Complete novice Wherry

[Pastyman]

Hi all,

This week I was dead excited to receive Woodfordes Wherry Microbrewery. I have never brewed anything ever, and have always been a beer drinker, so thought I'd give it a go.

Problem is I've made a big blunder. I don't have anywhere to brew apart from a garden shed. Today I've made enough room in the shed, but am worried about temps for correct fermentation etc. Should I just carry on, as it is the summer, or flog it on?

 

[Wolverine]

Im no expert brewer but I would stick a thermometer in the shed and monitor the temp for a few days to see if it's gonna be ok if it fluctuates massively or gets too hot in the day then fusle alcohol could be a problem and you could get a funny tasting beer that gives you a head ache. Can't you put it in a cupboard? I think you want 20-25*C
I've got mine under the stairs I'm in a terrece house and like you am biggered for space.
I was brewing in the spare room till the baby was born but got evicted shortly after ha ha

 

[Pastyman]

Hi Wolverine,

Thanks for the reply. I did actually look at the thermometer yesterday that came with the kit, temp was ok. The shed has opening windows so I can use those as vents if it's going to be a scorcher.

If the brew is reasonably successful then I would be quite happy to build something more permanent, as we will be upgrading our sheds later this year hopefully :thumb:

 

[anthonyUK]

It will work but ideally you need stables temps in the required range.
An old fridge + temperature controller + 60w tube heater is a relatively easy solution.
Try searching on here as there are a few threads with further details.

Wherry BTW is an excellent kit when made well.

 

[prolix]

pastyman, temps are important if you can open those windows do so, the door as well if you can. On a hot day if you have one you can use the old towel in a water tray technique. Put the fermenter in a tray/bucket of water and wrap it in a towel that goes into the water in the tray, as the water evaporates it will cool the brew and it should wick the water up from the tray. ( I do this when I take my beers camping).

Fermentation fridges are great but a way off for you yet.

Just make sure the sun doesn't shine on it

 

[Pastyman]

It will work but ideally you need stables temps in the required range.
An old fridge + temperature controller + 60w tube heater is a relatively easy solution.
Try searching on here as there are a few threads with further details.

Wherry BTW is an excellent kit when made well.

Thanks Anthony, I do understand that stable temperatures are important, and will certainly search the forum for more info before I start brewing. I want to do as much as I can correctly but cheaply :thumb:

 

[Pastyman]

pastyman, temps are important if you can open those windows do so, the door as well if you can. On a hot day if you have one you can use the old towel in a water tray technique. Put the fermenter in a tray/bucket of water and wrap it in a towel that goes into the water in the tray, as the water evaporates it will cool the brew and it should wick the water up from the tray. ( I do this when I take my beers camping).

Fermentation fridges are great but a way off for you yet.

Just make sure the sun doesn't shine on it

Hi Prolix, thanks very much for your advice. That towel idea is brilliant, any more tips like that would be immensely helpful. I'm trying to glean as much info as I can before I start the brew. Planning on starting next weekend, after our local beer festival on Friday night :

 

[anthonyUK]

Another low-tech solution is a water bath. Using one of those gardening tubs to put the FV in to increase the liquid mass can help with the fluctuations.

 

[Pastyman]

Ok, so today I have finally gone for it, my first ever attempt at homebrew : Woodfordes Wherry is now being brewed in North Cornwall :party:

I have a couple of questions though; I have followed the instructions with the kit and also followed this guys advice http://www.raymondbrooks.co.uk/archive/50 as I found it more comprehensive than the few instructions that came with the kit. My first question is what is the optimum temperature for the first day or two, as i've read somewhere - but god knows where - that its better for a higher temp to begin with to give the yeast a headstart. My next question is about the airlock thingummy, do I need to fill it with water? :wha:

Appreciate any help and obviously sooner the better, I am available on Twitter @big_al_painter for the next couple of hours as I'm away from the laptop to respond to any super fast responses via the forum :thumb:

 

[Wolverine]

Put a bit of water in the air lock if it comes with one . You don't really need one with beer. I don't bother anymore. if the the lid doesn't have a hole in it dont bother.
Have fun : )

 

[Pastyman]

Thanks Wolverine

After posting my last comment I got chatting on the instant chat with Titch and Muddy, they were of enormous help. I had already put a little bit of water in the airlock which seems that was the correct thing to do :thumb:

I added the yeast at 4 oclock yeserday afternoon, and was delighted to see the airlock glugging at 7 this morning :party: Temperature is at 21 bang on. Bit lower do you think?

 

[darrenwest1]

21 will be fine mate

good luck

 

[Pastyman]

Thanks Darren, will try and maintain a constant temp, although the fermenter is in a shed :pray:

 

[darrenwest1]

a cheap fish tank heater can keep the temp up
they are on e bay for less than a tenner

 

[mtvessel]

I also recently brewed a woodfordes wherry best bitter, found instructions brief but fermented in a bath of water with a 25w aquarium heater and a digital thermometer with wire probe in water to monitor. instructions stated 4-6 days to ferment eventually stopped at 1014 after 13 days at 23 degrees ?. drained off into secondary to clear (quite a lot more sludge in bottom compared to my previous coopers lager) leaving for a week in the warm then intend to bottle.have read that it tastes good after 6 weeks.

 

[Pastyman]

I also recently brewed a woodfordes wherry best bitter, found instructions brief but fermented in a bath of water with a 25w aquarium heater and a digital thermometer with wire probe in water to monitor. instructions stated 4-6 days to ferment eventually stopped at 1014 after 13 days at 23 degrees ?. drained off into secondary to clear (quite a lot more sludge in bottom compared to my previous coopers lager) leaving for a week in the warm then intend to bottle.have read that it tastes good after 6 weeks.

This is a real newbie question now, but how did you know it had stopped fermenting?

 

[mtvessel]

With a lot of people stating that this brew sometimes get "stuck" i obviously wanted to be as near to 1010 as possible before i bottled, i kept checking brew since instructions had said 4-6 days but some had mentioned it actually took 2 weeks to ferment ? it got to 1014 and remained at this for 2 days.

 

[Pastyman]

I'm a little bit worried now, it's stopped bubbling.................... :pray:

 

[Wolverine]

Do you have a hydrometer ? drop it in and see what the Reading is

 

[mtvessel]

Going by your earlier post its now been fermenting 4 days ? have read some woodfordes have finished in 4-6 days but could it be simply the lid is not sealing rather than showing on airlock, do what Wolverine suggests, sterilize hydrometer and check.
If its stuck at a high reading for a day or two stir brew but not briskly to get air into it.
Mine took a while to get from 1020 to 1014, and really slowed down after first few days.
all the best