Home brewing kits ....
- Thread starter Aliboy
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Man of Honour
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You probably can though I think most of the recipes I've read (it was a while ago and I haven't actually made any decent wine...) involve you transferring from a primary FV into a secondary to help you clarify the wine. It really depends on how anal you are about sediment/cloudiness I guess.
So i am wanting to get started brewing my own ale, i got given this (http://www.home-brew-online.com/sta...r-c50/introductory-starter-kit-pale-ale-p1329) for Christmas although missing the cipher tube got to get in touch about that.
Now i have done various reading but the list of stuff i should have differs, Just wondering has anyone got a list of essentials to brew a nice ale, although i know it might take me a few brews to get anywhere okay with it id like to be prepared and ready for brewing lots more in the future.
Whats my best options for bottling/kegging the ale?
Do i need a airlock?
I plan to let it ferment in a cupboard in my room, would i need a Brew Belt?
What is a good Steriliser to get? any recommendation?
the things above i seem i would like but not sure i need or know what to get.
Thanks in advanced
Now i have done various reading but the list of stuff i should have differs, Just wondering has anyone got a list of essentials to brew a nice ale, although i know it might take me a few brews to get anywhere okay with it id like to be prepared and ready for brewing lots more in the future.
Whats my best options for bottling/kegging the ale?
Do i need a airlock?
I plan to let it ferment in a cupboard in my room, would i need a Brew Belt?
What is a good Steriliser to get? any recommendation?
the things above i seem i would like but not sure i need or know what to get.
Thanks in advanced
Associate
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An air lock for the fermentermight be a good idea, it will stop nasties getting in, and let CO2 vent out during fermentation. If you use a bubbler style it can be a good indicator that fermentation is happening.
You'll want some sugar of some sort. Most of the single can/bag kits need another kg of sugar or other fermentables to bring it up to the desired strength. I've always found white table sugar to be horrible for brewing, to me it leaves a cidery/winey taste in the beer. Most home brew shops and larger Wilkos will sell "brew enhancer" that is a combination of spray malt and brewing sugar. Gives a better taste to the brewed beer.
You'll probably want something to store the beer in once it's brewed, so either bottles of some sort or a barrel. For the cheapest option for your first time you could get some 1 or 2l pop bottles, sanitise them and bottle in those. Not ideal for long term storage, and any clear bottles should be stored out of sunlight.
For a sanitiser we use VWP and Starsan. I'd go for VWP initially as it's a combination cleaner and sanitiser in one.
Best of luck, enjoy it and have fun. Would be interesting if you posted a photo or two of your first brew-day if you wanted.
You'll want some sugar of some sort. Most of the single can/bag kits need another kg of sugar or other fermentables to bring it up to the desired strength. I've always found white table sugar to be horrible for brewing, to me it leaves a cidery/winey taste in the beer. Most home brew shops and larger Wilkos will sell "brew enhancer" that is a combination of spray malt and brewing sugar. Gives a better taste to the brewed beer.
You'll probably want something to store the beer in once it's brewed, so either bottles of some sort or a barrel. For the cheapest option for your first time you could get some 1 or 2l pop bottles, sanitise them and bottle in those. Not ideal for long term storage, and any clear bottles should be stored out of sunlight.
For a sanitiser we use VWP and Starsan. I'd go for VWP initially as it's a combination cleaner and sanitiser in one.
Best of luck, enjoy it and have fun. Would be interesting if you posted a photo or two of your first brew-day if you wanted.
Thank you seabiscuit, Will look at getting them extra bits.
I am tempted to get plastic bottles (PET Bottles 500ml on wilko) to store the beer after its finished brewing are these a good way to store the beer?
Will defiantly take a few pictures of my progress
I am tempted to get plastic bottles (PET Bottles 500ml on wilko) to store the beer after its finished brewing are these a good way to store the beer?
Will defiantly take a few pictures of my progress
Associate
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Brilliant.
Me and MrsSeabiscuit did a bit of a brewery school/training day for one of my colleagues yesterday. He'd been a little apprihesive about kits and not wanting things to go wrong. But beer kits are so easy, they are great. They can be done in half an hour, including cleaning. All it then takes is a little patience while the yeast works it's magic.
