Newbie in Need of some advice - desperately!

d.walker · Jul 28, 2013

Hi. I'm new to homebrewing (and this forum), and I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice, etc on carbonating my homebrew?
The brew kit that I am (well, my dad and myself are) using at the moment is a Young's U Brew, which only requires one bucket/ vessel for fermenting. Also, the bucket's lid had nowhere for an airlock or anything to add CO2 (or whatever the gas is), to carbonate it so this is why I'm not sure on what to do.
Anyway, I'll start from the beginning (just so I don't miss any details out).
We started the brewing process on Monday after I'd sterilised everything thoroughly. All the ingredients have been added properly, as per instructions, and the fermenting has stopped now (so, while I wait on my dad getting back from a night away, I thought I'd ask this).
I know how to sterilise the bottles, caps, etc but, in short, how the hell do I carbonate the beer before it goes into the bottles?
And, also, how is the best way to transfer directly from bucket to bottle? Do I use the siphon and (probably), make a load of mess? Or can I maybe sterilise a jug ad use that to pour the beer into each bottle?
Thanks again - I hope you'll be able to help :)
Also, does anyone have any suggestions on homebrew kits to use in the future (I was looking at the Desperado-style Wilko one for some point in the future)?

PD · Jul 28, 2013

when you are sure your beer has stopped fermenting ( it needs a good 10 days ) you should then syphon the beer off into another vessel to which you have added ordinary household sugar at the rate of about 1 teaspoon per litre.
This vessel should have a tap and a " little bottler " attached so you can bottle your brew straight off.
If its just a bucket you will have to syphon the beer into bottles individually which is a messy slow process and leaves you open to your beer getting oxidised which will spoil it.
When the beers into the bottles just cap and leave warmish for 10 days cool for a week and drink.

Have you read the How to's on the forum. It will help you.

d.walker · Jul 28, 2013

Thanks Piddle Dribble (love the name by the way!)

That's great thanks, yeah I have a barrel with the tap and that on it (however, I'm not sure if it has a little bottler thing, what are they/ where can you get them from?) so I'll get that sterilised for when it gets to the 10 day point (I'm glad you told me to wait 10 days now as the instructions said 6 max :/ This is why I never fully trust a company's view on it but rather someone with experience).

Is it best to leave it warm once bottled or, as in the instructions, should I put it in a cool place (as if there's many of them in this lovely weather of late)?

No, I haven't yet. I only joined this forum about 2hours ago but I'll have a look over them now (anything to avoid Uni work!)

Thanks again, much appreciated

David :)