Hello everybody!!

[BrewDan]

Hello all, been reading the posts on this forum for a while now and decided to join. Was a member of a forum a while back but cannot remember my log in details, so may have been this one!!

Been home brewing now for just under a year, but I have tghe bug... I cannot see myself stopping this hobby!! :

Most recent thing I have going is a brewferm grand cru, just did a test today and its sitting at around 8% so will bottle on sunday if the readings are the same. I do have a question regarding this though, I have quite a few 25cl shandy bottles which I had in mind for this, as its obvously a strong one and I have head can have quite a big head on it once poured.

Has anyone tried this kit? I have to say I tried a quick sample and im very impressed with it, not to far off what duvel tastes like, which was a nice supprise. I am unsire though if the bottles I have in mind would be suitable, and also how much brewsugar to prime with. If anyone can point me in the correct direction that would be great!!

Shall keep everyone posted


Happy brewing, have a good weekend!

 

[Wez]

Welcome aboard :thumb:

 

[dennisking]

Hi Dan

 

[bobsbeer]

Welcome Dan. Not sure about your bottle question, but assuming your bottles are glass, they should be ok. Prime with a teaspoon of sugar, but ordinary sugar is fine, and save your brewsugar.

Bob

 

[luckyeddie]

Hi, Dan.

Before I moved over to the dark side, I used to brew little other than the Brewferm kits, and I've done Grand Cru on a few occasions. It's a belter.

As far as priming is concerned, especially if you are considering putting it in small bottles, I would batch-prime - this involves one extra siphoning of the beer but don't worry - there's no losses the second time.

The kit is a 9 litre one, I believe, and the recommended sugar is 90g (10g/litre).

The way I would do it is to dissolve the sugar in a couple of hundred mls of water, stick it in a saucepan and bring to the boil, simmering for a few minutes. Then, dump the sugar solution into your bottling vessel and rack your beer onto it. Stir gently to distribute the sugar evenly then bottle.

A teaspoon of sugar in a 25cl bottle is too much - around double the recommended amount.

 

[BrewDan]

Thqanks for all the welcomes! And also thank you for the advice on the batch priming, this is something someone else also suggested. Bit worried about the bottles exploding though as they are so small, I am going to be using ' le panache de saint-omer' shandy bottles. Picked a few up from asda as they were only £1.70 for 10, was intending to through the stuff inside away and just use the bottles, but the shandy is quite nice once chilled, although a bit on the sweet/syrup side.

Really excited about this brewferm kit though, I have made coopers and youngs kits in the past and they didnt taste at all good this soon into the fermentation. Will try and keep these now until around christmas time!

Speaking of the dark side, I am really tempted to give that a go, but I am going to pace myself. Got a few other kits to do, then I am going to give a mini mash a go, then with any luck get the equiptment to do a full mash and treat myself to a corny too.

Thanks again for all the help, sorry the hello involved a question at the same time, but I am glad I asked as I got the help needed.

Shall keep you updated on it all, was intending to do this tomorrow but its started bubbling again! Ohhh while I remember, took a roadtrip a few weeks back to a shop in kings lynn called beers of europe, not sure if anyones heard of it? But it is well worth a visit, I came back with a car full of stuff and spent very little as most of it had just gone past its used by date :mrgreen: not much there on the home brew front though!

Right time to get drinking the shandy!

 

[31bb3]

Welcome tothe forum Dan :

 

[BrewDan]

Just a quick one, with regards to batch priming this brew, would it be best to siphon to a clean container add the sugar mix, then bottle. Or should I do this using the fermenter it's in now. My only concern is mixing up the yeast and also adding air into the beer, which I'm told is a no no


Thanks, would have put in a new post but i thought as this one is on the subject I should use it, hopefully someone can help,

Cheers

 

[Hollow Legs]

Just a quick one, with regards to batch priming this brew, would it be best to siphon to a clean container add the sugar mix, then bottle. Or should I do this using the fermenter it's in now. My only concern is mixing up the yeast and also adding air into the beer, which I'm told is a no no


Thanks, would have put in a new post but i thought as this one is on the subject I should use it, hopefully someone can help,

Cheers

I would personally put the sugar in a new container and add the brew to it, being careful not to splash the mix around and then give it a gentle stir.

You can just add it to your brew and gently stir but this could cause over/under carbonation in your bottles.

 

[Wendy1971]

Hello BD welcome to the forum :thumb:

 

[BrewDan]

Just to let you all know, got this lot into bottles last night, after hours of cleaning etc. Just hope that come christmas it tastes good! Thanks for the help