First brew questions

[BrewDan87]

Hi guys, literally just added yeast to my first brew and now I play the waiting game!!!
Couple of questions though
1) I have done this alone and haven't been able to get the specific gravity of the beer (need to get myself an autosyphon!). Will it be a problem if I don't get this reading?
2) the temperature is a little over the recommended amount. 32 centigrade to be precise. Will this be a problem?
3) I'm looking to store it in a carpeted room and I only have about half gallon left until the lid. Will it be safe or could it go crazy and start over flowing everywhere?
Thanks in advance!! 😊😊🍻🍺

 

[Razor]

Hi. I'll answer your questions as best I can.
1) AFAIK without taking a starting gravity it'll be pretty hard to know the ABV of your brew when it's finished.
2) Depending on the strain of yeast you have used that could be a bit too hot.
3) In my experience that should be enough headspace unless you have a really vigorous fermentation. What kind of FV are you using?


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[BrewDan87]

I have used one of the brew kits (Coopers Canadian Blonde) so the yeast was just the little pack that came with it. If it is too hot will that make the beer non-drinkable or just not taste as good?
Do you have any advice on how i can syphon using a normal syphon? it came with no instructions.
I am using a bucket with a lid that came in a starter kit. No Tap included

 

[BrewDan87]

Just managed to get a reading. Thanks to my brothers help and spilling some all over the kitchen floor!! The starting reading is 91 on sugar per litre and 45 on upper meniscus. Says potential is about 5%

 

[teadixon]

You can take a sample using a (sanitised) turkey baster if you don't have a tap - easier than syphoning.

Here is a good how to for syphoning though: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6wnVFsGdv0[/ame]

32 C is very high - I had a beer hit 27 in the summer and it came tasting like bananas. Put a sticky fishtank thermometer on your bucket and keep an eye on it as it goes - try to keep it 18 - 20 for most beers. If you're hitting 23 or above you're risking it tasting weird or possibly bad.

Good luck and happy brewing!

 

[Callumbo]

32c is quite high. I don't want to put any scares on but it could have killed off some of the yeast. This is just an if though. Or you could have put it into over active mode and it'll ferment like crazy at first and then die off before finishing the job.

Or it might be absolutely fine and you'll have a lovely beer. In all fairness the first couple of brew kits I did I just followed the instructions in the can. Couple litres of boiling water then the rest cold water, I never checked the temperature and they came out fine. Im sure you'll be alright.

 

[zippy40]

Beer brewing can be very forgiving if it is given time.

I would not worry about point 1 or 3 of your posting. So long as you are getting bubbles then the yeast is working.

Point 2 is the only thing which would worry me. It may be too hot for the yeast and kill some or most of it off. In which case it may take longer to brew or not at all. if this happens again I would suggest you have another packet of dried yeast to throw in when the temp gets down to an acceptable level. If the yeast has not been killed off by that temp then I would suggest you will be ok. At higher temps yeast will produce different chemicals which will impart certain flavours to your beer. Some of these flavours can suit the beer and some can make it difficult to drink. If your 32 degrees is only for a few hours the yeast may well be ok with that if it is brewed at a normal temp for the rest of the fermentation.

Basically what I am saying is if by tomorrow you are getting bubbles then chances are you will have a drinkable beer at the end of it. Even if it is not great - experiential learning is the name of the game in brewing :):thumb:

 

[Linalmeemow]

Put the FV in a bin bag if you're worried about the krausen overflowing...