New to brewing, Wilko kit, multiple questions :)

[Gunnar]

Hi Everyone,

I'm completely new to brewing. I actually got into this from my interest in baking my own bread. I have some questions and I apologise in advance if every newcomer asks the same things.

I have been using a Wilko starter kit (Bloke Stuff Real Ale 20 Pint Starter Kit). The kit contains a plastic 22L fermenter bucket with lid containing: 1 x 1.5kg Cans Malt Extract, Plastic Syphon Tube, Plastic Spoon, 23 x 500ml PET Dispenser Bottles with lids, 100g Cleaner/Steriliser Powder, 1 x 6g Sachet of Brewing Yeast. Bucket is 34cm wide.

I made sure to steralise the FV and everything else that would come into contact with the inside of it. I mixed the malt extract with some boiling water and then topped it up to about 21pints with cold tap water. I then stirred it all and it had a good foam on top. I then pitched the yeast which came in the kit directly on top of the foam. My house maintains an approximate ambient temperature of 20C.

I was silly and never took a reading of the OG of the wort, so I am not sure if taking a reading now is useless. I also think tap water should have been replaced with some bottled water.

My main issue is that it has been 6 days since I pitched the yeast (dry), and I have no Krausen at all, only small clumps of yeast on top of the liquid and some small islands of bubbles. I think I can detect a faint ethanol smell from the FV but that could be my imagination. The kit doesn't have an air trap as it says to leave the lid "loosely" on. I have been very careful to keep the FV clean and away from any cross contamination. I am going to Wilko tomorrow to get some more yeast in the event that I need to repitch.

Is the brewers yeast in health stores, the loose kind, in any way viable for home brewing? I suspect it isn't but I am terrribly new at this so I don't mind asking.

My gut instinct is that I need to leave the mix in the FV for a full two weeks instead of the one on the kit instructions. I feel that I might need to re-pitch the yeast with proper ale yeast that I used before, and if I see Krausen it's good to go?

Any help is appreciated, apologies for the newbie questions. Have a great weekend.

:)

 

[krazypara3165]

Im pretty new at this but heres my advice....

Leave for two weeks then check the gravity, you will probably find everything is working as it should.

At this moment I wouldnt worry about the tap water, some use a campden tab before they start and others use bottled. I would make sure you record everything you do for future records, as next time if you try using bottled you can make any notes of the differences.

yeast wise im not sure, usually a good stir and a bit of nutrient helps to restart a stuck ferment.

One thing I have picked up on is patience, you need a hell of a lot of it for this hobby! (something i dont personally have!)

 

[nobyipa]

if you've followed the instructions
leave the lid loosly fitting for at least 5 days from pitching
after 5 days take a hydrometer reading you will be aiming for around 1.012 or lower re read next day if the reading stays the same for 2 days +
it has finished fermenting
at the beggining when you pitch the yeast and put on the lid loosely you are creating a CO2 barrier protecting your beer
now if yu keep peaking opening it up you risk loosing your CO2 protection
:drink:
so what is your hydro reading now?

 

[stuart180]

I'm new to this also so hopefully I don't confuse the issue lol

But as it's a single can kit, do you not need to add sugar to it?

Also, I'd be getting a thermometer into the brew and keep an eye on that as it might be a bit cold.
(You can buy the stick on strip ones that just stick straight onto the side of the bucket).

 

[Blueface]

You may need to add sugar it should of said in the instructions if you do tho, same kits don't require it as it's already in with the malt extract

 

[Gunnar]

You may need to add sugar it should of said in the instructions if you do tho, same kits don't require it as it's already in with the malt extract

I know this kit didn't mention adding sugar, the extract was quite thick, the Wilko kit seems to use iBrew cans if that helps. I'll get a stick on thermometer to tomorrow, I'll get a hydro reading when I get back from work today. Thanks for helping!

 

[Gunnar]

My hydro reading this morning was 1.014, still no signs of carbonation either. What do you think?

 

[kentmark]

Don't worry about carbonation, that doesn't take place until you've bottled with a little sugar. The sugar in the bottle reacts with the yeast and causes a mini secondary fermentation, in turn creating co2 which is absorbed back into the beer causing it to carbonate.

 

[Gunnar]

Don't worry about carbonation, that doesn't take place until you've bottled with a little sugar. The sugar in the bottle reacts with the yeast and causes a mini secondary fermentation, in turn creating co2 which is absorbed back into the beer causing it to carbonate.

Aha that is handy to know, thank you!

 

[Gunnar]

Just a quick update, I re-pitched yesterday with some added yeast nutrient to see if I could stimulate some activity. Hydro reading was 1.014 before doing that. I also gave the FV a better insulated cover in case it is slightly cold here. Here's hoping :)

 

[Sandimas]

If it's 1.014, it either nearly done or done - despite what instructions say, most kits tend to finish around 1.014 or 1.012. You probably just need to leave it alone for a few more days, in the warm. I've bottled at 1.014 or 1.016 before.

 

[Gunnar]

Thanks Darrell, my kit had very basic instructions and doesn't even mention final gravity :)

 

[memit]

My main tip would be to worry less and avoid temptation to fiddle.

The hydrometer reading is useful for checking when fermentation is finished, so it doesn't matter much that you didn't take one at first, you just won't know how much alcohol is in there. If you mixed a 1.5kg can with 21 pints and not 21 litres I'm sure you'll get a reasonable brew if your final gravity is 1014 (or potentially less). Just look out for the reading staying the same (remember to correct for temperature if it's fluctuating - there is a tool on this website).

 

[Sandimas]

My main tip would be to worry less and avoid temptation to fiddle.

+1

Easy to say though, we all worried abou it when we started, once you get a bit of experience under your belt you'll know when it's done. The thing is, it won't hurt it at all leaving it a bit too long, but bottle it a bit too early and you could have bottle bombs :shock: I normally don't even think about dropping a hydrometer in until day 14.

 

[Gunnar]

My main tip would be to worry less and avoid temptation to fiddle.

+1

Easy to say though, we all worried abou it when we started, once you get a bit of experience under your belt you'll know when it's done. The thing is, it won't hurt it at all leaving it a bit too long, but bottle it a bit too early and you could have bottle bombs :shock: I normally don't even think about dropping a hydrometer in until day 14.

Thanks Darrell and Memit, I will probably bottle it this coming Saturday as that would have given it a good two weeks to finish it's fermentation. I am noting all the things I do on this first batch, I already have a better FV with an air lock for my next brew which will be the Coopers Original Series Lager (1.7kg can). I am already seeing things I would like to do differently.

 

[Gunnar]

Hydro reading of 1.010 today, thinking of bottling it this Saturday :)