1st brew attempt question

[Burtie]

I'd check it again tomorrow .
1.015 isn't isn't far off the 1.008-1.014 range in the standard instructions supplied.

If the airlock is still bubbling then fermentation still happening..

Have you added the hop bag yet?

Did you taste the sample?

 

[SnakeEyes]

I'd check it again tomorrow .
1.015 isn't isn't far off the 1.008-1.014 range in the standard instructions supplied.

If the airlock is still bubbling then fermentation still happening..

Have you added the hop bag yet?

Did you taste the sample?

I added the hops bag about 7 days ago I think. I didn't taste test, although it smelt really nice. It's still bubbling away now. I noticed staining on the inside of the fermenter where I'm presuming a foam had formed on the top but it's now nearly gone. I think I'm just being impatient tbh.

 

[Burtie]

Yes, the staining is from the krausen (foam) - if I can see the tide mark through the wall of the FV then I know fermentation has started.

Check it again tomorrow or Friday, I suspect it's still fermenting - my FG reading was 1.008.

 

[Kenboy]

Ignore the instructions timeline. I always go with two weeks in the fermenter, adding hops when gravity at 22-24. I hope in a muslin bag.

 

[ACBEV]

I think I'm just being impatient tbh.

I think so! For most brews I leave the FV alone for two weeks. 99.9% by this time the beer will be done and bright, ready for bottling. Fiddling to much with fermenting beer is not a good thing...

 

[DavidDetroit]

I think so! For most brews I leave the FV alone for two weeks. 99.9% by this time the beer will be done and bright, ready for bottling. Fiddling to much with fermenting beer is not a good thing...

+1. Very important not to fiddle too much. Muy importante! Gotta get used to it since beer making, early on, is very exciting (not being facetious). I still go down to the basement, though, and stare at the airlock for a minute here and there.
I settled on doing three weeks in the primary and then bottling for everything. I'm not recommending it; but, it is along the same line of logic as two. The "no secondary" came about from reading and then trying and then succeeding.
Ironically, since I don't like opening it's ready, I'm about to open my fermenter tomorrow to add whiskey with oak cubes.
Cheers!

 

[GerritT]

I added the hops bag about 7 days ago I think. I didn't taste test, although it smelt really nice. It's still bubbling away now. I noticed staining on the inside of the fermenter where I'm presuming a foam had formed on the top but it's now nearly gone. I think I'm just being impatient tbh.

So, what could you do to lighten the impatience? Prepare for the next batch!

Gather ideas, check kits (are they on sale somewhere, for instance?), read up on extract brewing or partial mashes, count your bottles, etc. Already prepared a bottling vessel?

 

[Kenboy]

Plan ahead. Think that your next reward is gonna take at least 6 weeks from starting to drinking. Once this one is done I'd start your next one, based on how fast you think you'll get through these. I have a porter (20 pints) & an IPA (17 ) I'm drinking now with some mixed berry cider conditioning as we speak. I'm ready to start my next brew now.

 

[SnakeEyes]

Ignore the instructions timeline. I always go with two weeks in the fermenter, adding hops when gravity at 22-24. I hope in a muslin bag.

I wasn't sure what was the best way to add them so I just went with the instructions and sprinkled across the top. Hope this is ok lol.

 

[SnakeEyes]

So, what could you do to lighten the impatience? Prepare for the next batch!

Gather ideas, check kits (are they on sale somewhere, for instance?), read up on extract brewing or partial mashes, count your bottles, etc. Already prepared a bottling vessel?

I've seen a raspberry and lime cider kit I was thinking I might do next. But then again there's also a amber ale kit too

 

[GerritT]

I wasn't sure what was the best way to add them so I just went with the instructions and sprinkled across the top. Hope this is ok lol.

It's okay, you lose a bit more beer and might have a bit more trouble removing it. Just a bit.

 

[GerritT]

I've seen a raspberry and lime cider kit I was thinking I might do next. But then again there's also a amber ale kit too

I'd go for the amber ale kit first. I know a Bulldogs raspberry and lime cider kit, it was nice but you could do that one in parallel. My brewmaster always says to keep cider and beer brews apart: cider yeasts are way more aggressive and can influence the beer. So: ale first, 3 weeks later the cider. And preferably in a dedicated bucket, but otherwise clean it really really good.

 

[SnakeEyes]

I'd go for the amber ale kit first. I know a Bulldogs raspberry and lime cider kit, it was nice but you could do that one in parallel. My brewmaster always says to keep cider and beer brews apart: cider yeasts are way more aggressive and can influence the beer. So: ale first, 3 weeks later the cider. And preferably in a dedicated bucket, but otherwise clean it really really good.

Thanks for letting me know. I hadn't realised that. Plus the amber ale is a limited edition one.

 

[Kenboy]

Your beer will be fine. Using a muslin bag just means you have less sediment so ultimately a clearer beer. Conversely, people say you get less hop aroma/flavour. I haven't noticed a flavour difference.

 

[GerritT]

Your beer will be fine. Using a muslin bag just means you have less sediment so ultimately a clearer beer. Conversely, people say you get less hop aroma/flavour. I haven't noticed a flavour difference.

And I attach that muslin bag to the end of the racking wand (very loosely so it looks like a sock attached to a big toe) so I'll catch it there.
There's a thousand ways to Rome, and several places named Rome anyway

 

[SnakeEyes]

Your beer will be fine. Using a muslin bag just means you have less sediment so ultimately a clearer beer. Conversely, people say you get less hop aroma/flavour. I haven't noticed a flavour difference.

Hope I don't end up with cloudy beer.

 

[SnakeEyes]

That's it all bottled. What a total and utter **** on it was lol. Had a few problems as I went. I took the manufacturer advice and attached my bottling wand directly to the tap. I then realised there was a ton of beer left in the bottom. So with the help of the Mrs, we poured the remainder through a filter into a jug. Then into the bottles. I steralised everything first including the filter. I'll need to invest in a siphon and a tube for next time I think.

My thinking is, if the extra bottle I got from pouring and filtering are no good all its cost me is the carbonation drops as it was going to end up down the sink. Does anyone know if it will be ok?

 

[NIGHTSKY BREWING]

15...? keep going you are looking for around 1.008 /1.012

 

[SnakeEyes]

15...? keep going you are looking for around 1.008 /1.012

I got it down to 1.010 in the end.

 

[GerritT]

So with the help of the Mrs, we poured the remainder through a filter into a jug. Then into the bottles. I steralised everything first including the filter. I'll need to invest in a siphon and a tube for next time I think.

My thinking is, if the extra bottle I got from pouring and filtering are no good all its cost me is the carbonation drops as it was going to end up down the sink. Does anyone know if it will be ok?

Should be ok, I had some brews in the beginner days where I siphoned into a 5 L measuring jar and poured it carefully into the bottles. Everything was clean, everything turned out good (I had lower standards in those days ) and everything was drunk and considered 'nice' by the missus and the children.
Be warned though: a glass with a LOT OF still active yeast could do strange things to your bowels for a day. Lots of gas and unpleasantnesses.