First Timer

[RichB]

Hi

I have a Youngs Brewbuddy Larger Kit but the can is almost a year out of date, is it safe and will it be tasty?
Should i get new a new sachet of Yeast?
Is a Pressure Barrel better than Glass bottles?
Is there anything i can do to increase strength (from 4% to 5%)
Whats the best sugar, syrup, white, brown or brewers sugar?
Id like to give the lager a little somthing special, maybe a lemon kick or a cynamon taste, what do the pro's think of that?
If i do add somthing when should i add it?

Answers to these questions will be greatly appreciated as im dying to get started.

Many Thanks
Rich :drink:

 

[pittsy]

hi and welcome , adding cane sugar or dried malt extract will increase strength , brew maybe no good but getting new yeast is def a good idea

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Get a new packet of yeast, Isuggest US-05
And its Lager not Larger

 

[RichB]

Yes Johnny
I know how to spoll.
It was a typo....

Pittsy
How much Cane sugar/malt extract should i use and when?

 

[pittsy]

Hi , BTW I would bottle if I was you ,to increase your strength of brew you will need around 1 kg of sugar or better still 1 kg of extra light dried malt , you do this after you have done your can of brew in hot water just add a little more cold water then add malt or sugar and mix well until all the bits have mixed up , at first it will clump , then add remaining cold water as instructions say on can . Take a hydrometer reading and when temp is around 20 c sprinkle yeast onto brew then after 15 mins mix well again and leave brew alone for 10 to 14 days with messing with it , just leave it be. If using true lager yeast ferment at around 12 to 15 c otherwise other yeast temp is around 18 c don't go too high like 24 c etc it will have off taste

 

[jonnymorris]

Is a Pressure Barrel better than Glass bottles?

No, just different. Personally, I've moved away from my barrel as it's easier to chill a couple of bottles. You'll find filling a barrel easier though if you're new to the game... having said that, a barrel won't necessarily hold the pressure as well. Important if you're doing a lager.

Is there anything i can do to increase strength (from 4% to 5%)

You could also try brewing it short, i.e. 18-20 litres vs 23.

And, it's spelt cinnamon. :grin:

 

[dennisking]

Hi and welcome.

 

[the-erl]

Hi Rich,

The best way to increase your strength is to reduce the amount you brew, so instead of 23 litres just add enough cold water to make it up to 18 litres. If you add a kilo a dry malt extract as well (as Pittsy suggested) this will definitely up the ABV%!

If you want to add some flavour you could try adding some lemon peel/zest. Use a zester or speed peeler and use the zest of about 2 lemons? When you peel you dont want any of the white part of the skin, the pith. Add the zest to about half a litre of water and keep on a small rolling boil for 10 mins, you can leave this to cool for a bit then sieve this into your brew before you add the yeast. I've just done this with orange peel/zest and corriander seeds added to a wheat beer kit, still fermenting so can't tell you how it's turned out but other comments I've read indicate it works.

I'd definately buy yourself some new yeast as well!

Cheers,

Earl :drink:

 

[kentmark]

As a recent first timer (also with a youngs ubrew lager kit) my advice would be to follow the instructions and not worry too much about customising. I found that there are so many "little things" to learn, that aren't in the instructions in the kit, that it's best to worry about those, once you've got that first or second brew down (and all the basics) then you can go wild! I'm in that position now of conditioning my second kit, and am already looking ahead to more exotic beers or even some WOW or Ribena wine.

Good luck!