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Ah, thanks for the encouragement and helpful comments!

I just wanted to come back and thank everybody that gave helpful advice when I posted this question a few weeks back. I took just about everything on board, and it seems to have worked. I stirred the wort a lot more vigorously this time around; I did try using a paint paddle at first but it...

Ah, thanks for that. Those were in fact temperature-adjusted values rather than just straight readings, but thanks for pointing that out. Feelings seem to be pretty universal about the stirring and the concrete floor, so I think I've definitely identified a change to make for next time. Thanks!

Ha ha, with a certain irony I'm going camping next weekend, and I wouldn't dream of sleeping on a concrete floor, and so your comment about putting a camping mat under the fermenting vessel is particularly poignant! Also seeing as a new hydrometer probably wouldn't cost much more than about a...

Thanks for the comments. To be honest I don't really know about the sugars, I'm still a bit too new to this game to be able to confidently interpret precisely what's going on with them! But the FG does indeed seem to be settled and wasn't getting any lower by the time I bottled up, so I'm...

Ha ha, that sounds either completely insane or else total genius! You know what; I might just give it a go...

Thanks for some very helpful responses there. The concrete floor comment sounds very convincing. I do in fact have the fermenting vessel sat directly on a concrete floor surface. There always seems to be a large amount of sludge lining the bottom of the vessel when I go to siphon it out after...

Hello everyone. After receiving some helpful responses to my previous questions, I thought I'd come on to see whether anybody can offer any advice on the latest... When I started out at the beginning of the year, I had a plan in mind. I was going to start out with the basic kits, move on to the...

My bottle rack arrived on Monday. I guess I should have put a bit more thought into this beforehand, but I had no idea how big it was going to be, even when dismantled! At the moment it's still sitting on the kitchen table, until I can find somewhere to hide it away. Might have to see if it...

Thanks for all of your helpful responses. It sounds like this will be a really useful tool to purchase, but at the same time it won't completely replace all steps of the full sterilising and cleaning process. Really appreciate the responses, thanks everyone!

Hello, this is just a quick question which I suspect I already know the answer to, but it would be reassuring if anybody with a bit more experience is able to offer a comment. I'm about to start my second (bottle conditioned) brew shortly, being relatively pleased with how the first one turned...

Thanks for the suggestion. So simple and so cheap - perfect!

Many thanks for your helpful replies to my question. In fact you are all right; all helpful stuff, but it was in fact very similar to what I was already doing. I have got to the bottom of it now though. Basically, the problem on this occasion seems to be rubbish equipment. I got second...

Is anybody please able to offer advice? I've spent two days now trying to get my syphon working using a bucket of water, but have had no success whatsoever. My first batch is now just about ready to rack (I believe that's the correct term?), but without knowing how to operate the syphon I have...

Thanks for your helpful comments!

Thanks to those of you who offered friendly welcoming words when I joined the forum recently. Here is the story so far... I’m now part of the way through my first brew (Edme Superbrew German-style lager). It was a far trickier experience than I’d imagined, largely due to a lack of...

Wow, I wasn't expecting such a prompt and enthusiastic range of responses. Many thanks for your helpful and welcoming comments! My question's been answered and much more above, so I'm now going to get on with ordering my initial basic equipment this week. I'll report back at a later date on how...

Hello, and happy new year. I'm Mark, from London (Herne Hill), and I have both a story and a question. I'm about to have a go at home brewing as a result of our new Dyson vacuum cleaner. Or to be more specific, since buying my wife a Dyson last month I've now finally been given permission to...