Noob questions on first kit

[Sinktipper]

If you're planning to do any bottling, I can highly recommend getting a bottling wand. Makes life so much easier, and they're very cheap.

 

[Burtie]

so would you fill the PV, then leave the lid open whilst filling half a dozen bottles etc from the tap. Then top up PV if anything left in FV before finally putting cap on PV ?

Although I tend to either transfer a whole FV to either a PB or bottles, I'd probably fill the PB and then rack off some bottles trying not to get air into the mix.

As mentioned above, bottling wands are great for preventing air getting into the brew whilst bottling and allows you to keep the tap open. I use a wand with my tap FV for bottling but the wand doesn't fit the tap of my PB.

You also need to consider the types of beer and types of storage. Heavily carbonated beers are NOT suited to PBs. PBs are good for 'heady' beers but with a lot less/no bubbles.

 

[stinka]

I’ll be starting with ipa’s probably the Young’s American and then I’ll go for the MJ craft ipas for second kit ...

 

[stinka]

These days I love the tropical pineapple/mango flavoured craft beers from four pure and vocation etc. Funny really as I was always a snooty cask guy and I turned my nose up at all this hipster crap when I noticed it a few years ago but generally my session beer of choice is Banks’s bitter in the bottles, 89p in Aldi and I can happily and steadily drink 12 on a Saturday through the day whilst watching the football without even realising ( or the missus and kids being aware I’ve had a good drink )

 

[Burtie]

Should be fine. I use mine for Red, Amber, Real ales and stout. I prefer more bubbles in my IPA.

There's others here that use PBs a lot, my first mistake was not putting vaseline around the tap (only the lid). After use I give it a general rinse, I tend to clean it with boiling water and a Sodium percarbonate solution for a few days.. The pressure should build up and confirm it's still sealed. I then reapply vaseline around the cap (the tap I keep in place) after the brew is in there.

PBs are a bit fiddly hence bottling and kegging more popular.

And the tap can sometimes drip, don't turn it completely off but 90 degrees to the open position. You can also rotate the tap bit carefully so any drips remain in the tap.

 

[Richy25]

Here's a top tip....get Milton steralizing tablets from baby section in Wilkinson's £1.87 for 28 far cheaper.than the wine section powered stuff. They used to tell you wine instructions on em but
removed them so you buy the more expensive wine beer steralizer
stuff I bet!!!!!

The instructions were 1.5 tablet per gallon. So there you go. I've been using them for 10 years at this ratio and always works for me

 

[stinka]

So I got a bit over excited and got this lot off eBay for £15 it’s used. Should be ok for first brew if I give it a good clean ?

 

[Burtie]

Don't see why not..

Everyone has their own ideas/techniques for sterilisation, some blame it for bad brews etc...

Give it a good clean and sterilisation (perhaps try those Wilko tablets) but personally I'd try a cheap kit (or Turbo Cider), perhaps with granulated sugar first.

Be careful what scourers/scrubbers you use, many leave little threads etc but should wash off easily if you're aware..

 

[stinka]

Don't see why not..

Everyone has their own ideas/techniques for sterilisation, some blame it for bad brews etc...

Give it a good clean and sterilisation (perhaps try those Wilko tablets) but personally I'd try a cheap kit (or Turbo Cider), perhaps with granulated sugar first.

Be careful what scourers/scrubbers you use, many leave little threads etc but should wash off easily if you're aware..

Nice one cheers mate. I was thinking straight to Wilco for a cheap kit, sterilising stuff etc and just get stuck in

only problem is I’m supposed to be moving house first week in jan, so not got enough time to do one have I ? Probably have to wait until new year ...

 

[Burtie]

Personally I'd wait... Sure you've enough time to ferment but not condition.. Even if you had, you'd be unsettling the bottles in the move..

Continue the knowledge journey in the meantime..

You did buy 3 fermenters, no pressure barrel?!

Can't really see exactly what you bought, but the tubing I'd certainly replace.

 

[stinka]

That’s the picture from eBay, not picked it up yet
So not sure what’s there... is that a fermentor on the right ?

 

[stinka]

Lol it says it in big letters on the side

 

[stinka]

So what’s the difference between them ?
I think I’ll transfer to another vessel to add the sugar then fill some PET bottles and cap a load of glass bottles

looks like I’ll need a bottle wand and perhaps need to fit a tap on one of those tubs to use the wand ?

 

[Burtie]

Your guess probably as good as mine...

Not sure what's in the box on the right..

Looks like you've a hydrometer, thermometer, bottle caps, stirrer, bottle brush and testing/sample cylinder.

Can't see any taps on the FVs..

Best wait and see :)

Difference between a FV and a PB is that one's thicker and able to be pressurised (and usually has a tap).. A FV allows the release of gas during fermenting, for conditioning you don't want gas to be released, you want it to remain in the liquid as CO2 bubbles :)

 

[Sinktipper]

The PB will have a round rubber gasket in the lid - probably worth replacing for peace of mind. Likewise any on taps.

*edit* ah - it's a fermenter not a PB. Might still have a gasket though! Looks like the previous owner was a bottler not a PB-er.

 

[Sinktipper]

The box is a Young's capper. That's a tenner on its own. I think you've got yourself a bargain.

 

[stinka]

I think I’ll get one of these to add to one of those FV, which I’ll siphon Into. Then I’ll add the sugar to the whole brew and bottle from that

https://brew2bottle.co.uk/collections/bottles-bottling/products/little-bottler-complete

Does this sound sensible/like a good option?

 

[Winterbournebrewery]

Good little haul for £15. Just get it nice a clean give it a good soak. Yes I would wait until you have moved to brew. I batch prime every time without issue. good start, happy brewing & have a great Christmas choosing some kits for the new year.

 

[Sinktipper]

I think I’ll get one of these to add to one of those FV, which I’ll siphon Into. Then I’ll add the sugar to the whole brew and bottle from that

https://brew2bottle.co.uk/collections/bottles-bottling/products/little-bottler-complete

Does this sound sensible/like a good option?

Little Bottlers are essential IMHO - they make life so much easier. You can remove the wand from the tap, so it might also fit on your siphon tube (mine does) which can be handy.

 

[Winterbournebrewery]

I second that on the little bottlers