Just a Christmas Brewing Noob Introducing Himself!

[Joetp]

Hi everyone,

Just introducing myself as I received the Punk IPA Brooklyn Brew kit for Christmas and stumbled upon the forum - it's helped me a lot already. I've had one eye on the idea of brewing for ages, but with this complete surprise Christmas present, I now have no excuse!

I did the mash, boil and pitch yesterday and it is fermenting away nicely - it's a lot of work for 1 gallon (3.8 litres and it took me nearly 3.5 hours), but if all goes well with the brew, I am looking to invest in some gear I can use for bigger quantities. Maybe a Peco boiler with digital thermostat so I can do BIAB - but I might be getting ahead of myself haha!

Anyway - nice to meet you all!

Thanks,

Joe

 

[lupinehorror]

welcome to the forum.
sounds like you're off to a cracking start.

 

[Banbeer]

welcome to the forum Joe, have fun and don't be afraid to ask any questions.

 

[obscure]

Welcome, small batch all grain is a great way to get started, fingers crossed you get a good result from your first batch.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum Joe

Help Support The Home Brew Forum(£3 per month or £16 per year) - Check out the benefits and how to sign up HERE.

.

 

[Gerryjo]

Hi and welcome to the forum...

 

[Joetp]

Hey there - a quick question... I'll need to buy a bottle capper for bottling in a couple of weeks. Is it worth paying a bit more and getting something like this?

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_24&products_id=2187
Also, is there any other recommended accessories to make bottling easier? I obviously have the siphoning stuff from the kit already!

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Welcome Joe

Good brewing does take time - worth it though

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Hey there - a quick question... I'll need to buy a bottle capper for bottling in a couple of weeks. Is it worth paying a bit more and getting something like this?

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_24&products_id=2187
Also, is there any other recommended accessories to make bottling easier? I obviously have the siphoning stuff from the kit already!

Bottling bucket e.g.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gallon-Bottling-Bucket-Spigot-Beer/dp/B000E62H8I
Remove the tap and replace it with something like this

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32806584427.html
At the end of the spigot is a stop - if you push against the bottom of the bottle it lets the beer flow, stop pushing when it's full, the flow stops

Bottling cappers can be fiddly but at this stage they are the best option

 

[Rodcx500z]

Hi Joe and welcome, i don't use a capper reason being i normally do 23L batches in a 30L kettle i also do 15L brews in a 21L pot on the stove which i bottle into pets and swing tops, hope your brew turns out good don't try and rush it

 

[An Ankoù]

Welcome.

 

[Oneflewover]

Hey there - a quick question... I'll need to buy a bottle capper for bottling in a couple of weeks. Is it worth paying a bit more and getting something like this?

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_24&products_id=2187
Also, is there any other recommended accessories to make bottling easier? I obviously have the siphoning stuff from the kit already!

Yes, get a bench capper straight off. You'll end up cursing one of those 2 handled monstrosities then throwing it away before getting the bench capper you should have gotten in the first place

 

[chrisb8]

Welcome to the forum
Definitely spend the extra on a bench capper no question

 

[Binkei Huckaback]

Yes. A bench capper is definitely worth the extra cash.

Be careful which bottles you use - some these days are very thin. One recommendation which will make not only bottling quicker and easier, but everything quicker and easier is no-rinse sanitiser. It has a shorter contact time than the ones you rinse, which means if you're not only using less aater but drop something, you're kit delayed by another 20 minutes.

 

[GerritT]

Welcome!

Do you have a book already? Beginners need a book :)

 

[Joetp]

Yes. A bench capper is definitely worth the extra cash.

Be careful which bottles you use - some these days are very thin. One recommendation which will make not only bottling quicker and easier, but everything quicker and easier is no-rinse sanitiser. It has a shorter contact time than the ones you rinse, which means if you're not only using less aater but drop something, you're kit delayed by another 20 minutes.

Thanks for the tips! I was looking at getting a small bottle of chemsan. Would that do the trick?

 

[Joetp]

Welcome!

Do you have a book already? Beginners need a book :)

Thanks. I don't! Any recommendations? I'm looking at all grain specifically l, but open to any suggestions!

 

[Gerryjo]

Thanks for the tips! I was looking at getting a small bottle of chemsan. Would that do the trick?

Buy larger as it works out cheaper and lasts longer and only one postage to be paid.

 

[big yogi]

Welcome to the forum , you will get loads of tips from the people on here.

 

[Joetp]

So... it's been about a week since primary fermentation started. It doesn't seem to be doing much now when looking at the airlock - I wonder if primary is complete? I don't have a hydrometer so can't take a reading to check either. Are there any other telltale signs?