ali195 · 16 Jan 2014 at 15:02

My GF got a me a home brew beer kit!!!! Got it all setup last night BUT:

1. I would rather like a 23lt pressure keg (for 2nd process fermentation) & not some 20+ glass bottles around the house.
2. Any places in London you can pick one up? Was going to order online & pickup from a warehouse company but they just told me its closed over weekends.

Basically this: "http://www.wilko.com/homebrew-accessories+equipment/wilko-pressure-barrel-23l40-pints/invt/0022554"

seabiscuit · 17 Jan 2014 at 06:59

Wilko's do a reasonable starting range. They have fermentors, basic pressure barrels, sanitising chemicals, finings etc.

Mrs Seabiscuit · 17 Jan 2014 at 07:07

seabiscuit said:
Wilko's do a reasonable starting range. They have fermentors, basic pressure barrels, sanitising chemicals, finings etc.

what this dude said, he sounds intelligent.

This is what we bought to start us off and I/we highly reccommend it.

http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/micro/complete-woodfordes-starter-equipment-set.html

VeNT · 17 Jan 2014 at 09:58

do the wilco fermentors have the hole for a gas trap/bubbler?

Mrs Seabiscuit · 17 Jan 2014 at 10:02

VeNT said:
do the wilco fermentors have the hole for a gas trap/bubbler?

yesss *thinks hard, scratches head. Yes they do.

Liverpool-Lad · 17 Jan 2014 at 22:59

They dont but you can cut one in.

VeNT · 20 Jan 2014 at 10:57

Liverpool-Lad said:
They dont but you can cut one in.

yeah but that's a PITA if you can get a proper one for a quid or two more.

Gilly · 20 Jan 2014 at 17:27

seabiscuit said:
Taste it. That's how you can learn how the taste changes over time. And so you can try it and know that it's a beer. That you made!! Congratulations brewmeister Gilly!!!

Ran some off on Saturday. It tastes really chemically

I'm worried that it's something that was left in one of the containers after I'd treated it, but I was absolutely sure I'd rinsed everything out.

VeNT said:
do the wilco fermentors have the hole for a gas trap/bubbler?

Nope