first brew

alawlor66430 · Jul 1, 2012

hi there i'm new to this so all the experience and knowledge you guys have will hopefully help me to get confident with my brewing, i started my first brew on tuesday and i was in that much of a rush to get things started i forgot to take a hydrometer reading before i got the fermenting underway, i took one today and it read 1.006 and i know this isnt much use without an initial reading before adding the yeast but i assume it would have been in the region of 1.040, fermentation seems to have slowed right down and if my hydrometer reading on monday is he same as today i was thinking of bottling, am i doing the right thing here or have i cocked up

ArmChair · Jul 1, 2012

What kit are you doing?

Some one in here may have done one similar in the past and be able to help you.

Did you use sugar, spray malt ect....?

alawlor66430 · Jul 1, 2012

hi there its a youngs harvest scottish heavy kit i added the kilo of sugar as instructed, any help would be great

ArmChair · Jul 1, 2012

It's not a kit that I have tried or familiar with.
Maybe someone else on here has done one in the past.

Does it have an abv on the tin or the instructions?

alawlor66430 · Jul 1, 2012

yeah its supposed to come out at 5.4 i think, on the instructions it said to leave it for 5 days once bottled but this seems awfy quick, should i be leaving it for longer

Vossy1 · Jul 1, 2012

i took one today and it read 1.006 and i know this isnt much use without an initial reading before adding the yeast but i assume it would have been in the region of 1.040, fermentation seems to have slowed right down and if my hydrometer reading on monday is he same as today i was thinking of bottling, am i doing the right thing here or have i cocked up

I'd be happy doing that. I think it should be 4.5% not 5.4% :thumb:
Personally, I'd leave it in primary 7 days minimum, 5 days is a bit quick, it gives the yeast a little more time to mop up the 'nasties' formed during fermentation.