First time home brewing - couple of questions!

[wellyfish]

Well, I've taken the plunge ... bought a kit - Beginner's Lager Starter Kit, Coopers lager - and it's sitting in front of me now.

I've read this post on how to get the most of my kit - http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=3216

and I've read the instructions on the kit a few times and it looks pretty straightforward - famous last words??

I'm looking forward to starting a brew either today or tomorrow but I've got a few questions about the following parts of the instructions though:

1. when sterilising the fermenter, do I need to fill it with water or is it ok to put, say 10 litres, in and 'splosh' it about so everything is covered?
2. what do I fill the airlock with? is cooled, boiled water ok?
3. where it says 'check with a hydrometer ...' - do I need to sterilise the hydrometer before each time I dip it in the brew?
4. part of the instructions about 'enjoying' the beer says 'cloudy beer enthusiasts may choose to rotate the bottle ... to mix the yeast through the beer' - I don't want cloudy lager ...

Hope someone can help!

Cheers,
Mark

 

[31bb3]

You need to fill FV when steralising then wash out with col water after steralisation but swilling around when swilling out
always use steralised hydrometer unless your leaving it in the FV
Water in the airlock
When brew is finished fermenting syphon into bottles or keg as long as you dont shake it about it will stay clear just be careful when pouring as not to disturb the yeast on the bottom of the bootle

 

[Grumpy Jack]

Hi Mark,

OK, let's see if we can help. :thumb:

1. Sterilising will be fine if the fermenter gets a good covering of the solution, be it by totally filling it, giving it a good slosh around etc... it doesn't need filling up. I usually shove the lid on and then give it a good shake around and leave it for a few minutes whilst I do something else, then do it again and I've not lost a brew in the last two years.

2. I've only ever put tap water in my airlock, not a lot, so about 1/3 full.

3. Sterilising is one of the biggest areas that things go wrong with brews, or NOT sterlising... so do it to your hydrometer before you put it in each time if it's been put down anwyhere. Better safe than sorry.

4. If you're bottling, which in my experience is best with lager as it's the only way I've ever maintained the carbonation at a level that is desirable, then a good secondary fermentation which may involve cool temperatures (fridge or whatever) will usually ensure that the sediment is settled and so long as you don't go shaking your bottles, then the brew should stay clear.

Good luck!

 

[wellyfish]

Thanks guys!

So, is there no way to get the 'yeast sediment' out before bottling?

Can it be filtered out before drinking or will I end up drinking lots of yeast sediment from the bottom of the bottle?

Cheers!

 

[Cussword]

You need some yeast in the bottle for secondary fermentation. Just be careful when you pour :thumb:

 

[wellyfish]

I'm a 'drink-it-straight-from-the-bottle' bloke so I'll have to figure out a way of not getting gobfuls of yeast!

Maybe I'll try to find an easy way of filtering it before drinking.

Thanks guys.

 

[wellyfish]

I've just had a thought ... have to go for a lie down in a minute!

here it is ...

would it be ok to bottle the brew in 2 litre plastic bottles
then, when I want to drink some of it either decant the amount I want into another vessel (maybe a small barrel)
then decant from there, through a filter, into bottles for drinking.

How does that sound?

 

[Aleman]

How does that sound?

A great way of ruining your beer. . . . Minimise the number of transfers and keep air away from it at all times once it has finished fermenting.

If you want clear carbonated beer from the bottle, you are going to have to invest a lot of money in some kit to do it.

Corny Keg 55 quid
Gas Regulator 25 Quid
CO2 Cylinder 35 Quid
Beer Gun and Fittings 65 quid

Alternatively, transfer it to bottles and carbonate with 1/2 a tsp of sugar per bottle . . . when ready to drink, pour into a glass leaving the sediment behind and savour it . . . Bottle in 2L PET bottles pour into a jug leaving the sediment behind, then pour it into a jug . . . and from the jug into the glasses . . . then savour it

 

[wellyfish]

How does that sound?

A great way of ruining your beer. . . . Minimise the number of transfers and keep air away from it at all times once it has finished fermenting.

:nono: Bad idea then, thanks for the steer.

If you want clear carbonated beer from the bottle, you are going to have to invest a lot of money in some kit to do it.

Corny Keg 55 quid
Gas Regulator 25 Quid
CO2 Cylinder 35 Quid
Beer Gun and Fittings 65 quid

Couple of hundred quid then ... maybe I'll wait to see how I get on before I think about that!

Alternatively, transfer it to bottles and carbonate with 1/2 a tsp of sugar per bottle . . . when ready to drink, pour into a glass leaving the sediment behind and savour it . . . Bottle in 2L PET bottles pour into a jug leaving the sediment behind, then pour it into a jug . . . and from the jug into the glasses . . . then savour it

OK, so put it in bottles and I should leave my peasant ways behind and use a glass :cry:

Thanks for the advice :thumb:

 

[MEB]

My advice to you follows Alemans. You pour yourself a nice pint from your big jug of Ale. :drink:

Yes you should drink from a glass you heathen :

 

[periolus]

All sound advice here from very experienced brewers. I am less experienced, but one thing I always do with my airlocks is fill them with very cheap vodka instead of water. I use the bubblers (not the airlocks that you slide the plastic lid into) and the vodka gives you insurance against a pressure change sucking water back inside your FV. Standing water attracts spores and bacteria over time, increasing the chance of contamination.

Just a thought - I will probably be told I am going over the top!


Always sterilise any container by filling to the very brim and rinse very, very thoroughly swilling as you go.

Good luck with the kit!

 

[wellyfish]

Cheers guys.

I'm just about to get sterilising and brewing!

 

[wellyfish]

Errr ... another question

the airlock has got a little red cap that fits over it's open top. Do I need to put that on it once I've started brewing or should I leave the lock without the cap?

Thanks guys.

p.s. O.G = 1044 I think!

 

[Good Ed]

Welcome fish, hope it all goes well. I just add 1/4 campden tablet to the water in the airlock, this will keep any nasties at bay. Just put the red cap on, its to keep out dust, you might as well use it.

1044 is good

I'm sure it won't take you long to learn how to drink from a glass, you might want to wear a bib to start

 

[wellyfish]

Cheers!

I'm sure it won't take you long to learn how to drink from a glass, you might want to wear a bib to start

I already have to put one of those on to eat my dinner. It's plastic and it has a little trough that cathes all the bits I drop. :)

My forty pints are on their way!

 

[Dieseljockey]

Hi Wellyfish...

Better brewers than I have already answered your query so I won't go there... :clap:

but I wonder if you are aware that in Belgium when they pour bottle conditioned beer they empty the lot in...yeast and all.
that's the way lots of guys drink it...on the times I've been over there in a bar or cafe..they have asked if I would like it poured slow to trap the yeast or have the lot...hey it's good for you drink it all... :party: :party:

 

[wellyfish]

Hi DeiselJockey,

that could explain a lot then ... went to Brussels in the early 80's (81 maybe) to see AC/DC ... had a rule that that we could only drink the local brew ... never been the same since!!

Cheers!