Time before drinking

[johnc86]

Can someone please give me some pointers as to which kit's are better left for a couple of months before drinking, and which ones (in your experience) can be ready to drink in less time?

I want to get one started tomorrow and another by the end of the week. One of them I am happy to leave alone for a bit, so which one do you recommend for this?

And one that will taste OK after a few weeks from kegging/bottling? Any suggestions?

Also so far I have only used my pressure keg. Iv been leaving it for a 3 to 4 weeks after kegging before drinking. Iv been unhappy with he results BUT..... I am hoping to rectify this this time around by treating the water with half of a campden tablet prior to adding it to the extract. I got this tip off someone on here so thanks for that :thumb: . Hoping that should keep away THBT! Anyway I'm considering bottling one of the Brew's this time. I only have one keg atm and that way Il be able to have 2 lots on the go without getting another keg. I'm holding out for a corny keg instead of getting another pressure keg.

Thanks for any suggestions.

P.s. kit's I like the look of atm are Brupak's, and Brewferm. Problem is I get the impression these 2 both need a bit of time before drinking and like I say I want something I can quaff in a few weeks time if possible.

Cheers. :drink:

 

[johnc86]

17 views and no suggestion's :hmm: .

Nevermind, Just nipped out to Wilko's on my break (I work lates) and bought a Woodfordes wherry :thumb: .

Also bought a bottle capper, some cap's and some young's steriliser/cleaner.

Wondering whether to put this one in the keg or try and bottle it....

Also, is the youngs steriliser the same as the campden tablet's? They didnt have any of those. Id have to go to the Homebrew shop for that and it's too far to walk from work.

 

[darrenwest1]

my wherry took 8 weeks to clear but it is very nice

 

[Rob]

17 views and no suggestion's :hmm: .

Nevermind, Just nipped out to Wilko's on my break (I work lates) and bought a Woodfordes wherry :thumb: .

Also bought a bottle capper, some cap's and some young's steriliser/cleaner.

Wondering whether to put this one in the keg or try and bottle it....

Also, is the youngs steriliser the same as the campden tablet's? They didnt have any of those. Id have to go to the Homebrew shop for that and it's too far to walk from work.

I am no expert but the sterliser is for sterilising equipment not for treating the water used in your brewing, so it's not the same.

 

[johnc86]

Argh well not to worry Il get some somewhere in the morning hopefully.

Just to clarify then, campden is just a purifier and thats it?

 

[LeicesterLad]

Hi Rob,

Yea the steriliser is like bleach dont put that in your brew campden tablets (potassium metabisulfite) are used for treating your water when making beer to remove the chloramine which aparently is added to the water to kill bacteria and can give a medicinal taste to the beer.

Good choice with the Wherry though very nice and you dont need to worry about adding sugar or DME as it comes in 2 cans.....However this defo improves with age mine is 3 months now and an absolute beauty.

 

[johnc86]

Hi Rob,

Yea the steriliser is like bleach dont put that in your brew campden tablets (potassium metabisulfite) are used for treating your water when making beer to remove the chloramine which aparently is added to the water to kill bacteria and can give a medicinal taste to the beer.

Good choice with the Wherry though very nice and you dont need to worry about adding sugar or DME as it comes in 2 cans.....However this defo improves with age mine is 3 months now and an absolute beauty.

Is your 3 month bottles or in a keg?

How long can you leave beer in a fv? Does it need to be constant under pressure once fermentation is complete to keep for a long period?

Im thinking about dry hopping this one too.

 

[LeicesterLad]

I did both to be honest but all the bottles are gone ...good idea if you can. In my opinion although it's good in the barrell i thought the bottled wherry was even better.

I never leave in the FV for longer than 10 days but some say upto 2 weeks but ive never needed to leave it that long, any more than this then the dead yeasties can start making the beer go funny.

Blast some CO2 into the pressure barrel before siphoning from the FV into the barrel then when transfered seal the barrel, i always use alittle vaseline on the seals to ensure a tight seal and then inject another blast of CO2. When the beer is approx half way down blast another CO2 into the keg to keep the pressure. You'll know when theres no pressure as the barrel starts to glug as it emptys under gravity and this sucks oxygen into the barrell which is what you dont want.

As I said following this practice ive had mine in my pressure barrel for over 3 months now and it just gets better.

Good Idea Dry Hopping has anyone already done this with a Wherry and what hops did they use ?

 

[johnc86]

Blast some CO2 into the pressure barrel before siphoning from the FV into the barrel

I dont understand that one mate. Sorry if I am being a bit thick .
You say blast some co2 into the barrel before siphoning from the FV.....

how can you do that without the lid on....wont it just escape when you siphon the beer in?

Good Idea Dry Hopping has anyone already done this with a Wherry and what hops did they use ?

