getting into the hobby?

[boozy_shoes]

Another way round the acquiring bottles problem is ask around at work if anyone drinks bottled ale. I have a couple of reliable "bottle donors" that rinse their bottles out and bring them in for me. In return I pass their way a couple of bottles every so often and everybody wins. They get some free beer, I get a steady stream of bottles and feedback on my beers.

 

[Sandro]

Another way round the acquiring bottles problem is ask around at work if anyone drinks bottled ale. I have a couple of reliable "bottle donors" that rinse their bottles out and bring them in for me. In return I pass their way a couple of bottles every so often and everybody wins. They get some free beer, I get a steady stream of bottles and feedback on my beers.

I use the same technique.
I encouraged all my friends to buy beer in bottles with ceramic cork, like the one in the picture.

Yesterday a friend organized a BBQ and I came home with seven empty 0.75lt bottles :thumb:

 

[rmuk82]

great thanks everyone for the great help :-) roll on pay day then i can get the coopers kit to get me started :-)

 

[rmuk82]

well managed to get the coopers kit, put the thermometre on filled up the ingredients e.t.c but the thermometre wasnt showing any readings hope it works okay, also i tested it with hydrometre and the reading was 43, does that seem right? thanks

 

[pittsy]

hi and welcome yes the reading sounds around right although its 1043 , if it ferments to around 1012 it will be around 4.1% good luck and remember now to leave it be for around 10 days and don't keep taking the lid off :

 

[rmuk82]

ive put a blanket round it to keep it warm, it was hard judging the temp with the dodgy thermometer hopefully it will be okay

 

[rmuk82]

just had a look at it this morning and there is condensation on the lid is this normal?

 

[jonnymorris]

Warm beer + cool lid = condensation, i.e. yes, to be expected.

How long has it been fermenting for now?

 

[rmuk82]

just since last night ive wrapped it in a blanket to keep it warm its my first time brewing so dont know what to expect

 

[Mark-h]

I too have the coopers kit and watched craigtube on you tube on how he uses it. It is very easy I am on my 7 th brew now I bought more bottles from tesco for just under a tenner don't bother with the carbonation drops just put 0.5 to 1 teaspoon of sugar in each. I got my coopers pack on eBay for £57 so might be worth looking on there and more kits can be found cheaper on art of brewing website and free delivery if u order over £49. As you like lager try and get better brew Czech pilsner it's a good one!

 

[jonnymorris]

its my first time brewing so dont know what to expect

Expect to be peaking in every hour but try and resist. Patience is your friend. Do you have any temp control or any indication of what the temp might be... even a sticky temp strip on the side of your FV?

 

[rmuk82]

thanks! i got the coopers kit from tesco for £67 ill ive better brew Czech pilsner a go some time thanks :-)

I have a stick on temp stick that came with the kit but it doesnt seem to be working and no other temp control e.t.c

there is about 1 cm of foam on top of the brew so hopefully its fermenting

 

[artyb]

Hi and welcome, I prefer barrels just because I find bottles a pain in the ****.

you may need to invest in a bottle opener dennis .... :hmm:

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Hi and welcome, I prefer barrels just because I find bottles a pain in the ****.

Sticky Vicky in Benidorn doesn't...

BB :whistle:

 

[postman]

Hello

I bought a Coopers kit a couple of yrs ago with an extra 50 bottles, so i have 100. As a result i am able to keep a constant supply of beer!

Cant go wrong with the Coopers kits

 

[rmuk82]

thanks i may buy another one if all works well :-) so far the foam is building up hopefully all is going well

 

[rmuk82]

according to the coopers instructions i should start taken hyrometer readings from tommorow so fingers crossed foams died down now so hopefully all is well!

 

[pittsy]

instructions are almost always best for bin , 5 or so days is far too soon you want at least 10 days before even looking at it , even if reading is done the yeast needs a few more days to help clean up off flavours etc :thumb:

 

[rmuk82]

i took of the collar thing like it said when foam died down, should start taking the readings still or just wait till around day 10?

 

[Mark-h]

I have exact same tackle as you and may best bit of advise i can give is be patient a week is prob not enough min 10 days and after bottling leave the bottles somewhere they can stay at room temp for a couple of weeks then somewhere cooler for 2 weeks then drink! And most important get another brew on ! Make sure you sterilise everything.
I can feel your excitement from here!