Having a Go

[vtm37]

Hello All,

I have attempted my first brew today and have listed the processes taken below.
Would the enlightened of the brewing world give their constructive criticism please,
as there seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there.

Accouterment

25l Fermentation Bucket (No Airlock)
Sterilization powder
Plastic spoon
Coopers Wheat Beer Kit
Hydrometer
Thermometer
Tap Water (Not Dechlorinated)

1. All the equipment was sterilized for twenty minutes.

2. Added 4l of hot water to the bucket.

3. The contents of the kit and 300g sugar were then added
and mixed with a plastic spoon.

4. A combination of hot and cold water was added up to the 27l mark,
to attain a temperature of 27 Degrees C.

5. I then used the hydrometer - which read 5ABV on the scale. At this point
i added the yeast, stirred and then attached the lid.

Sincerely,

Van

 

[A T]

Hi van, welcome to the forum

Firstly, it's always a good idea to have an airlock fitted but a lot of people do just leave the lid of the bucket loose enough so the gas can escape.
What did you use to sanitize your equipment?
It's really important to treat your water with campden to neutralize the chlorine and chloramines and you will end up with some pretty awful off flavors if you don't.
Did you use normal sugar? it's better to replace the sugar with 50/50 malt extract and brewing sugar
27 degrees seems a bit high to pitch at but it's not the end of the world.

Let us know how you get on

 

[tubby_shaw]

Just my two pence worth

Hello All,

I have attempted my first brew today and have listed the processes taken below.
Would the enlightened of the brewing world give their constructive criticism please,
as there seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there.

Accouterment

25l Fermentation Bucket (No Airlock)
Sterilization powder
Plastic spoon
Coopers Wheat Beer Kit
Hydrometer
Thermometer
Tap Water (Not Dechlorinated)

1. All the equipment was sterilized for twenty minutes.
Thats good but it also needs rinsing really well

2. Added 4l of hot water to the bucket.

3. The contents of the kit and 300g sugar were then added
and mixed with a plastic spoon.
Ok so far but as A T says, brewing sugar, spray malt or a mix of the two will produce better beer :)

4. A combination of hot and cold water was added up to the 27l mark,
to attain a temperature of 27 Degrees C.
De chlorinated water would be best as the chlorines in the water can cause a TCP taste in the finished beer :sick:
27 C is a good temp to pitch yeast :thumb: Coopers yeast will also ferment at high temps without giving off flavours

5. I then used the hydrometer - which read 5ABV on the scale. At this point
i added the yeast, stirred and then attached the lid.
Use of a hydrometer is the best way of keeping an eye on how the brew is progressing, although there should be 2 scales on your hydrometer the one that you have read which is potential alcohol :) and another which probably reads from 1.100 to 0.990 or there abouts :wha:
The second scale is more useful as you will be able to get a more accurate guide to the alcohol content of your brew :)


Sincerely,

Van

 

[vtm37]

Many thanks for your wisdom gents.
Would you advise bottles or barreling for wheat beer?

 

[tubby_shaw]

Unless you are going into a keg suitable for high pressure i.e a corny keg, I would suggest bottling as you will want some sparkle in that wheat beer :thumb: and you won't get high enough carbonation levels in king keg or budget barrel

 

[vtm37]

Hello and help,

According to the instructions, the fermentation process should finish tomorrow. The hydrometer is reading 115 and the temperature is 15º C. The froth on the top is in small white clumps and also clumps of what looks like yeast.
I have prepared the bottles, but feel all is not well. Any further advise would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Van

 

[Vossy1]

Hi Van,

According to the instructions, the fermentation process should finish tomorrow. The hydrometer is reading 115 and the temperature is 15º C

To know when you beer has 'finished' fermenting, take 2 hydrometer readings 24 hours apart, if they're the same, the yeast has finished/stalled.
Instruction are great, but unfortunately the yeast don't read them :lol:
1.015 seems quite high, but a lot of kits never fuly reach their target FG :thumb:

The froth on the top is in small white clumps and also clumps of what looks like yeast.

Sounds perfectly normal

 

[vtm37]

Cheers Father,

Finally. The second hydrometer reading is 1.015, as before.
You mentioned finished/stalled - one good, one bad. How do i tell the difference?
Finally, finally. When bottling (500ml), where would you fill to?

Cheers,

Van

 

[Frisp]

Stalled is when for some external reason like the temp is lower than the yeasties like to work in the ferment, stalls leaving unfermeted sugars in the wort.
Finished is when the yeast have run out of Sugar to munch and say so this no pay no work

I dont know enough to say whether you are likley to have stalled or stopped. But if it was my brew
Adjusting your hydromoter reading for the low temp the wort is nearer 1.014 which is a nats dickie off of your desired gravity.
As you want some life in your wheatbeer I would bottle into plastic 2L Pet Bottles the cheap still ASDA or Tosco water bottles @15P
prime acording to This WIDGET
If you fill your PET bottles up to within an inch of the neck, then gently squeeze the air out before twisting the cap on. this allows some room for expansion as the yeasties produce Co2, Its also a good way to know that Co2 is being made as the bottles will expand and go rock hard after a few days......

Place your Plastic bottles somewhere around 20C for a week and then pop them somewhere cold.

If you use PET bottles the risk of explosion is greatly reduced so if you bottle up and your yeasties have only stopped for a rest the worst thing that should happen is that your ale willd be uber fizzy.

 

[Wez]

Cheers Father

:grin: :rofl:

 

[vtm37]

Well the wheat beer was a partial success. It looks spot on, but unfortunately the final gravity was a little low (2.6% = a drink for girls).
The advise you have given will lead to a much better batch next time. I will definitely be dechlorinating the water and using spraymalt. Trying my hand at an I.P.A. this Friday.

Cheers!