Mix the yeast in or just pour?

[spykes1980]

Any quick replies greatly appreciated :pray: .

Its currently floating on the froth will it mix in I tried to get a good swill going to help but still a lot floating at present.

 

[joe1002]

It will be fine, as the froth decreases the yeast will find the wort.

You could carefully stir it if ou want but I wouldn't bother :thumb:

 

[Steamedbeech]

Either should be ok , what are you brewing ?

 

[Devonhomebrew]

You will soon find out if you're a stirrer or a sprinkler i personally mix.

 

[spykes1980]

Thanks guys I decieded to leave it be.

Its better brew czech pilsner.

I think i ve commited a sin by not following instructions and used 550 g of sugar (dex) and 500g of muntuns spray malt (light) it says just use a kg of sugar. I was going more off what i ve seen on you tu be probably mistakingly.

And also I have a graviety reading closer to making wine than lager if the reading is correct so a strong brew on the go??

 

[ScottM]

Thanks guys I decieded to leave it be.

Its better brew czech pilsner.

I think i ve commited a sin by not following instructions and used 550 g of sugar (dex) and 500g of muntuns spray malt (light) it says just use a kg of sugar. I was going more off what i ve seen on you tu be probably mistakingly.

And also I have a graviety reading closer to making wine than lager if the reading is correct so a strong brew on the go??

That sounds fine. In fact it's recommended to do exactly what you did, although to substitute 1kg of sugar you need to add 500g sugar and 620g of spray malt due to there being less fermentables in the spray malt.

As for the gravity reading, something is very wrong there. You shouldn't be anywhere near wine levels. What was the actual reading? Sounds like the wort wasn't mixed properly when you took a reading, either that or it's just been misread.

 

[spykes1980]

they are new scales that I ve borrowred but doubt they d be wrong the reading goes to more a lager style (going off markings I couldnt suss out exact graviety tbh).

I ve put too much dex in I think

 

[ScottM]

they are new scales that I ve borrowred but doubt they d be wrong the reading goes to more a lager style (going off markings I couldnt suss out exact graviety tbh).

I ve put too much dex in I think

550g is fine. It's less than I would put in :)

 

[spykes1980]

Well after nearly 48 hrs I ve seen no sign of any bubbles.

How much water do you put in the bubbler thing?

Something is happening because the lid looks like its ready to ping off due to some sort of pressure change and there is froth all over the lid where it has risen at some point.

Is all this normal?

 

[ScottM]

Perfectly normal. Sounds like your bubbler may be blocked.

 

[spykes1980]

Im worried that all the scum on the sides and the lid harbours the yeast. As stated I I did nt mix but gave it a blo ody good stir first.

 

[evanvine]

I just hope your FV isn't on the carpet, else you will be!

 

[spykes1980]

Its not on the carpet but I did move it this morning to the lounge (with carpet) The kitchen was a little cold ie 16C lounge is nearer 18 and the optimum going off the packet is 20. So needed to do something.

I did put a sheet down just in case

 

[Brewing Boilerman]

If optimal is 20 and you have 18 surely it isnt a big thing it will just take a little longer to ferment? so leave it longer in the FV. Or am i off base a little here?

 

[cutnrun]

sounds like its fine.

If there is foam there will be yeast in suspension as well as in the scum sticking to the sides.

The yeast spends the start of its life replicating so there will be loads in there, when it runs out of dissolved o2 it will start anaerobic respiration and making alcohol. At that point it wont replicate just survive.

and yes if it is colder than optimal it will just slow down (to a point, wont like it if its too cold) 18 will be fine.

 

[spykes1980]

Re temp I knew it would just prelong fermentation but am happier at being a little closer to recommended brewing requirements if I can.

Cheers for the replies guys. :

 

[Windy]

Re temp I knew it would just prelong fermentation but am happier at being a little closer to recommended brewing requirements if I can.

Cheers for the replies guys. :

Actually, the instructions on the back of the czech pilsner packet are general instructions for the Better Brew range including the ales.

The more specific instructions for the Lagers suggest that for very best results you can go down to 15C as long as you are very careful to make sure it has finished fermenting before you bottle it:

For the lagers, you could ferment cooler than the 20-25C. That would mean a small quality improvement, but it's only small as the yeast strain we use performs very well for lagers at say 20C. If you do decide to go lower, aim for 15-20C and expect MUCH longer fermentation time. You are on your own with the end bit of the primary fermentation, you then really need to monitor the gravity drops and only proceed to bottle when you get the same gravity for a number of days (make a mistake here and you'll get gushing bottles!). There is no quality improvement if you ferment cooler for any of the other types of beer.

:

 

[spykes1980]

Thanks for your reply.
Due to my lack of understanding I was wondering if I left it say 10-14 days in the primary fv. Then siphoned off into a secondary fv at say 15-17 degrees then bottle would that work?

I dont want to rely on a graviety reading that I could get wrong.

The intructions obviously makes no mention of that kind of proceedure as you are obviously aware.

One thing I hav 'nt mentioned I dont think is that when mixing the spray malt in it was very clumpy and have read that a a lot have the same issue. I tried my best to mix in and took the big lumps out and tried to dissolve in boiling water which helped but I m sure I ll have missed some. Just it just take a while to breakdown during the fermentation or will they be sat on the bootom?

Thanks once again guys.

 

[Windy]

I think you are worrying too much, most people are getting an excellent result by just letting it get on with things itself.

The important things are to keep the temperature between 15 and 25, preferably the lower end and to do nothing until it has finished fermenting. As long as the temperature is above 15C then it has finished fermenting when it is no longer bubbling and the gravity reading hasn't dropped for at least 3 days, doesn't matter if you are reading it wrong just must have finished dropping, if you are not sure just leave it.

As for the lumpy spray malt, it is too late to do anything about it now, you will only make things worse if you mess, but it will be fine anyway. As fermentation progresses and the sugers are broken down it becomes easier to disolve more sugers. Next time don't open the packet until you are ready to use it and I suggest you add it half way through adding the cold water so that it can disolve straight away and you don't have problems with steam getting in the packet. Apparently it disolves easier in cold water than hot.

 

[spykes1980]

I have no doubts your right. Its all experience for next time which is a positive.

Re spray malt I heard that about the cold water and will probably mix it with a bit of cold water before adding.

Thanks again