Help for new brewer please -sorry!

[Hullbrewer]

I am sorry for posting this, i can imagine these posts appear quite frequently. My sons have bought me a home brew bitter kit and I am a couple of days into fermenting, i have just read somewhere that during fermentation there must be a mechanism for the gas to release otherwise it can build up and 'blow'. I am going to go and loosen the lid somewhat as i am now concerned, hope this is the correct thing to do.
Also may i ask for advice on peoples preferences re bottling vs pressure barrel
Thank you in advance and apologies once again for asking what must be very basic info to most of you, i am sure i will be up to speed re the basics soon!

 

[commsbiff]

You should be fine with the supplied snap-on lid. I used it fully snapped on for my first 2 kits and it worked fine. I've only recently fitted an airlock for a turbo cider - which I've been told I didn't really need anyway. You'll find that as the pressure builds inside the fermenter, the lid will bulge a little, and then it will let out any excess pressure. You could test this by pressing down a little on the bulging lid and listening to the air/gas escape. I wouldn't think that you'd need to crack the lid at all, and if you do, you may risk an airborne infection after the fermentation has finished and the protective co2 layer has diminished.

In summary, I'd leave it snapped shut. :thumb: Happy to be told I'm wrong though. :

 

[tubby_shaw]

commsbiff is absolutely correct with his advice Hullbrewer :thumb:
With the bottle versus barrel question it is a matter of personal preference mainly :hmm:
Do you prefer bottled or draught beer ?
Bottles are cheap convenient and portable :thumb: but are a PITA to clean and prepare and store.
Pressure barrels are fairly expensive compared to bottles, it is difficult to get a decent amount of pressure if serving lagers or sparkling ales, are difficult to transport and usually require a secondary gas supply. On the plus side you only clean and sanitise one vessel, you get "draught" ale and are easy (if bulky) to store :thumb:

 

[Hullbrewer]

Many thanks for the prompt responses. Much appreciated
:-)

 

[pith-head]

Just one thing i would add, if no one minds, and that is when the beer/larger is ready for drinking, its easier to chill your drink when its in a bottle, you just pop it in to your household fridge.

Wile i am here, can i ask a question? Are those two 2 Ltr plastic pop bottles ok for putting beer in to? I was thinking of giving them a try.

Thanks.

 

[ano]

Yep, 2 litre pop bottles (often referred to by the plastic used - PET) are fine.

I bottle everything.

 

[pith-head]

Thanks ano, i think i can feel another brew coming on.

 

[Parva]

I personally snap the lid onto my fermenter nearly all the way around and just leave a little bit unsnapped to allow it to breathe. Whilst snapping it on all the way around may work ok for most I found that the lid got blown off of mine. Leaving a little unsnapped is absolutely fine provided that you are not constantly lifting it to check in the latter stages of fermentation.