New brewers from Huntingdon

[jim@jack]

Hi,

My Son and I are having a go at home brewing. We have started with one of the Youngs Lager kits and have it fermenting away as I type. Two questions;

The fermenting bin lid is bulging as CO2 is being produced - should I unseal it?

The missus is complaining because it is in the way, can it be carefully moved, or is it best to leave alone?

Many thanks

Jim and Jack

 

[Moley]

If the lid looks likely to blow, just unclip a few inches. The gas will probably find its own way to escape though.

It's fine to move the bucket at this stage, it's only when it has finished fermenting and started to clear that you want to disturb it as little as possible.

 

[jim@jack]

Thanks very much for the swift reply!

 

[evanvine]

Welcome to the Forum.
Listen to moley, he knows what he's talking about.

 

[jim@jack]

Thanks
I will!

 

[Wendy1971]

Hi and welcome to the forum the pair of you :thumb:

 

[Grumpy Jack]

Welcome on board! :thumb:

Re the bin, exactly what Moley said... If I have to move it at any stage, I just make sure it's several days before I'm going to do anything major with it, so if the sediment's been disturbed etc, it settles again, but the less movement the better...

Re the wife, either find a better place that she won't moan about it getting in the way, tell her to live with it... or... the last choice is probably not printable.

 

[31bb3]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[jim@jack]

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

All seems to be well so far with our first brew - it's creating some encouraging smells! I am sure in the coming weeks and months, I'll be posting in the other sections looking for some more advice, esp when we start to try different brews.
:

 

[stevander74]

Welcome to the forum Jim & Jack. :
Happy brewing
Steve

 

[craigite]

Hi Jim&Jack, and good luck with your brew

 

[luckyeddie]

Welcome on board! :thumb:

Re the bin, exactly what Moley said... If I have to move it at any stage, I just make sure it's several days before I'm going to do anything major with it, so if the sediment's been disturbed etc, it settles again, but the less movement the better...

Re the wife, either find a better place that she won't moan about it getting in the way, tell her to live with it... or... the last choice is probably not printable.

Alternatively, brew the wife's favourite tipple.

I'm doing a Chardonnay at the moment for Mrs Luckyeddie - she loves the stuff so she cuts me a little slack. In fact, when I was very ill last year and couldn't do anything, I sat in the kitchen talking her through a full brew. The ale turned out perfectly.

 

[jim@jack]

Alternatively, brew the wife's favourite tipple.

Ha - Lager is the wifes favourite tipple!

Quick question. The brew has been fermenting for 5 days now and is smelling good and giving a hydrometer reading of 1.010. However, as it is probably only a few days until I syphon it off for secondary fermentation, should it still be looking cloudy?

Cheers

 

[Moley]

Yes, very cloudy. Depending on the brew, the yeast used and whether or not you use any finings, it can take anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to clear.

 

[jim@jack]

Ah, OK.

I suppose to you guys, this is a really "noddy" question, but:

I am thinking then, that I syphon in to bottles/pressure barrel when hydrometer reading is good even if it still cloudy. And the cloudyness of the brew within the bottles/pressure barrel will go over time.

Is this correct?

I am a complete newbie and and especially keen to get this right as I know my son (12), who I embarked on this hobby with, would be dissapointed if this doesn't work!

Many thanks for the welcomes, help and advice so far.

 

[stevander74]

youve got that right j&j. once you bottle or barrel itll take a few days to clear then a couple of weeks to mature. :thumb:
Although mine never make it a couple of weeks before im drinking it :lol:

 

[chef2323]

good luck with the brew, I am Just down the road from you :) Bar Hill

 

[Moley]

Kit instructions are usually optimistic. Yours sounds like it has finished fermenting but don't rush things, kit might say bottle/keg when the hydrometer reading hasn't changed for 2 days but you'll probably find that most forum members who have been brewing for a while will work on the basis of something like 10-14 days in the bucket (frequently longer), then bottle or keg, then a week in a warm place, then a month in a cool place.

Patience will reward you, but it helps to try to build up some stocks, so as soon as your FV is empty, get another brew on :

The cloudiness will clear in the bottle/barrel and it will leave a slight sediment, but that's not a problem if you pour gently and leave a drop behind.

 

[jim@jack]

Thanks for the advice!

Had already planned to get another one on the go so that we don't have any dry periods!

As a matter of interest, how long would a brew keep in:

a) A pressure barrel that is full and untouched
b) A pressure barrel that is in use (a few pints a day being taken from it)
c) Glass bottles

Thanks

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