Starter Kit Upgrades

[Danbrau]

Hi all,

I know you all have probably been asked this question 1000 times on this forum!

I've had a starter kit sitting waiting ready to be fired up - it's a Ritchies Simply Ginger Beer kit. I am looking forward to getting it started, but need to make sure I have everything in place before starting - I'm a calculated person at the worst of times and would want to make as good a beer as I can on the first attempt!

I am currently toting the following:

1 x Fermentation Bin
1 x Simply Ginger Beer syrup pouch
1 x sachet yeast
1 x 1kg Beer Enhancer sugar
1 x Hydrometer
1 x Syphon
1 x Mixing Spoon
1 x Sterilisation Fluid

I'm a big fan of real ales, particularly pale, and do love an odd stout, dark ale or lager when the mood strikes - so would like to have the tools to use again when brewing some of the above.

I am in the market for the following at the moment and am thinking about buying:

1 x Beer Keg (looking at King Kegs - what type though?)
Airlock for my Fermentation Bin - not sure what type to buy?
Suitable bottles to store the beer in once brewed

Does storing beer in plastic bottles affect the quality of it? Should I go for glass if possible?

Is there anything else I should consider? I've read about Campden tablets etc - are these a worthwhile addition to the beer? What about temperature control?

Any help is much appreciated and I'll be sure to toast you all once drinking my first glass :

Thanks in advance for your replies

Danny

 

[mattrickl06]

Hi there - I did this kit and opted for 1kg of DME rather than brewing sugar to ensure that it was a beer flavoured with ginger beer rather than ginger flavoured bodyless beer.

 

[ryanshelton]

I asked here yesterday regarding bottles and the general consensus was plastic is fine, dont spend money on glass ones collect from pubs etc :)

 

[Danbrau]

So instead of using the 1kg Beer Enhancer, you'd recommend 1kg of Dark Malt Extract? I see a 1kg one by Coopers - would this be sufficient?

 

[calumscott]

Don't use the dark one, that's really for porters and stouts. I think it would be a bit strange in a ginger beer.

Go with light if they have it or medium at a push.

 

[mattrickl06]

So instead of using the 1kg Beer Enhancer, you'd recommend 1kg of Dark Malt Extract? I see a 1kg one by Coopers - would this be sufficient?

Deffo not dark DME, Light or even extra light would be fine.

 

[rpt]

You need to store beer in brown bottles or kept in the dark. Ordinary plastic bottles will leach oxygen over time so are not suitable for long term storage. However, Coopers PET bottles have a special lining to shouldn't have this problem. Plastic bottles have the advantage of indicating how well they are carbonating (they get harder) so I bottle some into plastic and some into glass. Get a bench capper - they cost more but are so easy to use.

There is no need for an airlock (at least not for normal beer, don't know about ginger beer) although using one does no harm. Just keep the fermenting beer well covered i.e. keep the lid on.

I thought about buying a keg but decided on just bottles in the end. I've read too much about leaking valves and poor seals. Plus with bottles you can leave some to mature for months.

Temperature control is important during fermentation. An ale yeast prefers a steady temperature around 20C - too high will lead to off flavours, too low and it may just stop. The best way is with a fermentation fridge but the easiest is to put the FV in a large container of water with an aquarium heater. You may have trouble keeping it cool enough in summer though.

Campden tables are normally added to wine to stop fermentation rather than beer. I do use half a tablet though to treat the water to get rid of chlorine.