Just joined and wanted tips for my 2nd ever brew

[JETBrew]

Hi everyone,
Just kegged my first ever Homebrew (the seemingly popular Wherry) which seems to be developing well (still a bit cloudy and a bit "thin" for my tastes, but still pleased).
So onto my second attempt, which I am thinking of bottling. Have bought the kit for St Pater's Ruby Red Ale given the good reviews here and liking the commercial version. Any tips to get this tasting like that?
Thanks
JETBrew
:

 

[pittsy]

Hi and welcome , a tip many do it brew to around 20l instead of 23l it helps improve the finished beer or instead of adding sugar (if instructions ask for ) use medium dried malt extract .

 

[morethanworts]

Temperature Control
Rehydrate the yeast at instructed temperature
Star San
Start collecting bottles - You can't beat a well conditioned bottle, for my money!

PS My Wherrys were full bodied (to my taste) at 21.5L OG 1.043 but most people say it takes a good few weeks to really clear down.

 

[JETBrew]

Thanks @pittsy and @morethanworts.

Not brewing a bit short sure seems to be my issue with Wherry. Did pick up some Medium DME to use instead of sugar.

Can I ask what Star San is?

Any tips for getting the label glue off the bottles. Have some St Peter's bottles that would like to use, but finding the glue a pain

Thanks again for the welcome

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Can I ask what Star San is?

It's a brilliant no-rinse sanitiser. Get it from the sponsors - it appears expensive but it ain't - you dilute it to 1.6ml / litre. Mix up a 2L bottle, and also put some in a spray bottle.

Any tips for getting the label glue off the bottles. Have some St Peter's bottles that would like to use, but finding the glue a pain

Ah, I've got 24 of those I've de-labelled. Here's what I did:

1. Soak the labels off in hot water
2. This will leave a horrid glue residue
3. Park yourself in front of the telly with the bottles, a bottle of vegetable oil, kitchen roll and a scrubber. And a beer.
4. The glue will come off when you rub it with vegetable oil (really)

If you've got the same ones as me they're green, so unlike brown bottles they're better kept in the dark once filled.

 

[Grand gris]

I don't think you add any sugar/DME to a Wherry or St Peters.

In terms of taste and thinness :? - have you left it in a cool place for 6 weeks or so?

All beers improve a lot over time. I had a porter that tasted Thin and tasteless for about 5 months. Then suddenly it improved to a lovely brew :wha: this is a bit extreme though.

If you do brew the 1 tin kits, it is worth using DME rather than sugar in my opinion though. For an extra couple of quid it turns drinkable beer into something good. :

 

[JETBrew]

Thanks for the advice.

Grand gris - DME or sugar was for priming only i believe

Keg only just been put into garage to cool for a few weeks so hope will improve

In middle of making the St Peters so fingers crossed

JETBrew

 

[joe1002]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[JETBrew]

Well, RRA is in the FV and bubbling along nicely.
Was rather concerned that it was too warm when I added the yeast (c30deg) , but seems to have taken off. :)
Will leave if for a good two weeks before I take take another SG reading.
Waiting is the hard part as only my 2nd brew and first still in keg conditioning!!!
Luckily have a few commercial ales to drink (using the need for bottles as an excuse!!)

JETBrew