That many questions i am frightening myself

[virtualgirl]

Ok today i started my first ever homebrew. :) its a YOungs Homebrew Buddy Kit from Wilko's had an extra 40pt tin inside so i got 2 inside ( great )
Anyway i steralised EVERTHING. got the homebrew going in the pressure bucket. And its now sitting in the corner in the kitchen.
Whats worrying me is that i haven't a clue how to use a hydrometer.....
Also how do i know if its reaching its temperature, or its cold? will it just take longer to mature?
Was thinking of buying a heatmat, and sticking that underneath it. So it gives it constant heat. But also has a temperature control on it too.
What do you guys think?
And how do i use them Hydrometers?

 

[Moley]

Hi Louise, and welcome to the forum.

You've come to the right place for help and advice on brewing, I'd made plenty of wine many years ago but was a virtual novice only 4 months ago when I started brewing, and this forum's been invaluable.

There are some good "How To" guides, including this one on using a hydrometer.

Well done for sanitising everything, that's a good start.
I think you're confusing a fermenting bucket with a pressure barrel and assume you're talking about a 25 - 30 litre bucket with a lid? This is your Fermentation Vessel (or FV). The barrel might come later, or you can start collecting bottles now.

At this time of year, it will be warm enough, no need to think about heating mats or belts just yet.

Good luck with your first brew, what kit have you started with?

 

[virtualgirl]

Hello and many thanks for your quick reply. Yes i am using a 5 gallon drum with a lid.... and its a youngs starter kit making lager. but hoping as i get better to be able to adventure into my own, but i have to walk before i can run.
I shall read up on that guide ( thanks for that also) i have been told it would be wise to invest in a thermometer, what do you suggest?
Also another question. obviously i made the brew yesterday, when should it start bubbling. and when do i take readings with this hydrometer?

 

[ni9e]

Also another question. obviously i made the brew yesterday, when should it start bubbling. and when do i take readings with this hydrometer?

It should start bubbling within 24 hrs and take hydro readings when it has finished fermenting or when the bubbles stop. When you get a steady hydro reading over a couple of days its ready to keg or bottle.
Getting a thermometer takes the guess work out of when to put the yeast in ie the wort temp is about 20c :thumb:

 

[Moley]

Good morning, it's a new day so as ni9e says, your brew should probably be showing signs of life by now.

You should already have taken a hydrometer reading when you pitched the yeast, that would be your Original Gravity or OG, without which you can't work out your alcohol content. After that, put the lid on and leave it alone for a week (yes of course you can lift and peep).

A thermometer is handy, but for now just use your common sense as to where you put your FV, not too hot, not too cool.

 

[virtualgirl]

the reading was 1.040 but i dotn understand that. and what do you means howing signs of life, the lid has start to become firm,if thats what u mean.. sorry

 

[Moley]

1.040 is good, if it's a kit brew it will probably finish around 1.010 which will mean around 4.2% alcohol by the time you've added priming sugar (your instructions should explain that).

If the lid's getting firm then it might be as well to just pop it at one point, most lids aren't airtight so shouldn't blow. Lift the lid and take a peek and you should see a froth on the top. Don't worry if there's a cruddy crust on top of that froth.

Sounds like it's working, your first brew is on-the-go :thumb:

 

[virtualgirl]

really wow :thumb: shame you all cant come round mine and have party with my first brew lol. do i have to keep taking readings everyday or not?
also when i do transfer it into bottles and add the priming sugar do i use regular household sugar or the sugar you get from homebrewshops.
I know i only put in half a teaspoon. Otherwise i could end up with smashed bottles all over the house lol.
Also one last question, how do i put the fizz into the lager. do i need to add something.

 

[Parva]

No need to take any further readings with the hydrometer until a week has passed, then it's a case of take a reading on day 7 then another on day 8, if both are the same it's ready to be bottled. If they differ then the wort is still fermenting so leave it another day or two. Priming with half a teaspoon of household sugar is absolutely fine, it's this sugar that will create the carbonation in the bottle for you and hence where you get your fizz. :) When bottled, leave them at room temperature for about a week then you can either put the whole lot somewhere cooler or store a few bottles at a time in the fridge ready for when you want to drink them. :)

 

[ni9e]

You don't need to take readings everyday leave it for 6 days and see how its doing the more you mess with it you increase your chances of it getting infected.

The sugar is up to you I use silverspoon for my priming and have had no probs.

You put the fizz in lager the same way by priming whatever you are putting the beer in but I think you use more priming sugars for lager :thumb:

 

[jamesb]

The sugar is up to you I use silverspoon for my priming and have had no probs.

Better than Tate and Lyle.

Simply because T&L use imported sugar cane while SS use domestic sugar beet.

 

[virtualgirl]

dunno if something is going wrong guys, but the froth has nearly gone from the top of the beer, plus i cant see it actually bubbling, but the lid is swollen. any ideas what to do

 

[leondz]

Sounds perfectly fine :) Give it a few days then you can take a hydrometer reading.

 

[virtualgirl]

i know i shouldnt of, but i opened the lid and took a reading, its now at 1.020 it was at 1.040 any ideas what this means?

 

[ni9e]

The drop in the readings means the sugars are turning into alcohol which is good try taking another reading in a few days and see what it is then :thumb:

 

[virtualgirl]

on the little stick there is like traffic light sequence on it, red/amber and green. does this mean that when i drop the hydrometer into the beer and it goes into the green its done?

 

[dandan]

ke traffic light sequence on it, red/amber and green. does this mean that when i drop the hydrometer into the beer and it goes into the green its done?

Not really, best to wait til the hydrometer gives the same reading for a few days in a row!

 

[Moley]

on the little stick there is like traffic light sequence on it, red/amber and green.

That sounds similar to my Young's hydrometer from Wilko, but that goes red, yellow, blue.

The red zone is from 1.016 to 1.006, which would be a sweet wine.
The yellow zone is from 1.006 to .996, which would be a medium-sweet to medium-dry wine.
The blue zone is from .982 to .996, which would be a dry wine.

Obviously, that's only a very rough guide.

I would expect most beers to finish anywhere in the red zone.

 

[virtualgirl]

when its ready to be transfered to bottles, can i use any bottles. like the ones were you get bottles of beer from shop. but just re-use the empty ones

 

[Aleman]

You are best off going to your local pub and asking for their empty Magners bottles