As for PET bottles, I think they're fine, and in fact they have the advantage that you can judge the pressure of the beer in the bottle. The difficulty with them is priming 40+ bottles to carbonate the beer. We have a dedicated bucket with a narrow tap which we put priming sugar in the whole batch for bottling a whole brew. We do fine that a pressure barrel is easier, as you only have one barrel to clean and prime, but bottles are great as you can gradually build up a wide range of different brews. In fact we ordered a bench capper for capping glass bottles at the weekend, after doing a couple of hundred bottles with a hand capper. Just because we've found we like bottling, although it is slightly more effort.
The brilliant thing about home brewing is it's not difficult, and with a nice kit using malt more than sugar, you'll end up with a really tasty beer.
Have fun, and enjoy your beer with good friends. There's not much better than that.
Me and MrsSeabiscuit did a bit of a brewery school/training day for one of my colleagues yesterday. He'd been a little apprihesive about kits and not wanting things to go wrong. But beer kits are so easy, they are great. They can be done in half an hour, including cleaning. All it then takes is a little patience while the yeast works it's magic.
As for PET bottles, I think they're fine, and in fact they have the advantage that you can judge the pressure of the beer in the bottle. The difficulty with them is priming 40+ bottles to carbonate the beer. We have a dedicated bucket with a narrow tap which we put priming sugar in the whole batch for bottling a whole brew. We do fine that a pressure barrel is easier, as you only have one barrel to clean and prime, but bottles are great as you can gradually build up a wide range of different brews. In fact we ordered a bench capper for capping glass bottles at the weekend, after doing a couple of hundred bottles with a hand capper. Just because we've found we like bottling, although it is slightly more effort.
The brilliant thing about home brewing is it's not difficult, and with a nice kit using malt more than sugar, you'll end up with a really tasty beer.
Have fun, and enjoy your beer with good friends. There's not much better than that.
Oh Nice.
I have decided to just go for a Barrel run instead, i have gone for the CO2 barrel cap too and some CO2 bulbs as it seems very much worth it to keep the Beer in good shape while drinking slowly though it.
Also got the Airlock and VWP to clean everything with.
One of them people that likes to have everything ready Now that i have it all ordered i can start making a some batches and hopefully get 2-3 done this year if i can depending how slowly i drink each one
With a barrel i assume these are fairly easy to just carry say to a mates and just take the CO2 bulbs with me encase it runs out of pressure to get the beer out.
Anyway Thank you so much for your help hopefully this is a nice start to a new awesome hobby.
I have decided to just go for a Barrel run instead, i have gone for the CO2 barrel cap too and some CO2 bulbs as it seems very much worth it to keep the Beer in good shape while drinking slowly though it.
Also got the Airlock and VWP to clean everything with.
One of them people that likes to have everything ready
Now that i have it all ordered i can start making a some batches and hopefully get 2-3 done this year if i can depending how slowly i drink each one With a barrel i assume these are fairly easy to just carry say to a mates and just take the CO2 bulbs with me encase it runs out of pressure to get the beer out.
Anyway Thank you so much for your help hopefully this is a nice start to a new awesome hobby.
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Well we have taken a barrel round to friends, but because there will be yeast on the bottom of the barrel it could get disturbed when you move it. We took the barrel around a few days before it was going to be used to let it settle. In effect like when casks are delivered to a pub they get put in stillage before they're used (if the pub stores its beer well that is).
And as for being a nice hobby, it really is. And people in this thread and the all grain thread really gave us loads of advice when we started, so it's great to be able to pay it forward. We started with one barrel and one fermenter, then added another barrel so beer could be conditioning/maturing in one while the other was being drunk. Then we added more barrels and more fermenters so we could have a choice of different beers. And then it went on and on with more kit and moving to all grain brewing. But we enjoy it.
And as for being a nice hobby, it really is. And people in this thread and the all grain thread really gave us loads of advice when we started, so it's great to be able to pay it forward. We started with one barrel and one fermenter, then added another barrel so beer could be conditioning/maturing in one while the other was being drunk. Then we added more barrels and more fermenters so we could have a choice of different beers. And then it went on and on with more kit and moving to all grain brewing. But we enjoy it.
Ah yeh thats a good point, I looked around and it does look like you can potentially bottle from barrel to bottle, I am going to try get 6-12 grolsch bottles and do them and rest barrel for me, I like the fact the caps just flip on.
