First Brewing

[Drayygon]

Well, 12 days ago now I began my first brew, a Young's Harvest Yorkshire Bitter bought for me at Xmas by my house mate (which the gift tag instruction of "don't blow up the house" :P ). Well, I got it all under way, had some initial concerns that I might have screwed things up but it's been very happy with yeast growth and so forth.

Now the kit's instructions said 5-10 days then barrel, I've left it a couple more as there is still some activity within the bucket (slight bubbling visible form yeast moving about). Would you lot say it is fine to begin syphoning out the bitter into the barrel now or should i give it another day or two?

I'm hoping to have it barrelled and drink ready for this little (some what insane) camping trip I am off onto next week, so getting timing right is pretty tight now I feel.

Cheers for any advice guys

Drayygon

 

[Devonhomebrew]

Mate beer takes 1-4 weeks to carb up properly in a barrel but if you dont mind flatish beer you can just put into barrel and tap of flat have you got a s30 gas injection cap or just a vented cap?

 

[Drayygon]

Just got the vent cap at this time. And bah, shows the Beer kit instructions miss out important information then as it only mentions the bottling time not barrelled. Ah well, no stock of bitter for the trip but just means a house party when it's all ready haha.

 

[Devonhomebrew]

Beer kits instructions are not always correct have you got a hydrometer? hahahahah when im older im going to need to come and meet you mate coz you seem like such an awesome bloke :

 

[Drayygon]

Aye i've got the hydrometer, pressure barrel and such like. bought the one kit by Ballihoo as it was decent price, had all I needed and I wanted to get started

 

[Devonhomebrew]

Good good just warning you it is very addictive to brew and you will find its not a hobby but an obsession. Happy brewing if you want to start doing homebrew wednesdays and i will get others to help you out man.

 

[pittsy]

it will prob taste like crap in a weeks time , after you have put brew in barrel and primed it (added sugar around 80gdissolved in boiling water then cooled to around 20-25c )you need to put in a warm place for about a week (20cish) to get its fizz then after that you need to store it cold (not outside as this weather with freezing might split the barrel) to condition and that will be anywhere from 1 month to 1 year depending on beer ,try it after a week prob crap then after a month poss ok then if you were to leave it for about 4 months it could be quite good , but remember if you aren't impressed with brewing beer kits , brewing has different levels of quality starting with ''kit'' beers then moving up to ''extract'' beer that simply involve using spray dried malt a good yeast etc then there's ''partial mash'' which is similar to extract but using a small amount of grain and also there's ''all grain'' brewing which is like or better than the beer you might buy . Each style of brewing gives and much higher quality of beer to the others styles. so if you like the idea of brewing but aren't impressed with the results there are other methods for better results . :

 

[pittsy]

Devonhomebrew just seen your video ,your question , my answer , i would say you look like maybe 16 , :hmm: seems an odd question , my lad is 13 he looks about 15 , im 37 but in my head im about 17 ish its great to home brew as its legal to drink in your own home under 18 :thumb: happy brewing

 

[Devonhomebrew]

thanks pittsy comment and i will add you on youtube