[/quote]

Iv read a couple of threads that have mentioned Golding's.

 

[johnc86]

Forgot to mention, my current set up consists of a pressure barrel WITHOUT any way of injeting Co2!

The other kit's Iv made have gone flat and glugged air in through the tap like you say - well above the half way mark - and Iv had no way of regassing .

I can't believe they make pressure barrels without an injector sytem. Il have to sort this out before I brew the Wherry UNLESS.....

I get a corny :hmm:. I have seen one for a good price localy. Thing is I havent priced up gas (s30??) etc and a tap for it yet and Im starting to think this could easily get expensive :rofl: .

I suppose even if I stuck with this barrel and fitted an s30 valve, Id still have to buy the cylinder anyway. The corny can be sold on If I don't take to it I suppose.
One thing I still dont get with the corny keg is how you tell how much pressure you putting into it with a s30 cylinder as there is no regulator.

 

[bones]

. The corny can be sold on If I don't take to it I suppose.
.

This is not the spirit my friend :wha:

 

[LeicesterLad]

Ah well, now which barrel do you have is it the youngs barrel from wilko's http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Home-Brewing/Youngs-Brew-Pressure-Barrel-5-Gallon/invt/0022554

If you can afford to upgrade to a corny keg then yea for sure Ive only just recently purchased one and they are defo a good investement.

in relation to adding CO2 it's ok because the CO2 is heavier than oxygen so you can fill the pressure barrell with co2 and unscrew the top, as long as you dont knock the barrell about gently siphon in the beer and the co2 will happily sit on the top of the beer as it fills, then close and add another CO2 Bulb.

yea the goldings sound good...be patient and let me know how it goes...

If you want something you can brew and drink quickly try a Wurzel Orange Wine easy peasy and very tasty even the missis agrees...or try the cheeky vimto, not done this myself yet but defo gonna do it soon.

 

[LeicesterLad]

. The corny can be sold on If I don't take to it I suppose.
.

This is not the spirit my friend :wha:

Ha ha trust me the addiction just grows and grows then you'll be converted to the Darkside

 

[LeicesterLad]

One thing I still dont get with the corny keg is how you tell how much pressure you putting into it with a s30 cylinder as there is no regulator.

Its should have a pressure release anyways and believe me you wont blow it up just keep adding 1 second blasts and you'll know, you'll over pressure it the first time like me and end up with a pint glass full of foam..aka an icecream lol


Speak to Ian at Matchless for your Corny get one like mine ...

 

[johnc86]

Cool. Think for this month it might just have to be the s30 on the wilkos barrel. Then next month I will more than likely get the corny.

Do you use yours (corny) with a refilable s30 cylinder? If so, can you acheive forced carbonation with this simple corny set up?

Cheers.

 

[evanvine]

I never leave in the FV for longer than 10 days but some say upto 2 weeks but ive never needed to leave it that long, any more than this then the dead yeasties can start making the beer go funny.

As I understand it you have up to a max of 6 weeks before the living yeast digesting the dead yeast causes off flavours.
Info from a professional vinter!

 

[jamesb]

I never leave in the FV for longer than 10 days but some say upto 2 weeks but ive never needed to leave it that long, any more than this then the dead yeasties can start making the beer go funny.

As I understand it you have up to a max of 6 weeks before the living yeast digesting the dead yeast causes off flavours. Info from a professional vinter!

It seems to depend on a few factors. I suspect it's not been covered too much in brewing literature as it's not in commercial breweries interest to tie up tanks for that long.

One of my favourite hobbies is procrastination. There's been more than one time I've left beer in the primary for too long. Yeast bite is an unmistakable taste. In my personal experience, it will happen quicker when it's too hot. I've had it happen in 5 weeks in the summer. In the winter I've left the same beer on the yeast for 2 months and it hasn't happened (ok, it did take 3 weeks to ferment though @8deg ). IIRC, We(bloody button isn't working) has also left beer on the yeast for far too long with no problems.

I'd say get it off the yeast ASAP. But don't worry too much over a few days.

 

[oconn]

Im thinking of barrelling my Great eastern... its 2 weeks in primary now...I dry hopped with 20g of Auaora hop Wed night...does leaving it in the barrel to be slowly drank ( will take me 1 month + ) effect hop flavor ? I dont want to loose the flavor if its a big loss i can bottle..
I normally bottle except when i have a party etc when i know i will get thru the barrel..
I have the littel 8g co2 bulbs. so i will empty one in then syphon ...then another to top it off...i have basic barrel with no release valve so might i have to release some pressure ?

 

[oconn]

the great stern is sitting nicely in the barel for about 6 weeks now..just gone into last third...still great ( if not better than 1st third) cracked a second bulb just under half way...no problems with loss of carbonation great head as they say.....