Should i bottle?

[Tricky]

Got a Nelsons revenge on the go 3 weeks ago last night. Just wondering how long anyone else left theres for? Mines still bubbling away :shock:

Not like mad or anything but i'd say once an hr roughly, maybe less. I'm itching to drink it now :

 

[theboytony]

What's the gravity reading

 

[graysalchemy]

I wouldn't bottle until it you have 3 days of steady gravity readings. Then put it somewhere cool for 3 -4 days to allow the yeast to drop clear then bottle or keg. :thumb:

 

[Tricky]

Good point. I did take it earlier in the week but i'm ot the house at the mo and can't remember what it was. I'll post back a little later.
I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't low enough though.

@graysalchemy. Good clean advice that! Nice one! I'll post my readings later.

 

[Tricky]

Just took a reading- I make it 1.012. Looks like I didn't take note the reading I took earlier in the week (d'oh) but I don't think it's changed.
Does this sound low enough? I was hoping for 5% but after putting my readings into a calculator it's more like 3.5 - 4% at best :cry:

 

[jonnymorris]

3.5% - 4% sounds about right. My last brew came out at 7% which I'm a little concerned about... not exactly a session beer at that strength.

Get it in the bottle.

 

[PD]

then leave it a few weeks...

 

[Tricky]

I'll get it bottled then. Any idea why it didn't reach closer to 5% as stated on the box? I know they over state these things but I thought I'd get 4.5 at least especially as it was a two can brewed to 36pints. Next time, should I add 500g sugar?

What was ur last brew Jonny?

 

[wilsoa1111]

tbh if the abv worrys you, just drink more : but dont try to up the superior kits by adding table sugar-really thins out the beer badly- you can get away with malt extract mixed with proper sugars etc but then the hop balance can be lost so basically either stick to the instructions or really get cracking with the extra malts and hops ( beware this is the path to the dark side :lol: )
ps you can also brew the beers short ie make a 20l kit 18l etc this keeps everything lvl and increase abv-do get less beer though

 

[eggman]

I brew this kit regularly, it's a cracking pint :thumb: i usually get about 4.5% with my brews.
What was your start reading? 1.012 is pretty much spot on for this kit Have you temp adjusted your readings? Also have you checked the calibration of your fermenter as this could be slighly out resulting in you adding too much water to the kit
:

 

[Tricky]

Well then, got the nelsons revenge bottled up on Tuesday night.
Final reading stayed at 1.012 and the taste from the trial jar was good. Infact it was really good, so i had half a pint that was left over after bottling.
3 weeks in the FV certainly didn't do it any harm. Two can kits are definately a big step up from the 1 can kits and worth the money, especially considering how easy they are (a little too easy maybe). Personally i don't think i would bother messing with these kits as they cost enough as it is. Although, I'll happily start dry hopping and adding LME to one can kits in future - see what improvements i can make

I don't trust the measurements on the Fv so usually measure out pint by pint. Original gravity was 1.040, all temp adjusted and came out at 3.9% based on FG :

 

[calumscott]

It's worth considering a dry hop for most kits IMO. There is no way to replicate dry hop flavour in a kit which is why Woodfordes give you a packet of isomerised hop extract in maltodextrin for some and Ritchies in their Festival range just give you a little packet of hop pellets...

...but as you rightly say, the step up to two can kits is well worth it - they really do make good beer. :thumb:

 

[Andyhull]

I bottled all mine when i did one and they all got drunk way too young but were the best pint i have "ever" had to date, fantastic pint full of body and just the right amount of sweetness.

I bet they don't last untill the chrismas partys

 

[Tricky]

I don't bet your far wrong with that prediction Andy :lol: . I've never drank straight from the Fv with any previous kits but i just could resist this one. It was just 'something else'. The two swigs i had from the trial jar were just too good to resist.

calum- I'll be dry hopping my 1 can kits in future. Probably start off by doing a kit i've done before (like BB IPA perhaps), that way i've got something to gauge against so that i can taste the improvement. i just need to learn which hops go with what as this is a new area for me.