First brew underway

[Haggerma]

So got my first brew underway this evening - a muntons pilsner.

Hydrometer reading of 1030 before the yeast was sprinkled on.

Now onto amazon to but more kit so I can get another batch going in a few weeks times.

 

[damienair]

Well done. Good luck with your brew. I started just 6 weeks ago. I did the same, started another kit 3 weeks after the first brew started. I tasted the first brew last night and I was delighted. It was gorgeous. This homebrew lark is fantastic. Working on collecting bottles for a third brew soon. I’d like to have the ability to have 3 brews being cycled through. Enjoy. It’s great fun.

Damien

 

[Gerryjo]

Well done. Good luck with your brew. I started just 6 weeks ago. I did the same, started another kit 3 weeks after the first brew started. I tasted the first brew last night and I was delighted. It was gorgeous. This homebrew lark is fantastic. Working on collecting bottles for a third brew soon. I’d like to have the ability to have 3 brews being cycled through. Enjoy. It’s great fun.

Damien

Just start kegging even better and not as much time spent cleaning, priming and filling bottles... Beer on tap in the garage is hard too beat..

 

[chillipickle]

So got my first brew underway this evening - a muntons pilsner.

Hydrometer reading of 1030 before the yeast was sprinkled on.

Now onto amazon to but more kit so I can get another batch going in a few weeks times.

Have a look at a few homebrew shops, you might find better prices and selection than amazon.

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/home-brew-supplies.88751/

 

[NPi]

I'd really recommend Brew2Bottle, a forum sponsor and unbeatable at kit prices. Very cheap delivery too.

 

[Haggerma]

I did a bit of window shopping last night and found 'get er brewed' well priced and also have a good offer on cornies at the moment.

 

[Bobtheblob]

Hydrometer reading of 1.030 seems a bit low...

 

[Haggerma]

Checked on the brew tonight- first 24hrs. Been sitting around the 20.5deg mark today will prob drop down to over night but the inkbird will keep in control of that.

No bubbles yet in the airlock but don't plan to do anything now till the weekend whereby I'll take the next readings.

 

[damienair]

Checked on the brew tonight- first 24hrs. Been sitting around the 20.5deg mark today will prob drop down to over night but the inkbird will keep in control of that.

No bubbles yet in the airlock but don't plan to do anything now till the weekend whereby I'll take the next readings.

I didn’t touch mine for 10 days. Once the yeast was pitched I put it up in a hot press and closed the door. I looked at and checked the airlock of course but that was it. It can take 24 for the airlock to start bubbling. I’d close the lid and relax for 10-12 days. 2 weeks in fermentation, 2 weeks in second fermentation in the bottles and 2 weeks for conditioning which I did in my garage. That’s the advice I was given here and it worked a treat. Good luck. Patience is hard for the first brew.

 

[Haggerma]

I didn’t touch mine for 10 days. Once the yeast was pitched I put it up in a hot press and closed the door. I looked at and checked the airlock of course but that was it. It can take 24 for the airlock to start bubbling. I’d close the lid and relax for 10-12 days. 2 weeks in fermentation, 2 weeks in second fermentation in the bottles and 2 weeks for conditioning which I did in my garage. That’s the advice I was given here and it worked a treat. Good luck. Patience is hard for the first brew.

Yes I have seen that and like the idea, plan to batch prime (if I have the right term) leave the bottles in the warm for 2 then into the fridge.

 

[damienair]

Yes I have seen that and like the idea, plan to batch prime (if I have the right term) leave the bottles in the warm for 2 then into the fridge.

I’m no expert what so ever. I’ve just done 2 brews. I got great advice here. Tasted my first brew on Saturday night and I was blown away. It was lovely. Nothing like tasting your first brew. Best of luck, you’ll love it.

 

[Haggerma]

So it's been 7bdays now and took my first reading and it's down to 1. 002. I plan on leaving it one more week then onto bottling.

 

[damienair]

So it's been 7bdays now and took my first reading and it's down to 1. 002. I plan on leaving it one more week then onto bottling.

Seems like it has finished fermentation. Check the reading again in 48 hours. If it’s the same reading again you could bottle then.

 

[Haggerma]

So Checked the reading today and it's the same so I've put the fv in the fridge to cold crash and will bottle on Sunday. So far so good for my first batch.

 

[Broomie14]

Iv just started a festival pilsner, im planning on leaving it till its finished fermenting to put the hops in instead of 5 days like the instruction says, has any one got any info on how long i should leave the hops in before i cold crash it ??? TIA

 

[DavieC]

festival pilsner,

Is this the New Zealand pilsner? Think I put them in on day 12 and left them for 4 or 5 days but I've decided if I do this kit again I'd only use half the hops or maybe even less it's so hoppy.Ive never had a NZ pilsner so didn't realise they're that hop heavy.(or is it just this kit)?

 

[Broomie14]

Is this the New Zealand pilsner? Think I put them in on day 12 and left them for 4 or 5 days but I've decided if I do this kit again I'd only use half the hops or maybe even less it's so hoppy.Ive never had a NZ pilsner so didn't realise they're that hop heavy.(or is it just this kit)?

It is the New Zealand pilsner. This is my second brew and my last one was about 2 years ago so I dont know much about the kit or hops

 

[Haggerma]

Last night I bottled my first brew, it had been cold crashing for 48 hours, batch primed it and ended up with 43 bottles. Im really happy with it, tasted OK with no funny tastes or chemicals, obviously it's flat.

So cleaned everything up and started my next one, Golden Rocket pale ale. And it's bubbling away nicely this morning.

 

[An Ankoù]

Congrats. I'm going to open a Sunday lunchtime bottle to celebrate your success.
If that top photo is indicative of the rest, I'd say you've left a lot more headspace than you need with more opportunity for oxidation. 1-1.5 cm is enough.
Don't know if others would agree.
Just a thought for next time. Going round and topping up now would do more harm than good.

 

[Haggerma]

Congrats. I'm going to open a Sunday lunchtime bottle to celebrate your success.
If that top photo is indicative of the rest, I'd say you've left a lot more headspace than you need with more opportunity for oxidation. 1-1.5 cm is enough.
Don't know if others would agree.
Just a thought for next time. Going round and topping up now would do more harm than good.

They are all similar that's probably the lowest but I didn't fill them all right up, but noted thanks.