A few newbie questions

[Hoyle468]

Hi all

I'm new to brewing and to the forum and I have some questions

I have a st peters ipa that's been brewing since Friday and it says in the instructions that it should take 4 to 6 days and that it should be at 1014 using a hydrometer I tested it tonight and it was at the 14 mark I'm assuming that's 1014 but if I'm doing it right that's about 1.4% alcohol and it should be 5.5% I'm going to use a pressure barrel will it carry on fermenting in the barrel or have I got this all wrong

Also it says I need to add 1/2 tea spoon of sugar per 1 pint of beer when it goes into the barrel should I use normal sugar or is there a special beer sugar

Hope that makes sense

Thanks
Steve

 

[simo72]

HI I'm fairly new myself but your hydro reading doesnt mean 1.4% it just shows the concentration of sugars left in your brew.To work out ABV you need to check the gravity at the start of fermentation usually 1035-1060 depending on style and strength of the beer being made,aand then the finishing gravity usually 1006-1012, a calculation is then made which i think is gravity fall(i.e. 1040-1010) x 0.129.
You can use normal sugar for priming the bottles or keg but you can also use brewing sugar or dried malt extract or even honey.
Hope this helps

 

[pittsy]

Also you need to leave brew fermenting in fv for 10 to 14 days not 4 to 6 this is too short , brew needs time to improve as well as ferment, table sugar is best for priming too

 

[Hoyle468]

The lady In the shop told me to brew it in a bucket with the lid just placed on top without a bubble trap will it be ok in there for 14 days

 

[BigYin]

Steve, have a read of this guide to using your hydrometer :thumb:

If the brew has only been in since Friday, leave it at least a week, undisturbed. Even if the main fermentation is over, leaving it a bit longer will let the yeast finish its clear up job and get rid of any other by products of the initial ferment

Good luck, and welcome to the rest of your life :drink:

 

[Hoyle468]

HI I'm fairly new myself but your hydro reading doesnt mean 1.4% it just shows the concentration of sugars left in your brew.To work out ABV you need to check the gravity at the start of fermentation usually 1035-1060 depending on style and strength of the beer being made,aand then the finishing gravity usually 1006-1012, a calculation is then made which i think is gravity fall(i.e. 1040-1010) x 0.129.
You can use normal sugar for priming the bottles or keg but you can also use brewing sugar or dried malt extract or even honey.
Hope this helps

Oooppps I didn't take a reading when I started and I think I need to do a bit of reading up on hydrometers

 

[Hoyle468]

Steve, have a read of this guide to using your hydrometer :thumb:

If the brew has only been in since Friday, leave it at least a week, undisturbed. Even if the main fermentation is over, leaving it a bit longer will let the yeast finish its clear up job and get rid of any other by products of the initial ferment

Good luck, and welcome to the rest of your life :drink:

Thanks for the link I'll give it a good read tomorrow

 

[dodsi]

Hydrometers are... annoying.

having read on here about them breaking really easily I was especially careful with mine... and broke it anyways putting it really carefully into my "theif" to take a sample.

now I own 2 as I bought a spare and a replacement!

 

[Devonhomebrew]

Hydrometers are easy when you understand how to use them also 4-6 days nah you'll get over carbed beer which will over flow in the bottles needs to be left for 2 weeks really that also help clarity. :thumb: Do some more research youll soon get there.

 

[PD]

Have a read of this....
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4022

although it does refer to using 2 can kits.

Browse through the How to section as well lots of advise and instructions there