Can I add a packet of hops to a 40 pint brew of lager

[Datanode101]

agreed! twas a fleabay purchase......another copy no doubt!

 

[terrym]

agreed! twas a fleabay purchase......another copy no doubt!

If you don't get a satisfactory response to your question, if at all, I would be taking out an ebay dispute if it matters to you. Arguably its not fit for purpose. Either he doesnt know what he is talking about, or worse he's trying to avoid sending you another or providing you with a refund.

 

[Datanode101]

It does matter really, it's the principal, I bought a measuring device to measure, no good if it's out, yes I could do the calculations my self, But I hate getting ripped off....imagine if it was a Geiger counter, but then to palm me off with "it's got to be 4 degrees" is just taking the mick like! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and see what they say.....

Thanks

oooooo nice! a Wifi Hydrometer...!

 

[Datanode101]

Here's a reading at warm water temps. He sent a message back saying they were calibrated at 20 degrees, and send it back if i'm not happy, pain in the arse though ain't it, and not to mention incompetent sales, and a great picture of the meniscus.

 

[Datanode101]

a couple more readings this time the water at room temperature just to prove that it out?

So, water, should be sitting at the thin black line....?

 

[Datanode101]

I've decided how I going to bottle, and do the 2nd fermentation, I'm going to get a 2nd bucket to use and dissolve the needed amount of sugar into a mix and do it that way.....

 

[Datanode101]

Here we have a reading from the finished batch.

and one from the start of the new batch.....

 

[jMac]

Brilliant! Still planning on batch priming your brews?

Looks like your first batch has finished around 1.008 (taking into account your fishy hydro, it may even be lower, hope you like dry beer ) and the second batch has an OG of 1.040ish, so if your first batch was similar you’re looking at a v sessionable 4.2%. Good work!

 

[Datanode101]

Thanks,

I was going to buy all the 2nd fermenting bin, hose, siphon etc. But decided I'd give melting the sugar into water and using a syringe to add to each bottle. So I went onto the priming calculator today and got the amount of sugar that was needed, which was 107.8 grams @ 20 degrees (the only thing I forgot to change was the Volumes of CO2 so I might have under primed?

So then I thought that just over 2.6ml per bottle, so used a syringe to measure just over the 2.6ml mark and put that in each bottle. 2.6ml x 40 = 104 ml used in total.

I might have completely made a mess of it, but it was something I wanted to try for ages.

Right back to the readings, I can't work out were you get them from...lol

I can see on the start reading that it tells me that it's around about that 1.040 mark so that's cool, but the 2nd one I can't work out even after looking at it where you get that figure from?

And how can you know what the final batch would turn out to be, I really need to brush up on my hydrometer skills!

Thanks again for all the tips.

(I didn't put any hops in this one but will in the 2nd one I'm making)

and thanks for the heads up on the alcohol, So i added the 1kg bag and about an extra 100 grams (left over from other beer making antics) How do you increase the alcohol then? I thought it was a case of adding more sugar?

Cheers!

 

[pms67]

aha! never even thought about something like that, I'll get one of them bags.

Sugar,

Am I making this calculation right for 500ml bottles and brewing 40 pints it's suggesting 114 g of normal sugar...!??!

40 pints = 22.73.04 litres, 114g table sugar ÷ 40 bottles = 2.86 g per bottle?

Seems like a shed loads...

It's rather hot here today (just had a check of the fermentor and it's 32-34 degrees! , I'm surprised it's not leaked up and out the air lock!

I didn't know about cooling it, could I put it in the bath and fill the bath with cold water, of course trying not to move it, don't want it bobbing around or anything.....

Thanks again

(P.s forgot at add! honey! OMG! like how nice would a brew beer with honey be! YUM!!)

View attachment 30830

Good luck mate but could be some funky taste with 32-34 degrees

 

[Datanode101]

Good luck mate but could be some funky taste with 32-34 degrees

can that destroy the taste? a lot cooler today, so this batch is at 22 degrees.

 

[jMac]

So then I thought that just over 2.6ml per bottle, so used a syringe to measure just over the 2.6ml mark and put that in each bottle. 2.6ml x 40 = 104 ml used in total.

In 20L that would give you about 2.2 volumes of CO2, which is low-ish, but it will still have some fizz. Personally I’d aim for higher (2.4+), particularly in a lager-like, but don’t panic - it will be fine! It’s all a learning curve and you can up your carbonation if you feel you want to in your second batch.

I can see on the start reading that it tells me that it's around about that 1.040 mark so that's cool, but the 2nd one I can't work out even after looking at it where you get that figure from?

The bottom of the thick black bar is 1.010, there or below (by which I mean, above as you read the hydro!) is good for dry, less malty beer styles.

 

[Datanode101]

Brilliant! cheers!

 

[jMac]

can that destroy the taste? a lot cooler today, so this batch is at 22 degrees.

It’s all relative. Ideally 22° should really be as hot as you’d want an traditional ale yeast to go during active fermentation - so try and keep your second batch around 18-20° max (a simple water bath in a flexi-tub or similar could be a good idea), but ambient temps at the mo should see to that.

Have you been tasting your samples? that should give a good idea of what your final beer will taste like.

 

[Datanode101]

It’s all relative. Ideally 22° should really be as hot as you’d want an traditional ale yeast to go during active fermentation - so try and keep your second batch around 18-20° max (a simple water bath in a flexi-tub or similar could be a good idea), but ambient temps at the mo should see to that.

Have you been tasting your samples? that should give a good idea of what your final beer will taste like.

Thanks, The water bath does sound a good idea, and I also had good results with the wet cold towels wrapped around the fermenter.

I've only ever tasted it today really, that was the stuff left over from the hydrometer, had a sip and I can see what you mean about dry.....nice though, normally it would have been bottled and then drank.

Just watched a few YouTube videos on the hydrometer! I'm starting to get it!

 

[pms67]

Thanks, The water bath does sound a good idea, and I also had good results with the wet cold towels wrapped around the fermenter.

I've only ever tasted it today really, that was the stuff left over from the hydrometer, had a sip and I can see what you mean about dry.....nice though, normally it would have been bottled and then drank.

Just watched a few YouTube videos on the hydrometer! I'm starting to get it!

You will get there mate, good hobby

 

[Datanode101]

I'm really enjoying getting more scientific with the whole process, and learning more and more about it everyday, I've managed to get the temps down to about 20 degrees and it's away, not frantic, just a steady pace, and it's not foaming which is always good.

Said to me mate "there's people brew in a fridge" and he said "IN A FRIDGE" and then he showed him, and he went "OH I WANT ONE" lol....

How can I tell at what temps for the "coopers" etc. Just had a look on the tin and there's nothing on there to tell me what to brew at? or is that the industry standard for fermenting/brewing.

 

[Datanode101]

Just found and old picture!

 

[AXW123]

The instructions should give you the temperature range for the specific yeast used in your particular kit. However the instructions on kits are often woefully inadequate. Eventually you will want to choose your own yeast each of which had its own characteristics- but that’s a whole other story! Glad you are enjoying your new beer journey - keep on asking questions there are so many knowledgeable people on here!

 

[Datanode101]

Honest nothing on the "Coopers" cans, and also, Right added the hops and it kicked off, I didn't have the lid on and it was blurbing and spluttering, then after about a 5 or so hours it stopped, what happened? did they eat all the hops....