Just a Christmas Brewing Noob Introducing Himself!

[Rodcx500z]

There are but i would advice leaving it another week, in the mean time nip down to your local wilko and get a hydrometer or buy one online

 

[Gerryjo]

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?

It'll be fine,just let it sit for another week then bottle as this will give the yeast a bit of clean up time then bottle.Worthwhile to invest in a hydrometer and they are pretty cheap.

 

[Joetp]

Thanks for the advice! I'll leave it until it's been two weeks to be sure!

Not having a hydrometer is a bit annoying actually - I have ordered one from The Homebrew Company along with a tabletop capper. I also pulled the trigger on the Peco Boiler since everywhere else was out of stock and I thought I might as well just get it all to save multiple orders/shipping cost. Plus, with the new lockdown there's no better time to get some brewing done, right?

I have attached my order list for those interested - let me know if I'm missing anything obvious haha! I have also bought a false bottom for the boiler from ebay and some bottle caps as The Homebrew Company didn't have them in stock. I used the forum discount also on the order which basically gave me free shipping! Great stuff :)

Now I just need to plan my first brew. I'm wondering it's worth bulk buying some malt for the first few brews to save on shipping...

Cheers,

Joe

 

[Gerryjo]

If you're interested in dry malt extract check out this link. Looks good on the order.

 

[GerritT]

Thanks for the advice! I'll leave it until it's been two weeks to be sure!

Not having a hydrometer is a bit annoying actually - I have ordered one from The Homebrew Company along with a tabletop capper. I also pulled the trigger on the Peco Boiler since everywhere else was out of stock and I thought I might as well just get it all to save multiple orders/shipping cost. Plus, with the new lockdown there's no better time to get some brewing done, right?

I have attached my order list for those interested - let me know if I'm missing anything obvious haha! I have also bought a false bottom for the boiler from ebay and some bottle caps as The Homebrew Company didn't have them in stock. I used the forum discount also on the order which basically gave me free shipping! Great stuff :)

Now I just need to plan my first brew. I'm wondering it's worth bulk buying some malt for the first few brews to save on shipping...

Cheers,

Joe

Greg Hughes wrote a good book, there are more, and they have been discussed here elsewhere.

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/brewing-book-recommendations.88578/https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/books-for-brewing-please.74968/https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/favorite-brewing-books.59427/
Shop around a bit, some books are sometimes cheaper. And older editions or secondhand are often good too.

 

[Gerryjo]

As @GerritT has mentioned books are a great resource as is this site for second hand and new.

 

[Joetp]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've read through most of How to Brew by John Palmer - the 1st edition is available to read on his official website, which is cool. I also started reading Yeast by Chris White and Jamil Zainasheff, I can't believe how mad yeast is from what I've read so far. Very interesting!

I'm going to bottle this kit batch on Saturday I think. I was going to attempt it tonight into PET bottles, but I had a play with the provided siphon on some water and @Obadiah Boondoggle - you nailed that recommendation with the bottling bucket and bottle filler. I managed to get it working, but I don't see much of my beer getting into the bottles using it - it's a nightmare. I plan to get the bottling bucket/bottler attachment and I might also get an auto-siphon for siphoning out of the carboy?

In terms of future brews/batches, the new big fermentation bucket I have coming is this one - would I be able to use the tap on the fermenter and use tubing to get from that to a bottling bucket, or would I need to do something else to filter the sediment from the fermenter? Just trying to work out if an auto-siphon would be better to transfer to the bottling bucket than the tap on the fermenter.

Thanks a lot!

Joe

 

[GerritT]

As @GerritT has mentioned books are a great resource as is this site for second hand and new.

And I should have mentioned Results for brew | Book Depository

 

[Scottyburto]

Shopping tips:
Crossmyloof on eBay for yeast + hops
Brew2bottle for smaller orders (cheaper postage) + 5% forum discount

 

[Gerryjo]

Shopping tips:
Crossmyloof on eBay for yeast + hops
Brew2bottle for smaller orders (cheaper postage) + 5% forum discount

Avoid eBay for CML and go directly to their website and add "give me 10 Tom" with 10% refunded through PayPal.

 

[Joetp]

Many thanks for the tips! Crossmyloof definitely looks a good option for hops and yeast with the shipping included. I wasn't aware of Brew2bottle though. I ended up buying a few bits for bottling from Home Brew Online. I'm hoping to bottle tomorrow once the kit arrives as scheduled.

I moved the carboy out of the cupboard it was fermenting in and put it on the kitchen side ready for bottling (I read it's good to move and let it settle before bottling) and it has started bubbling again. I'm guessing this is just CO2 as a result of moving it? It was very clear and wasn't bubbling after a week in the cupboard, and was bubbling like mad in the first 4 to 5 days. Annoyingly my hydrometer is in the HBC order that is stuck in customs, so I can't test it to be sure of fermentation progress...

 

[Joetp]

So, I bottled it last Thursday and tried a sneaky sample last night. Looking and tasting good! It's got quite a buttery aftertaste and I think I fermented too high at the beginning but other than that, perfectly drinkable! Shame it's only about 6 pint's worth after the angels' share hahaha!