Is there such a thing as too long?

[Planet Squirrel]

Hiya all,

I'm just making my first home brew and it says to leave in the fermenter for 4-6 days, now the problem I have is that i have got elbow bursitis (look it up it don't look nice) and can't get out to buy any steraliser or C02 stuff for my pressure barrel (PB), also lifting a 5 gallong tub of beer will not be easy.

My questions are,

Does it matter if I leave it in the fermenting tub for a bit longer until I can get out to buy the equipment I need or do I need to send someone out to buy it?
Do I really need to steralise the PB of will hot water do (it's a plastic PB)?
Do I need to add C02 as I thought the time in the PB builds up pressure to pour the beer out?

Thanks for any help. :)

 

[Samarith]

I leave the beer in the fermenter for 14 days which allows it to clear somewhat before transfering to the keg. I know others have left it even longer and as long as the lid is on it doesn't seem to harm the brew.

Yes, you want to sterilise. Boiling hot water will sterilise but it may also warp some plastic. Better by far to use proper steriliser. Nothing worse than loosing a brew to infection.

If you prime the beer (additional sugar when bottling/kegging) then you don't have to add CO2 right away but as you pull pints the barrel forms a vacuum. This tends to pull the CO2 out of the beer causing a flat brew and also suck air back in through the tap causing the beer to go off.

 

[Planet Squirrel]

Cheers Samarith,

It's good news I can leave it in the fermenter, the box says 4-6 days and then transfer to the PB with 1/2 a tspn / pint, so i'll just leave it at about 23deg until I can get the stuff, (i also need a syphoning tube to get the stuff into the PB) . Any idea how many of them little c02 canisters it will use for a 40pint PB before it's all gone? Or does that depend on how quick I drink it?

One final thing, can you or anyone else recommend a good book for home brewing? I'm starting with the canned kits you buy from wilkinsons, but if it all goes well I hope to upgrade to having a boiler (perhaps like this one http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... oiler.html ) and buying hops to make my own concoctions. :)

 

[Samarith]

I've no idea how long the little cylinders last, never used them and I'd guess it depends on temperature (how much the brew absorbs) and the weight of CO2 in the cylinder and how long you leave the barrel pressurised.

I can't recommend a book from experience, I've seen people refer to something like 'Brewing beers like those you buy' or something.

I only got the green light for my second cornie and to assemble an AG rig last night, gonna have to save the money but atleast I won't get any grief when gear starts appearing. Probably be next year before I start unless there's a windfall.

 

[Planet Squirrel]

Hiya, I'm just getting the steralising done on pressure barrel and bits, ready to transfer the beer in. A couple of questions though.

Do I add the sugar before the beer in the pressure barrel so the beer mixes it all in?
Is it safe to have a little taste of the beer at this stage?

Finally the C02 dispensor says not to use with beer as the 2nd fermentation casues it's own C02, so adding more can make the barrel over pressured, is that correct, or should I just add one 8g bulb and then crack the top (as I have heard suggested on here) to let the trapped air out and reduce some of the pressure?

Cheers


I'm hoping to get a book soon and a lot of my questions will hopefully be answered by that, iin the meantime sorry for the endless basic queries.

 

[Samarith]

I tend to add the sugar about half way though but I don't think it matters much.

Yes its safe to have a sneaky taste, but beware the yeasty farts to come. :whistle:

Don't add CO2 yet, the priming sugar will generate enough to start with. Plastic barrels are rated about 10-15 PSI max so if you add CO2 now then the yeast adds more you could blow out the pressure safety, the tap or deform the barrel. Best to wait till its conditioned, try it then add CO2 if you need too.

 

[Planet Squirrel]

Thanks again Samarith, Just having some lunch then I'll cracking.

I might have a little taste then, :)

When you say "then add C02 if you need to", how do you know if you need to?

 

[Samarith]

The beer comes out really slowly and/or isn't fizzy. Usually happens after you've poured a few pints, you'll know when to carbonate.

 

[Planet Squirrel]

It's all nicely in the pressure barrel now, the fermenter has about 1/2" of sludge in the bottom, I assume that is normal?

 

[Planet Squirrel]

Actually I think I saw somewhere isn't that sludge meant to be good for the garden or something like that?

 

[jamesb]

I compost mine.

Do not put it down the drain if you're on a septic tank.

 

[Planet Squirrel]

Cheers, Mine is now in the compost bin. :thumb: Now just to wait 14 days for it to clear and away we go. :)

If I move my pressure barrel into the garage (a cool place) to help it clear, will it then undo all the good clearing work if I move it back into the house afterwards? It's just my utility room is still about 22deg in this strangely warm summer, and that'll be the coolest place