Barrel and everything else arrived today, and been keeping a eye on temperatures in my room just as a general guide and seems to hover around 22-24 so its in the right range for the guidelines and if i need a little more warmth i can always wrap it up a little
Although i now have to drill a hole in the lid for my airlock to fit, So will do that tonight and hopefully get started brewing tonight/tomorrow
I just got to order some extra brewing sugar, I forgot i needed some for barreling/bottling and only have 1kg and my kit requires all of that.
The other half even mentioned she wouldn't mind getting into brewing her own wine at some point which is cool
Barrel and everything else arrived today, and been keeping a eye on temperatures in my room just as a general guide and seems to hover around 22-24 so its in the right range for the guidelines and if i need a little more warmth i can always wrap it up a little
Although i now have to drill a hole in the lid for my airlock to fit, So will do that tonight and hopefully get started brewing tonight/tomorrow
I just got to order some extra brewing sugar, I forgot i needed some for barreling/bottling and only have 1kg and my kit requires all of that.
The other half even mentioned she wouldn't mind getting into brewing her own wine at some point which is cool
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Associate
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Brilliant!
What type of sugar did you use for upping the strength of it?
I'm sure you'll have sanitised it just fine.
What type of sugar did you use for upping the strength of it?
I'm sure you'll have sanitised it just fine.
Soldato
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Etheco thats brilliant! When you hold a pint of your own beer it is a fantastic feeling. Keep us posted and ask a way! All home brewers we have met are friendly and helpful. EXCEPT ME OF COURSE 
Edit:- what kit have did you go for?
Edit:- what kit have did you go for?
So i been worrying a little about it actually working, but i can see foamy stuff on the sides and lid, but my airlock just doesn't seem to be letting anything out after pressing the lid down does seem to be letting out co2.
The lid was also buckled slightly with the pressure under it so i think i am okay
Also i forgot to take a mavity when i first made the batch, and not sure best way to get one in a few days, Is it best to sanitise the tube and just dip that in to get some beer out ?
Thanks
The lid was also buckled slightly with the pressure under it so i think i am okay
Also i forgot to take a mavity when i first made the batch, and not sure best way to get one in a few days, Is it best to sanitise the tube and just dip that in to get some beer out ?
Thanks
Just an FYI, markings on fermenters are notorious for being off, it is best to calibrate them by adding weighed water to them and re-marking if necessary.
If yours are off your it may affect your expected mavity readings, if it does just ensure fermentation has finished by ensuring you are getting the same readings for 2-3 days (or just leave it fermenting for 14 days and it should have finished).
Not sure about taking the readings as I use a tap on mine but I think a lot of people use sanitised turkey batters but someone else may be able to help you with that.
If yours are off your it may affect your expected mavity readings, if it does just ensure fermentation has finished by ensuring you are getting the same readings for 2-3 days (or just leave it fermenting for 14 days and it should have finished).
Not sure about taking the readings as I use a tap on mine but I think a lot of people use sanitised turkey batters but someone else may be able to help you with that.
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Soldato
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So i been worrying a little about it actually working, but i can see foamy stuff on the sides and lid, but my airlock just doesn't seem to be letting anything out after pressing the lid down does seem to be letting out co2.
The lid was also buckled slightly with the pressure under it so i think i am okay
Also i forgot to take a mavity when i first made the batch, and not sure best way to get one in a few days, Is it best to sanitise the tube and just dip that in to get some beer out ?
Thanks
If you've got a noticeable layer of carbon dioxide on top of the beer then it should be fine, airlock or not. The airlock is only really there to stop the lid from blowing off.
I tend to just leave primary for a full 14 days to be sure it's done, then sanitise my hydrometer and dip it in to suck some of the beer up (I know some people say never to do that, but it's never caused me a problem) to check the final mavity. Even if you didn't take your IG, you should have a decent enough ballpark idea to know if it's your FG is down from that.
Thanks for the tips peeps, I tihnk i will just leave it the full 14days although i want to get bottling/kegging it.
It is now starting to spell of beer/cider which is nice and i had a proper look inside and can see little bubbles
Turkey baster is a good idea might get one of them to add to my beer making collection haha, This hobby can get expensive quickly.
It is now starting to spell of beer/cider which is nice and i had a proper look inside and can see little bubbles
Turkey baster is a good idea might get one of them to add to my beer making collection haha, This hobby can get expensive quickly.