Brewferm Christmas

[iaindm]

I have just purchased a Brewferm Christmas Ale kit and would like advice on how much and what type of sugar to use?

 

[Ken L]

It's in the instructions.
I seem to remember that that they are quite difficult to follow but there is a little chart on there with each type of beer in the range and details of the amount of sugar required for each one.

 

[Vossy1]

A belting kit, follow the instructions and you'll get a great pint :drink:

 

[shearclass]

I apologise for this, but I would suggest not following the instructions for this kit

The instructions for brewferm christmas say that it should be bottled at 1020. However, my kit was at 1020 after about 48 hours of fermenting. Undeterred, (I am a stickler for following instructions) i bottled the kit after the short ferment.

The brew was done about this time last year. I had a sample in september/october and it wasn't nice. However, by the time christmas came, they were much nicer and had come into condition.

Bottlign early resulted in an awful lot of sediment in each bottle, however. i am nto sure, but i think there may have been a slight off taste from this. If I were you, I would ferment to 1020 as the instructions say, then rack to another fv. If you have a fridge spare, perhaps you could then chill to try and drop as much yeast out as possible, and then bottle it.

I am nto an expert though, this is just a humble suggestion.

Be warned, this kit takes an awful long time to come into condition, so get brew on now for christmas drinking.

 

[critty]

Looks a good kit. Was thinking of doing this myself. Instructions say no extra sugars are needed. I take it the kit is rather sugar heavy anyway then.

 

[Anigeluk]

Im currently waiting on my LHBS to get this kit in and will be looking to get this one brewed up.

 

[shearclass]

I take it the kit is rather sugar heavy anyway then.

No, the opposite!

 

[iaindm]

Thanks for your replies, but the instructions are not very clear. It seems to indicate that no sugar is required. As a very new convert to home brew, this will brew number 5, I am confused that sugar is not required especially for a brew that will have such a high alcohol content.

Iain

 

[ScottM]

Going by a quick google it makes 7 litres. If that's the case then that explains why no additional sugar is required, as the sugar content in the extract is plenty to cover what is required.

Also, going by the predicted starting gravity and the alcohol content (7.5%) it would suggest that the final gravity should be around 1.010 rather than 1.020.

 

[iaindm]

What would the effect be of adding some sugar when starting the brew?

 

[ScottM]

What would the effect be of adding some sugar when starting the brew?

More alcohol and more maturation time required with a change in taste.

 

[iaindm]

Thank you for your advice, I have started the brew without adding any sugar and look forward to tasting at christmas.

 

[iaindm]

An update, having started the brew on saturday evening I moved the bucket to a warm corner of the bedroom (my wife is away for a couple of weeks looking after her ailing mother) and insulated it with a blanket. It is fermenting quite vigorously, so I wonder if it is ok to leave it like this till the first fermentation is completed or should I swap it at some stage with the Cerveza brew which is in a cooler situation.

Iain

 

[jonnymorris]

What temperature's are the corner of your bedroom and 'the cooler situation' respectively?

 

[shearclass]

Also, going by the predicted starting gravity and the alcohol content (7.5%) it would suggest that the final gravity should be around 1.010 rather than 1.020.

Maybe, but instructions for the Christmas kti say bottle at 1020, and do not add priming sugar. That way fermentation will continue in the bottle and it will come into condition on it's own (eventually).

However, i woudl not follow instructions, as i said earlier i would rack at 1020, let it clear a bit, fine it if you like, and then bottle with priming sugar.

 

[iaindm]

Brew has been fermenting now for 10 days and has stopped bubbling, when should I think about bottling and what advice can anyone give about storage?

Iain

 

[iaindm]

Brew has now been bottled and placed, for now in the warm corner of the bedroom. I look forward to the result at Chritmas.

 

[alanywiseman.]

Brew has now been bottled and placed, for now in the warm corner of the bedroom. I look forward to the result at Chritmas.

What FG did you get for this? Or did you bottle at 1020?