New brewer needs advice!

[jimboedin]

Hello all

Looking for some advice if possible...

I'm new to homebrewing (well I used to do a bit about 15 years ago but never made anything decent). I got a brew kit for christmas (Brewmaker IPA) and have spent a bit extra on the necessary materials - hoping to get into it again and make some decent beer this time.

Anyway I started off my first batch a couple of days ago and am slightly worried about it. Not much sign of fermentation on top of the beer but there is a bit of froth and I can see some bubbles floating up from the bottom. Does this sound right? I've read somewhere that this is normal for some homebrew kits....

Also, assuming this batch isn't going to turn into vinegar, I'm wondering about priming my bottles when it's fermented. Again, I read it's best to do this somewhere, then in another book it says not to bother for ale. If it is a good idea to prime bottles can you just use normal cane sugar or is it best to get some more specialist stuff?

Finally, I'm wondering about the problem of air getting into the beer near the end of fermentation (which I've been told will turn it off). I am using a standard 5 Gallon bin, but I've placed an old beer heater inside it with the wire trailing outside of the bin, it's pretty much fully closed but I'm worried that the gap between the lid and bucket where the wire is might be a problem at the later stage. Any thoughts on this...?

Any advice would be great

 

[prolix]

Hello all

Looking for some advice if possible...

this is the place for that :thumb:

I'm new to homebrewing (well I used to do a bit about 15 years ago but never made anything decent). I got a brew kit for christmas (Brewmaker IPA) and have spent a bit extra on the necessary materials - hoping to get into it again and make some decent beer this time.

welcome back to the fold

Anyway I started off my first batch a couple of days ago and am slightly worried about it. Not much sign of fermentation on top of the beer but there is a bit of froth and I can see some bubbles floating up from the bottom. Does this sound right? I've read somewhere that this is normal for some homebrew kits....

You need to take hydrometer readings to be sure, if you haven't got a tap in the fermenter sanitise the hydrometer and leave it in the beer when it reads the same for a few days it's done (don't forget to give it a little spin to get rid of bubbles on the side)

Also, assuming this batch isn't going to turn into vinegar, I'm wondering about priming my bottles when it's fermented. Again, I read it's best to do this somewhere, then in another book it says not to bother for ale. If it is a good idea to prime bottles can you just use normal cane sugar or is it best to get some more specialist stuff?

prime with cane sugar by all means, for ales you can use the no prime method but easiest is half a teaspoon of sugar leave in a warm place for a week (inside) then cool for a couple of weeks to condition.

Finally, I'm wondering about the problem of air getting into the beer near the end of fermentation (which I've been told will turn it off). I am using a standard 5 Gallon bin, but I've placed an old beer heater inside it with the wire trailing outside of the bin, it's pretty much fully closed but I'm worried that the gap between the lid and bucket where the wire is might be a problem at the later stage. Any thoughts on this...?

Any advice would be great

Air in the beer is not a problem unless you are splashing the beer around, a wire and open lid will cause no problems.


:

 

[jimboedin]

Great thanks very much!

Hoping this brew goes well, then I might get another one going.

 

[Gemok]

Just to elaborate a little on the dangers of getting air in your beer. As your beer ferments its produces carbon dioxide which is heavier than air so forms a blanket of sorts protecting your brew from airborne nasties unless as said you splash it around.